Putnam County murder suspect arrested in Volusia

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla — A Putnam County murder suspect was arrested Friday in Volusia County, according to both sheriff's offices.

Caylen Deller, 30, of Satsuma, was arrested near Edgewater after being named a suspect in the death of Chad Mullen.

Mullen was reported missing on Sept. 15 after his family had not heard from him for a week, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said on social media. Deller is described as having a “volatile, on-again, off-again relationship” with Mullen.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for Stormy Stables in San Mateo – a business owned by Deller and was the last known location where Mullen's phone rang – and followed a tip in late October to an abandoned property on Federal Point Road Hastings, about one Quarter mile from the Putnam County line to St. Johns, the post says.

At that second location, Mullen's body was uncovered by recently moved earth, the post said, adding that Mullen's death was soon ruled a homicide.

Investigators focused only on Deller and 56-year-old Tina Marie Lee-Ellis, also of Satsuma. A search of Lee-Ellis' home revealed firearms, ammunition and methamphetamine. However, at the time of publishing this report, it was unclear how long she and Deller had known each other and what their relationship was.

Lee-Ellis turned herself in Thursday and was charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.

Deller was arrested the next day by Volusia County officers on her warrant from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

Deller was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail without bail. She is charged with first-degree murder with a firearm, the sheriff's office said.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-8477 or via the P3 app.

Click here to watch body-worn camera video of Deller's arrest.

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