Man mistakes wife for deer while hunting, kills her

Couple was squirrel hunting together

Authorities in Jasper County are still investigating a hunting incident where a man said he shot and killed his wife because he thought she was a deer. Officials said Ernie Hutto and his wife, 66-year old Elaine Hutto, were reportedly squirrel hunting together on private property when they became separated near Heidelberg in Jasper County.

Investigators said between 3 and 5 p.m., on Nov. 6, Ernie Hutto allegedly fired his weapon, without identifying his target, striking his wife in the upper body.

Col. Steve Adcock, the Chief of Law Enforcement, with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, said Ernie then flagged down a motorist and they called police.

“Mrs. Hutto received two pellets to her upper body,” Adcock said. “And our office is now conducting a full investigation to determine where the shooter was and where the victim was. And we don’t have a lot of details at this time.”

Jasper County Sheriff Kenneth Cross said Elaine Hutto was transported to South Central Regional Medical Center, in Laurel, where she was pronounced dead.

Adcock said an autopsy was ordered on Elaine, but he did not have the results.

He also said no charges have been filed in the case. But Adcock, whose department is leading the investigation, said once their findings are complete, that could change.

“That’s not anything that we would do, file charges,” Adcock said. “That would go before the grand jury. But whatever our findings are, we would present them to the district attorney and it would be up to him whether or not they go forward with charges.”