A Tahlequah resident has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Indian Country, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Colby Lin Deerinwater, also known as Colby Lyn Deerinwater, age 30, admitted guilt to one count of voluntary manslaughter, a felony offense that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case stems from an incident on July 5, 2024, when Deerinwater killed the victim during what was described as a sudden quarrel or heat of passion. The crime took place in Cherokee County within the Cherokee Nation Reservation boundaries.
Multiple agencies were involved in investigating the case: “The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Tahlequah Police Department.”
U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason A. Robertson accepted Deerinwater’s plea and ordered a presentence investigation report. Sentencing will be determined by a U.S. District Court Judge after consideration of federal sentencing guidelines and other legal factors.
Deerinwater is being held by the United States Marshals Service until sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the prosecution in this case.
