Tabatha Lynn Pebler, a 44-year-old woman from Arkansas, has been given a three-year prison sentence for the manslaughter of her 27-year-old son, Brandon Chrisco. The incident stemmed from an argument about a stuck lawn mower on May 31, 2023, in Fulton County, Arkansas. Following Pebler’s guilty plea, Sixteenth Circuit Court Judge Tim Weaver announced the sentence on July 12, 2024.
Court records indicate that Pebler has been given an additional seven-year suspended sentence. This means that if she fails to adhere to the conditions of her release, she could face additional prison time. Initially, Pebler was charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. However, a plea deal led to a manslaughter conviction and dismissal of the other charges.
On the day of the incident, Pebler called 911, claiming she had shot her son. Fulton County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded, read Pebler her Miranda rights, and interviewed her. Pebler explained that she was mowing the lawn when her riding mower got stuck. She asked her son for help, which he provided, albeit reluctantly and with expressed frustration.
The mower got stuck again after it was initially freed. When Pebler asked for Chrisco’s help a second time, he allegedly responded with a derogatory term and pushed her off the mower. Feeling threatened, Pebler went to her car, located about 250 yards away, to get her pistol from the console.
Pebler stated, “I just wanted to scare and stop him.” She fired several warning shots as Chrisco advanced towards her. Despite the warning shots, she moved closer and eventually fired the fatal shot that hit Chrisco in the upper left side of his chest. The bullet passed through his body, leaving multiple shell casings at the scene.
Investigators concluded that after retrieving her firearm, Pebler moved 18 feet toward Chrisco before firing a shot. She then moved 42 feet closer and fired the fatal shot at a distance of less than 20 feet. Pebler’s defense argued that she did not intend to kill her son, but acted out of fear.
Judge Weaver’s imposition of a three-year prison term, followed by a suspended sentence, reflects the court’s understanding of the case’s complexity. Pebler is expected to start her sentence immediately. Her post-incarceration release conditions will be closely monitored, with any breach potentially leading to additional prison time.