Katelyn R. Stapleton
Local news reports
A woman Wednesday was sentenced to two years’ probation and 10 months in prison for the fatal shooting a a friend. Katelyn R. Stapleton, 27, of Collinsville, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in exchange for a prosecution agreement to the 10—month sentence, along with probation. She was given credit for 10 months served in the Madison County Jail since the shooting on Feb. 23, so she was ordered released after reporting to the probation office. She has been held in lieu of $100,000 bail. Authorities said the shooting was an accident. Interviews with witnesses confirmed that Stapleton and her friend, Andrew M. Birch, were playing with the gun. Birch died at his home just five days short of his 24th birthday. There were three other people in the home at the time of the shooting, police said. Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Jennifer Vucich told the court Wednesday that both Stapleton and Birch were handling the gun, when Stapleton pulled the trigger and shot Birch in the head.
