Kiah Pritchett, bottom inset, killed 18-year-old Braeden Collins, top inset. (Courtroom screenshot from KOKI-TV/YouTube; Victim’s photo from his obituary; Mug shot from Cherokee County Sheriff Department)
A convicted felon from Oklahoma who fatally shot a teenager who’d hitched a ride after crashing his car was sentenced to five years in prison after a plea deal that outraged the victim’s family.
Kiah Pritchett learned his fate this week in the death of 18-year-old Braeden Collins. Pritchett pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and having a gun as a felon, prosecutors announced in a news release in 2023.
Collins’ mother, Jenny Bump, told local CBS affiliate KWTV that she will fight to keep Pritchett locked up.
“I’m glad he knows I’ll never forgive him,” said Bump. “I’m glad he knows that. I don’t think he cares; I’m just glad he knows. Because I promise you, I’m going to see to it that he never steps out free.”
In a statement, Pritchett said he was sorry while acknowledging that no apology would take away the family’s pain, KWTV reported.
Collins was killed on July 4, 2021, in Cherokee County, in the Cherokee Nation Reservation in Oklahoma. Collins had crashed his vehicle after a party. Pritchett, who was staying the night at a home nearby, heard the crash, went to help him out of his vehicle and agreed to give him a ride to a local store to meet his girlfriend, according to the affidavit.
During the ride, Collins, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, became belligerent and confrontational about the route Pritchett had been taking and the two men struggled over Pritchett’s gun, the government’s sentencing memo said. Pritchett gained control of the gun and shot and killed Collins, court documents said.
Deputies found Collins’ burned remains the next day in Pritchett’s charred Chevrolet Tahoe in a wooded area, authorities said. He had been shot in the head. Authorities found the gun while removing the Tahoe from a wrecker yard when the gun dropped from beneath the burned vehicle. The firearm appeared to have been fused to the bottom of the burned vehicle by the heat of the fire, court documents said.
Authorities said they linked Pritchett to the Tahoe when investigators retrieved the vehicle’s identification number. Court documents said a witness told investigators in September 2022 that Pritchett had admitted to killing “that kid” on accident, and that the gun accidentally went off, court documents said.
An obituary said Collins enjoyed playing baseball, going fishing, and playing with his dogs.
“He also looked forward to spending time hanging out with his friends,” the obit said. “Braeden loved life and always put a smile on the faces around him.”
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