Amanda Moffett, a 43-year-old Oklahoma woman, has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the 2018 shooting death of her 16-year-old daughter, Laramie Moffett. The incident occurred when Amanda attempted to shoot a stray dog that was reportedly attacking kittens outside their home in Nowata, Oklahoma. The mother’s plea came nearly five years after the tragic event.
U.S. Attorney Clinton Johnson emphasized the importance of exercising extreme caution when handling firearms. He pointed out that this case serves as a stark reminder of the potential tragic outcomes when such caution is not exercised.
The incident took place on October 5, 2018, when Laramie alerted her mother about a stray dog attacking kittens outside their home. Amanda, in an attempt to scare off the dog, fired her handgun from the porch of their house. In her plea agreement, Amanda admitted that she did not ensure her daughter was out of the line of fire before discharging the weapon.
Amanda acknowledged her actions were “grossly negligent” and that it was “reasonably foreseeable” that her actions could have endangered her daughter’s life. She admitted that her actions directly led to her daughter’s death.
Laramie Moffett was remembered as a passionate barrel racer, a rodeo event where a horse and rider attempt to complete a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. Her obituary highlighted her love for animals, her fearlessness, and her accomplishments in rodeo, including qualifying for the world barrel racing finals in the National Barrel Horse Association.
Amanda Moffett could face up to eight years in federal prison for her actions. However, the plea agreement suggests a sentence between zero and 16 months is more likely, considering factors such as the defendant’s early acceptance of responsibility, the strength of the evidence, and the interests of justice.
The case, initially filed as an intentional murder in Nowata County, faced several challenges, including discrepancies about the number of shots fired and disputes about whether the mother and daughter had been arguing on the night of the incident. The case was eventually dismissed in state court and federal charges were filed on September 16. Amanda Moffett is currently on supervised release, and no sentencing date has been set.