A Florida woman, Caylen Deller, aged 32, has been found guilty of first-degree murder after the death of her boyfriend, Chad Mullen, in September 2024. Deller was also convicted of tampering with evidence and failing to report the death.
The incident occurred at Deller’s horse farm in San Mateo, Florida. Prosecutors indicated that Deller shot Mullen twice, enlisting the help of a friend and a horse to move his body to a shallow grave. Mullen’s body was discovered over a month after he had gone missing.
During her trial, Deller claimed she acted in self-defense. She testified that Mullen choked her and threatened her with a hammer when confronted with allegations about abusing her daughter. Deller stated that she shot Mullen because she feared for her life, explaining that she had acquired the gun due to previous incidents involving Mullen.
“I pulled the trigger of the gun and shot him twice,” Deller said, describing her fear during the event.
Despite her claims, Deller was unable to justify why she didn’t contact the police immediately after the incident. Prosecutors highlighted that she maintained communication with Mullen, making 28 calls between September 2 and 9, 2024. Deller admitted she didn’t expect authorities to believe her self-defense argument.
Prosecutors criticized Deller for not reporting the altercation. They argued that she should have involved law enforcement if she felt threatened.
Following a brief jury deliberation, Deller received a life imprisonment sentence. The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting issues of self-defense and domestic violence.
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