Ariela Thran, a 33-year-old woman from Fulton, New York, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of her mother, Patricia Halverson, who was found dead in December 2023 at her Solon property. In a bizarre defense, Thran attempted to blame the death on horses, even enlisting an equestrian expert to testify that horses could cause fatal harm if they chose to. The expert argued that the horses roamed freely on the property and could have inflicted injuries, but a pathologist countered that Halverson’s wounds were inconsistent with horse-related injuries.

Despite the lack of a murder weapon and largely circumstantial evidence, digital proof and timing played a key role in Thran’s conviction. The Cortland County District Attorney’s office emphasized the tragic family breakdown and the challenges of the case, noting that all signs pointed to Thran as the perpetrator. The case highlights the unusual lengths to which Thran went to deflect blame for her mother’s fatal bludgeoning.