Mia Bailey found competent to stand trial in killing of parents; plea deal offered
Oct 3, 2025, 5:56 PM
Mia Bailey enters a courtroom in 5th District Court in St. George on Aug. 7. Bailey, charged with murdering parents Joseph and Gail Bailey in their southern Utah home, was found competent to stand trial Thursday. (Sheldon Demke)
(Sheldon Demke)
ST. GEORGE — A judge determined Thursday that Mia Bailey is legally competent to proceed with the double murder case.
And prosecutors have put a plea deal on the table.
Bailey, 30, is accused of shooting and killing parents Joseph and Gail Bailey on June 18, 2024, in their home in Washington, Washington County. Bailey is charged in 5th District Court with two counts of aggravated murder, a first-degree felony, in addition to other crimes such as attempted aggravated murder for allegedly shooting at a brother.
Despite the brutal nature of the crime, prosecutors said early in the case that they were not seeking the death penalty if Bailey is convicted. A person can be sentenced to a minimum of 25 years and up to life without the possibility of parole on an aggravated murder conviction.
In August, after Bailey sent a letter to the Utah Supreme Court without the assistance of an attorney to appeal the decision not to seek the death penalty, 5th District Judge Keith Barnes ordered a competency evaluation, which prosecutors did not object to.
On Thursday, Bailey’s attorney, Ryan Stout, said the evaluation determined that his client was competent to stand trial.
“I think (the evaluation report) does a good job of pointing out the litany of mental health issues my client has had over the years and currently. But also does a good job of going through and applying my client’s current status and ability to comprehend the proceedings,” he told the court.
Barnes said he accepted the evaluation and ruled that Bailey is competent for the case to proceed. He then noted that a plea deal has been offered by prosecutors.
“It is the court’s understanding that the state of Utah has made a formal offer for Ms. Bailey’s consideration, that was just recently done,” he said.
The judge then set Bailey’s next hearing for Nov. 6. If a deal is not reached by that time, Barnes said he would schedule dates for a jury trial.
Just as Thursday’s hearing was about to wrap up, Bailey spoke up and asked the judge for a hearing to review bail. Bailey is currently being held without the possibility of posting bail.
“I’d like to get my surgery, and meds fixed,” said Bailey, a transgender woman whose name and gender were legally changed in 2023.
Stout told the judge he advised his client not to request a bail hearing at this time.
“If he’s not requesting it, then I’d like to fire my lawyer,” Bailey said.
The judge told Bailey that a bail reduction hearing could not be held on Thursday, but he would add it to the agenda of the Nov. 6 hearing.
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