Local hunter charged in woman's death may accept plea deal

HEBRON (WGME) – A local hunter, accused of manslaughter in a woman's death, may accept a plea agreement next week.

State police say Karen Wrentzel was shot and killed 22 months ago, on the opening day of deer hunting season.

"Karen was full of life. She loved doing anything and everything," grandmother Beverly Spofford said.

Karen Wrentzel was a Maine river guide and outdoor enthusiast.

Twenty-two months ago Wednesday, Karen woke up, made coffee, and sat with her grandmother for a long talk.

"We sat and talked for an hour, hour and a half, about all kinds of things. In fact, she was saying she'd like to be baptized," Spofford said.

Wrentzel owned land in Hebron by her grandmother, and left that morning to dig for local gemstones.

"She said 'Don't worry about me. I'll be up when it gets dark,'" Spofford said. "She had gone down through the woods there. Hadn't been gone very long, and I heard this gunshot."

Beverly didn't think much of it, so she left to visit her sister nearby.

That's when she saw an ambulance race by, and she went to see what was wrong.

"Come around the corner, and they're all in front of Karen's land," Spofford said.

Police then told her Karen had been shot and killed.

She later realized she was standing by two hunters.

"A deputy sheriff came over and said 'Which one of you is the shooter?’ The one exactly across from me said 'I was.’ He never said one word to me," Spofford said.

The Attorney General's Office says next week that hunter, Robert Trundy, will be in court for a plea hearing, but details of a possible plea deal are not being released.

Trundy is charged with manslaughter and failure to render aid.

"She could have still been alive, and maybe she was," Spofford said. "That bothers me more than anything. That's what made me the angriest."

Since the shooting, the Spoffords and several families have posted signs to let hunters know they need permission to go on their land.

"The hunters really should ask permission to go on your land. I want people to ask permission," Spofford said.

She says had the hunters just asked, her granddaughter would still be alive.

"It didn't have to happen," Spofford said.