On September 18, 2026, Delaware State Police responded to an open field near South Old State Road, north of East Robbins Road, for a report of a woman who had been shot. When they arrived, troopers provided life-saving medical care to the woman, identified as Santos Maria Chilel Soto, 39, of Georgetown.
Chilel Soto was taken to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead. The preliminary investigation revealed that Chilel Soto was walking through the field with a man and two children when she was shot. Police located Walter Moorhead, 74, of Salisbury, Maryland, who was hunting deer from a ground blind. Moorhead told police he believed he saw a deer and fired.
Moorhead was taken into custody and taken to Troop 4 where he was charged with manslaughter recklessly causing the death of another person; possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony; and reckless endangering first degree. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court and released after posting a $43,000 cash bond.
Questions have arisen as to why Moorhead was hunting deer on the property. It is currently archery and crossbow season which means only those weapons can be used to hunt from September 1 until October 4 when muzzleloader season begins. General firearm season does not begin until November 13.
This was an agricultural field, and farmers are issued deer damage assistance permits. Firearms may be used if the property owner has a permit. Level 1 damage permits run from May 16 to December 31 and there is no requirement that the property be inspected. Level 2 damage requires a property inspection and extends the season for hunting. Level 3 damage is limited to commercial farming enterprises. If a property owner has any of these permits, a rifle may be used as long as the hunter uses specific ammunition.
Farmers can lend their permits to other hunters who wish to hunt on the property and help the farmer control damage by deer. There is no information on whether the property owner in this instance has been issued a permit from DNREC.
Delaware State Police Homicide Unit continues to investigate this case. Detectives ask anyone with information relevant to the investigation to contact Detective M. Csapo by calling 302-741-2729. Information may also be provided through private Facebook message or by contracting Delaware Crime Stoppers.
NOTE:Â Anyone charged in this report is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
