Florida Woman Found Guilty of Murdering Boyfriend

A Florida woman, Caylen Deller, aged 32, has been convicted of first-degree murder for the death of her boyfriend, Chad Mullen, in September 2024. Deller was sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime that occurred at her horse farm in San Mateo, Florida.

The prosecution argued that Deller killed Mullen, her on-and-off boyfriend, and later recruited a friend and a horse to move and bury the body. Mullen’s remains were discovered in a shallow grave over a month after his disappearance.

The jury reached a verdict after more than an hour of deliberation. Beyond the murder charge, Deller was also found guilty of tampering with evidence and failing to report a death.

Testifying in her defense, Deller claimed she shot Mullen in self-defense. She stated Mullen had attacked her, choking and threatening her with a hammer during a confrontation about allegations of abuse involving her young daughter. Deller, who described herself as afraid for her life, asserted, “I pulled the trigger of the gun and shot him twice.” She clarified that her intent was not to kill, but to protect herself.

During cross-examination, prosecutors questioned Deller’s decision not to inform the authorities immediately after the incident. Evidence showcased that she had made 28 calls to Mullen between September 2 and September 9, 2024. Deller explained she feared the police would not believe her defense claim, and hence she refrained from informing both law enforcement and Mullen’s family.

In closing arguments, the prosecution emphasized that Deller had the opportunity to contact the police after the alleged attack but chose not to. This decision, they argued, undermined her self-defense claim.

The trial underscores the complex nature of self-defense claims and the importance of immediate cooperation with law enforcement in similar situations.