Joseph Quail, a 19-year-old Caucasian male, died on January 15, 2024, in Waterloo, Iowa. In the early morning hours, police were called to a residence where they discovered his body; he had sustained a fatal shotgun blast to his chest. The weapon, a shotgun, was located inside the home.
The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of 18-year-old Danielle Otterson. She was charged with involuntary manslaughter and possession of a short-barreled shotgun in connection with Quail's death.
Otterson later pleaded guilty to the charges.
During legal proceedings, Otterson claimed the shooting was an accident. She told law enforcement that she was handling the sawed-off shotgun, working the slide, when her finger slipped and hit the trigger, causing the weapon to discharge. She also stated that she believed the gun was not loaded at the time of the incident. Her defense attorneys pointed to her difficult upbringing and the fact that she was still a high school student as mitigating factors. Conversely, the prosecutor highlighted her drug use and failure to meet probation requirements during her pre-trial release. Ultimately, the judge sentenced Otterson to two concurrent five-year prison terms and ordered her to pay $150,000 in restitution.
