A Florida horse farm owner, Caylen Deller, has been sentenced to life in prison after a jury found her guilty of first-degree murder in the death of her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Chad Mullen. Prosecutors alleged Deller killed Mullen at her San Mateo farm in September 2024, then enlisted a friend and a horse to help conceal his body in a shallow grave, which was discovered over a month after he was reported missing. Deller’s defense rested on a claim of self-defense, where she testified that Mullen attacked her, choking her and threatening her with a hammer after she confronted him about alleged sexual abuse of her young daughter. She stated she grabbed a gun, which she had acquired after Mullen allegedly broke into her apartment, and shot him twice, believing she was defending herself. However, the prosecution countered by questioning her decision not to contact law enforcement immediately after the shooting and her continued communication with Mullen, presenting evidence of 28 calls placed to him in the week following the incident. Deller admitted she didn’t call 911 because she feared police wouldn’t believe her self-defense claim and was more concerned about getting into trouble, a point emphasized by prosecutors who argued she should have reported the alleged attack.
Adapted from: U.S. News Today on Fox News
