Full Breakdown
Florida Riding Instructor Convicted of Murder After Claiming Self-Defense
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Conviction and Sentencing
A Putnam County jury found Caylen Deller guilty of first-degree murder, evidence tampering and failure to report a death for the September 2024 killing of her on-again/off-again boyfriend, Chad Mullen. After deliberating for just over an hour, jurors sentenced Deller to life in prison.
Trial Testimony and Alleged Self-Defense
During the trial, Deller testified that Mullen choked her against a truck and advanced with a hammer after she confronted him about alleged abuse of her young daughter. She said she was “extremely afraid” and retrieved a gun from the truck, firing twice in self-defense. Deller explained that she did not call 911 because she feared police would not believe her claim and that she was more concerned about avoiding trouble.
Body Disposal Allegations
Prosecutors described a multi-step effort to conceal Mullen’s body. According to Assistant State Attorney Mike Willard, Deller lured Mullen to her horse stables, shot him, and then, with friend Tina Marie Lee-Ellis, used a horse to drag the body to a pond, tied a cinder block to it, and attempted to sink it. Three days later the pair retrieved the remains, moved them on a horse trailer to a Hastings farm, and Lee-Ellis allegedly used a bulldozer to dig a shallow grave. Deller later testified that a four-wheeler, not a horse, was used to drag the body to the water and that Lee-Ellis handled the burial.
Data and Timeline
- September 2024 – Mullen’s disappearance is reported after his family’s calls go unanswered.
- Mid-September 2024 – Deller says she picked up Mullen because his truck broke down.
- Late September 2024 – Deller claims the choking and hammer incident occurred; she fires two shots.
- Three days later – Prosecutors say the body is placed in a pond with a cinder block.
- Late October 2024 – Mullen’s remains are discovered in a shallow grave on the Hastings property.
- October 2026 – Jury returns a guilty verdict and imposes a life sentence.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutor Willard argued that Deller deliberately brought Mullen to her stables to kill him and then orchestrated a coordinated concealment with Lee-Ellis. The defense highlighted Deller’s fear for her safety and her belief that law enforcement would dismiss a self-defense claim. The court’s sentencing reflects the jury’s assessment that the prosecution’s evidence of premeditation and concealment outweighed the self-defense argument.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Method of moving the body to the pond: Prosecutors assert a horse was used; Deller testifies a four-wheeler performed the task.
- Initial disposal attempt: The prosecutor’s description of a cinder block anchoring the body is not directly corroborated by Deller’s testimony, which focuses on the subsequent burial.
- Motivation for not contacting police: Deller cites fear of disbelief, while prosecutors emphasize her attempts to hide the crime.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I pulled the trigger of the gun and shot him twice,” — Caylen Deller
- “LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST "It was probably not a good idea," Deller said.” — Caylen Deller
- “Because he was choking me and he came at me with a hammer,” — Caylen Deller
- “That’s where they tied a cinder block to him, tried to anchor him, and sink his body in the water,” — Prosecutor Mike Willard, assistant state attorney