Yavapai County Sheriff's detectives have arrested a man in connection to a homicide on in Black Canyon City on Tuesday.
YCSO said 47-year-old Wayde Chaulklin was booked into the Camp Verde Detention Center on Wednesday morning.
The victim has been identified as 42-year-old Janine Appleford, the suspect's girlfriend.
The suspect claims he accidently shot his girlfriend on Tuesday morning. He said part of a rifle he was carrying hit the corner of table and "went off."
Chaulklin saw Appleford fall to the floor and he covered her in a blanket. YCSO said he never made an effort to contact 911.
The suspect later mentioned the incident to a neighbor and they called YCSO.
When YCSO deputies arrived it was clear the victim was dead for hours.
The suspect's story changed during the course of the investigation, but he still claimed the shooting was an accident.
Chaulklin was in the possession of methamphetamine when he was arrested.
He was booked for one count of second degree murder.
Note from YCSO: The deformity in the suspect’s neck is a tumor.
