Delaware State Police say 74-year-old hunter Walter Moorhead shot and killed 39-year-old Maria Chilel Soto on Sept. 18; Moorhead told officers he believed he was shooting at a deer. Officers arrived around 7:40 p.m., and Soto was pronounced dead later that night at a hospital. Moorhead was arrested and charged with five felonies, released on a $43,000 bond, and the homicide investigation is ongoing; a GoFundMe for Soto's family had raised $14,891 of a $26,000 goal as of Sept. 22 to cover funeral and repatriation expenses.
74-Year-Old Hunter Arrested After Fatally Shooting Woman He Said He Mistook for a Deer
Image Credit: Delaware State Police.
Delaware State Police say 74-year-old Walter Moorhead was hunting on Sept. 18 near South Old State Road when he fired at what he later told officers he believed was a deer. The shot struck 39-year-old Maria Chilel Soto, who was with her boyfriend and two children. Officers arrived at the scene at about 7:40 p.m., attempted life-saving measures, and Soto was pronounced dead at a hospital later that night.
Investigation and Charges
Moorhead was identified at the scene and arrested. The case has been forwarded to the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit. He now faces five felony counts, including Reckless Endangering in the First Degree, Manslaughter Recklessly Causing the Death of Another Person, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. Moorhead was released after posting a $43,000 bond while the investigation continues.
Potential Penalties
If convicted, the manslaughter count can carry up to 25 years in prison and includes a mandatory minimum sentence of two years. The Reckless Endangering First Degree charge can carry up to five years, and the firearm-possession felony carries up to 25 years. Investigators continue to review evidence and statements; no trial date has been announced.
Timing And Hunting Regulations
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control says deer hunting on Sundays is allowed from half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset. Around this time of year in Delaware, sunset typically occurs near 7:00 p.m., which is relevant to the timeline authorities are reviewing.
Support For The Family
Belman Robles, the victim's nephew, launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the family cover funeral costs and to repatriate Soto's body to Guatemala. The fundraiser notes Soto was a mother of five and that proceeds will help with funeral and related expenses. As of Sept. 22 the campaign had raised $14,891 toward a $26,000 goal.
"Maria's family is now facing the overwhelming pain of this sudden loss while also trying to make sure she is laid to rest with dignity," Robles wrote. "If possible, support may also help the five children Maria left behind as they face life without their mother."
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit continues to investigate. Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances of the shot, and further updates will depend on the ongoing probe and potential court proceedings.
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