A tragedy unfolded in Delaware when a Maryland hunter, Walter Moorhead, 74, allegedly mistook a woman for a deer, resulting in her death. According to state police, Moorhead has been accused of manslaughter and other serious charges after fatally shooting Santos Maria Chilel Soto, 39.
The incident occurred on Friday evening in Ellendale, Delaware. Soto was walking through an open field with a man and two children at around 7:40 p.m. Moorhead was hunting deer from a ground blind, a camouflaged structure hunters use to remain hidden from game animals.
“Walter Moorhead, 74, was arrested for manslaughter and other charges.” (Delaware State Police)
Authorities report that Moorhead fired his rifle, believing he was aiming at a deer, and tragically struck Soto. State troopers provided life-saving medical care on the scene. She was transported to a local hospital but was later pronounced dead.
Moorhead faces multiple felony charges: manslaughter, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. He was released after posting a $43,000 cash bond. The investigation into the incident continues.
Soto, described as a mother of five and a cherished aunt, is mourned by her family. A GoFundMe page describes the family’s struggle with her sudden loss. The page aims to assist with funeral costs and transferring her body to Guatemala. As of Monday evening, around $12,000 had been raised.
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