Maryland Hunter Charged in Shooting Death of Woman Mistaken for Deer

A 74-year-old hunter from Maryland, Walter Moorhead, is facing manslaughter and other charges after allegedly shooting and killing Santos Maria Chilel Soto, 39, in Delaware. Soto was reportedly walking through a field in Ellendale with a man and two children when Moorhead, mistaking her for a deer, fired his rifle.

The incident occurred around 7:40 p.m. while Moorhead hunted deer from a ground blind, a camouflage structure used to hide from game animals. Delaware State Police indicate that Moorhead believed he saw a deer and fired, striking Soto. State troopers responded, providing immediate medical assistance before Soto was transported to a hospital where she later died.

Moorhead faces charges including manslaughter for recklessly causing death, possession of a firearm during a felony, and three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. He has been released after posting a $43,000 cash bond. Authorities continue to investigate the incident.

Santos Maria Chilel Soto was described as a devoted mother of five and a cherished aunt.

A GoFundMe page has been established to assist Soto’s family, which is dealing with both emotional and financial hardships following the tragic event. According to the fundraiser, her family seeks to ensure she is laid to rest with dignity and to cover the costs of sending her body to Guatemala. As of Monday evening, the campaign has raised approximately $12,000.