{"id":2666943,"date":"2026-09-21T22:38:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T02:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/deer-hunter-arrested-and-charged-with-manslaughter-after-fatal-mistake\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T22:41:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T02:41:17","slug":"deer-hunter-arrested-and-charged-with-manslaughter-after-fatal-mistake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/deer-hunter-arrested-and-charged-with-manslaughter-after-fatal-mistake\/","title":{"rendered":"Deer Hunter Arrested and Charged with Manslaughter After Fatal Mistake"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdeer-hunter-arrested-and-charged-with-manslaughter-after-fatal-mistake%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2666943&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A man from Maryland, Walter Moorhead, was arrested after a hunting incident in Delaware that resulted in the death of a woman, Santos Maria Chilel Soto. Moorhead fired his rifle, mistaking her for a deer while she was walking with others in a field. The police confirmed he was responsible for her fatal injuries and charged him with manslaughter, firearm possession during a felony, and reckless endangering. He posted bail and was released. Soto, originally from Guatemala, was remembered by her church and family, who launched a fundraising campaign to cover funeral expenses. The investigation continues, with authorities urging anyone with relevant data to come forward.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Delaware state troopers arrested a Maryland man for manslaughter following a hunting incident on Friday that resulted in a woman being killed.<\/p>\n<p>Walter Moorhead, 74, was taken into custody by law enforcement after troopers responded to a report of a shooting, <a href=\"https:\/\/dsp.delaware.gov\/2026\/09\/19\/state-police-charge-maryland-man-with-manslaughter-after-fatally-shooting-woman-in-ellendale\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according<\/a> to the state police.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >responding troopers attempted life-saving medical care<\/a> before the woman was taken to a nearby hospital.<\/p>\n<p>She ultimately died from her injuries.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Delaware State Police said Walter Moorhead told them he was hunting Friday evening from a ground blind when he thought he saw a deer walking through an open field and shot his rifle.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/du7RTev4Np\">https:\/\/t.co\/du7RTev4Np<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 fox8news (@fox8news) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/fox8news\/status\/2102129677150101615?\">September 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>The victim\u2019s name was initially withheld until her family could be contacted, but she was later identified as Santos Maria Chilel Soto, 39, of Georgetown, Delaware, ABC News <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/US\/hunter-charged-manslaughter-shooting-woman-mistook-deer-police\/story?id=136602964&#038;cid=social_twitter_abcn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Police who were on the scene determined that Moorhead fired the shot that hit Soto and arrested him.<\/p>\n<p>They then handed the case off to state homicide investigators.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/1-dead-9-injured-in-texas-halloween-party-shooting\/\" title=\"1 dead, 9 injured in Texas Halloween party shooting\">preliminary investigation revealed<\/a> that the victim was walking through the field with a man and two children while Moorhead was hunting deer from a ground blind. Moorhead believed he saw a deer and fired his rifle, striking the victim,\u201d Delaware authorities said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>He was later charged with three felonies: manslaughter recklessly causing the death of another person, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and first-degree reckless endangering.<\/p>\n<p>After being arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court, Moorhead posted a $43,000 cash bond and was released.<\/p>\n<p>The shooting is still being investigated, and it remains unclear whether Moorhead has retained legal counsel or if prosecutors will offer him a plea deal.<\/p>\n<p>CBS News <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/hunter-fatally-shoots-woman-mistook-for-deer-delaware-police\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">noted<\/a> that an evangelical church in Georgetown, Delaware, where Soto was living, d an obituary to honor her memory.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is with deep sorrow that our church announces the passing of our beloved sister in Christ, Maria Chilel Soto,\u201d the church wrote in the obituary, which was translated from Spanish. \u201cWe join in prayer and solidarity with her family and loved ones during this time of deep grief.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the church held services for Soto and her family. The church added that it will be releasing details of her funeral arrangements in the near future.<\/p>\n<p>Soto\u2019s family launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the funeral and to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/derailed-tankers-in-ohio-contained-four-more-toxic-chemicals-epa-says\/\" title=\"Derailed Tankers in Ohio Contained Four More Toxic Chemicals, EPA Says\">cover costs related<\/a> to transporting her body to Guatemala, where she is originally from.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/help-maria-chilel-sotos-family\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">campaign<\/a> had reached $12,477 of its $13,000 goal as of Monday evening.<\/p>\n<p>The GoFundMe page description called Soto \u201ca beloved aunt whose life was tragically taken,\u201d and stated that she leaves behind five children.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis heartbreaking situation has placed a heavy financial burden on the family at a time when they are grieving deeply,\u201d it continued. \u201cThe funds raised will help cover expenses that exceed $15,000 for funeral and transportation costs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit has asked anyone with information about the case to come forward and  what they know with authorities.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDetectives ask anyone with information relevant to the investigation to contact Detective M. Csapo by calling (302) 741-2729.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cInformation may also be provided by sending a private message to the Delaware State Police (Opens in a new window.) or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers (Opens in a new window.) at 1-800-847-3333.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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