NOWATA, OK – A mother from Oklahoma has admitted to unintentionally causing the death of her teenage daughter while attempting to shoot a stray dog that was attacking kittens. Amanda Myrene Fields Moffett, 43, a Cherokee citizen of Nowata, entered her guilty plea this week. She’s been charged with involuntary manslaughter in Indian country for the incident that occurred five years ago, resulting in the death of her 16-year-old daughter, Laramie, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
The tragic event unfolded on October 5, 2018, when Moffett’s daughter informed her of a stray dog attacking kittens outside their home. Moffett confessed to stepping onto her front porch and discharging a handgun into the dark yard, aiming at what she thought was the dog. However, she failed to ensure her daughter was not in the line of fire.
US Attorney Clinton Johnson emphasized the legal responsibility of gun owners to exercise extreme caution when using a firearm. He pointed out that this case tragically underscores the potential consequences when such caution is not exercised.
Initially, Moffett was charged with first-degree murder with deliberate intent. However, this charge was dismissed after her attorney argued that she was wrongfully charged in state court. There were also inconsistencies regarding the number of times the girl was shot, as per the documents from Nowata County District Court.
Moffett could face up to eight years in a federal prison. The final sentence will be determined by a federal judge, who will consider the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Until her sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled, Moffett will remain under supervised release conditions. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations, FBI, and Nowata County Sheriff’s Office were involved in the investigation of the case.