NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The Florida woman accused of killing her boyfriend and burying him in a shallow grave has been found guilty of his murder. Caylen Deller, 32, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the September 2024 death of Chad Mullen, her on-off boyfriend. According to prosecutors, Deller killed Mullen at his horse farm in San Mateo, Florida, and then got a friend and her horse to help him move the body, which was found in a shallow grave more than a month after her death. missing. Deller was found guilty of first-degree murder Thursday after the jury deliberated for more than an hour, and he was sentenced to life in prison. She was also found guilty of tampering with evidence and failing to report the death of a person. FLORIDA WOMAN CHARGED WITH MURDER EVADING POLICE AFTER FINDING BODY IN SHALLOW GRAVE: SHERIFF Chad Mullen was shot and killed by his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Caylen Deller, in September 2024. Prosecutors said Deller used a horse and recruited a friend to help him move her body before it was buried in a shallow grave. (Putnam County Sheriff’s Office) On Wednesday, Deller testified that she killed Mullen in self-defense because he choked her and held a hammer to her when she confronted him about unproven allegations that he had sexually abused her young daughter. Deller said Mullen became angry, pinned her against the truck and grabbed her by the neck, claiming she couldn’t breathe at the time. That’s when Deller said he grabbed a gun. Deller said he obtained the gun after Mullen allegedly broke into his apartment on Aug. 1, 2024. “I pulled the trigger of the gun and shot him twice,” Deller said. “I was very afraid.” “I shot Chad twice in self-defense,” he said. FOLLOW FOX’S TRUE CRIME TEAM ON She was defending herself. SEND US A TIP Prosecutors then questioned Deller about why he decided not to contact police and why he stayed in contact with Mullen despite describing him as a violent individual, presenting evidence that he made 28 calls to him between September 2 and 9, 2024, telling Mullen’s family for the same reason. LISTEN TO THE NEW PODCAST ‘CRIME AND JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO’ Caylen Deller was sentenced to life in prison after a jury convicted her of first-degree murder in the death of her boyfriend, Chad Mullen. Deller testified that she shot Mullen twice in self-defense, claiming he attacked her during an argument. (WFOX) “It probably wasn’t a good idea,” Deller said. “I was more worried about getting in trouble.” GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL During closing arguments Thursday, prosecutors said Deller should have called authorities. Adam Sabe is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Adam.Sabes@fox.com and on Twitter @asabes10.
