2nd attorney appointed for Grantsville teen accused of killing family members

Family members gather at the Grantsville City Cemetery following the funeral for Alejandra Haynie and three of her children — Alexis, Matthew and Milan — in Grantsville on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

TOOELE — A judge on Monday appointed a second defense attorney for the Grantsville teen accused of killing three of his siblings and his mother last month.

Defense attorney Rudy Bautista now joins lawyer Richard Van Wagoner in representing 16-year-old Colin Jeffery “CJ” Haynie.

Van Wagoner previously was appointed in part because he had developed a connection with the family, but was not on a list of attorneys approved by the Indigent Defense Commission, a state board that coordinates public defenders in certain parts of Utah. Bautista is on the list.

Their teenage client is charged in the deaths of his mother, Consuelo Alejandra Haynie, 52; sisters Alexis Haynie, 15, and Milan Haynie, 12; and brother Matthew Haynie, 14.

He faces four counts of aggravated murder, one count of attempted aggravated murder and five counts of discharge of a firearm, all first-degree felonies. If convicted, he faces at least 25 years in prison. He has not yet entered pleas.

A shackled CJ Haynie showed little emotion during the brief hearing in Tooele’s 3rd District Court. He is being held in a juvenile detention center on $4 million bail.

His father Colin Haynie declined comment except to reiterate he is grateful for the support of his community.

Prosecutors allege CJ Haynie fatally shot his mother and siblings as they returned home in stages on Jan. 17, a Friday. His father later arrived and was shot in the leg before he wrestled the handgun away from his son, charges say.

The teenager returns to court March 30 for a status hearing.

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