Florida Woman Sentenced to Life in Prison for Boyfriend's Murder

A Florida woman has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of first-degree murder for the September 2024 death of her boyfriend, Chad Mullen. Caylen Deller, 32, was convicted by a jury that deliberated for just over an hour, rejecting her claim of self-defense.

Deller killed Mullen at her horse farm in San Mateo, Florida. Prosecutors stated that she then enlisted a friend and a horse to help move Mullen's body, which was discovered in a shallow grave more than a month after he went missing. In addition to the murder charge, Deller was found guilty of tampering with evidence and failure to report the death of a person.

During her trial, Deller testified that she shot Mullen twice in self-defense. She claimed that Mullen became violent when she confronted him about allegations of sexual abuse against her young daughter, asserting that he choked her and raised a hammer. Deller stated she obtained the gun after Mullen allegedly broke into her apartment on August 1, 2024, and that she shot him because she was afraid.

Prosecutors questioned Deller's decision not to contact law enforcement immediately after the shooting. They presented evidence of multiple calls she made to Mullen in the days leading up to his death, despite having described him as violent. Deller explained her silence by stating she feared police would not believe her self-defense claim and did not want to inform Mullen's family.

The jury's verdict indicates they did not accept Deller's self-defense narrative, leading to her conviction and subsequent life sentence.