Who Was Santos Soto? Mother of 5 Shot After Hunter Mistook Her for Deer
A 39-year-old Delaware mother was fatally shot Friday evening after a hunter allegedly mistook her for a deer, authorities said. The woman, identified as Santos Maria Chilel Soto of Georgetown, was walking through an open field in Ellendale when the hunter fired a rifle from a ground blind.
Soto was taken to a hospital after Delaware State Police troopers provided lifesaving care at the scene, but later died from her injuries. A 74-year-old Maryland man, Walter Moorhead, was arrested and charged with felony manslaughter and other offenses in connection with the shooting.
Who Was Santos Maria Chilel Soto?
Soto lived in Georgetown, Delaware, and was identified by Delaware State Police on Sunday, two days after the shooting. Reports have identified her as a mother of five, although they have not released any additional biographical details about her family.
At the time of the shooting, Soto was walking with an adult man and two children, according to the preliminary investigation. The shooting happened at about 7:40 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, near South Old State Road, north of East Robbins Road in Ellendale, Sussex County.
What Happened to Santos Soto?
According to Delaware State Police, Moorhead was hunting deer when he believed he saw a deer and fired his rifle. “The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was walking through the field with a man and two children while Moorhead was hunting deer from a ground blind,” state police said. “Moorhead believed he saw a deer and fired his rifle, striking the victim.”
Troopers responded to the field after receiving a report of a shooting and determined Moorhead had fired the shot that struck Soto. She was transported to an area hospital and pronounced dead.
Hunter Faces Manslaughter Charges
Moorhead, of Salisbury, Maryland, was charged with felony manslaughter, three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to Delaware State Police. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court and released after posting a $43,000 cash bond, police said.
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit is seeking information from anyone who may have witnessed the incident.
Soto’s death has created practical challenges for her family. A fundraiser has been established to help cover funeral services and the cost of sending Maria’s body to Guatemala, according to their family’s GoFundMe page. The manslaughter and related charges against Moorhead are allegations that have not been determined by the court. The investigation remains ongoing.
