Washington Mother Sentenced to 32 Years for Strangling Daughter and Transporting Body Cross-Country in U-Haul
A Washington state woman has been sentenced to 32 years in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of her 22-year-old daughter, whose body she transported more than 1,000 miles in a U-Haul truck. The sentencing, handed down in King County Superior Court, brings a legal close to a gruesome case that spanned across state lines from the Pacific Northwest to the American South.
Trista Fullerton, 46, was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of her daughter, Mary Fullerton. According to court documents, the incident occurred in October 2022 inside a sedan parked in Federal Way, Washington. Prosecutors detailed that following a heated argument, Trista strangled her daughter to death.
Following the murder, investigators say Fullerton concealed her daughter’s remains in a plastic bin. She subsequently rented a U-Haul truck and drove approximately 2,000 miles to Highfill, Arkansas, where she was eventually apprehended. The discovery was made after police responded to reports of a suspicious person; upon searching the vehicle, they found the victim’s remains still hidden inside the cargo area.
Defense Arguments and Background Context
During the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings, details emerged regarding the tumultuous relationship between the mother and daughter. The defense presented a narrative of a strained existence, noting that the two had been living out of their car at the time of the incident.
Fullerton initially attempted to raise objections to the murder charge by claiming self-defense. In interviews with detectives, she alleged that her daughter had become physically aggressive, prompting her to “snap.” Fullerton claimed she only intended to hold her daughter down until she stopped fighting, arguing that the death was an unintended consequence of a chaotic struggle rather than a premeditated act of malice.
However, investigators pointed to the calculated actions taken immediately following the death—specifically the concealment of the body and the cross-country flight—as evidence of consciousness of guilt. Background information provided to the court revealed that Fullerton had lost custody of her younger children years prior and had been living a transient lifestyle with Mary, which contributed to high tensions between the two.
By accepting a plea deal for first-degree murder, Fullerton avoided a potential life sentence. In addition to the 32-year prison term, the judge ordered 36 months of community custody upon her eventual release.
