Springfield residents charged in Rutland killing; federal prosecutors decline death-penalty notice
Two men identified as residents of Springfield are among four people federally indicted in connection with a November 2024 shooting in Rutland that left a 32-year-old man dead, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Vermont announced this week.
Federal prosecutors say Dylin “Slim” Wainscott, 30, and Precious “P” Okorie, 32, both of Springfield, were charged by a grand jury in Rutland with participating in a conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs during which the fatal shooting occurred. The defendants had previously been charged by Rutland County prosecutors in state court in connection with the same homicide.
The shooting happened shortly after 7 p.m. Nov. 15, 2024, outside a duplex at 17-19 Elm St. in Rutland. The victim, identified by local authorities as Christopher Hale, 32, of Rutland, was taken to Rutland Regional Medical Center and died about a half hour later. Police and an autopsy attributed the death to a gunshot wound to the torso.
"The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Thursday it filed a notice that it would not be seeking the death penalty in connection with these charges."
The notice that the federal government would not pursue the death penalty was filed the same week a new indictment first charged Wainscott and Okorie with causing a death through the discharge of a firearm on Nov. 15, 2024, during the alleged drug conspiracy. If convicted on the homicide-related federal counts, both defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Two other individuals named in the federal indictment are Dakota Moretti, 35, and Nichole Siliski, 40, both of Rutland. The indictment charges them with participating in the drug distribution conspiracy; if convicted, Siliski and Moretti face a maximum of 20 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Federal filings related to the case also reflect prior grand jury activity. Earlier indictments charged Wainscott with possession of ammunition as a convicted felon on Nov. 15, 2024; charged Wainscott, Okorie, Siliski and Moretti with conspiring to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl; and charged Wainscott and Okorie with discharge of a firearm during the conspiracy.
- Victim: Christopher Hale, 32, Rutland
- Location of shooting: 17-19 Elm St., Rutland
- Date: Nov. 15, 2024, shortly after 7 p.m.
- Springfield defendants: Dylin Wainscott, 30; Precious Okorie, 32
- Rutland defendants: Dakota Moretti, 35; Nichole Siliski, 40
For Springfield residents, the case highlights the intersection of local lives and out-of-state prosecutions: two Springfield men are facing federal counts filed in Vermont with potentially severe penalties. Officials in Rutland and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are handling the prosecution; details in the indictments show coordinated state and federal efforts to address alleged drug trafficking and associated violence.
| Charge | Defendants named | Maximum penalty if convicted |
|---|---|---|
| Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl | Wainscott, Okorie, Siliski, Moretti | Up to 20 years (for some counts) |
| Causing a death by discharge of a firearm (during drug conspiracy) | Wainscott, Okorie | Up to life in prison |
| Possession of ammunition as a convicted felon | Wainscott | Varies by federal statute |
Officials did not provide additional public comments in the notice announcing the decision not to seek the death penalty. The federal filing followed state-level charges and earlier grand jury actions in Vermont that outlined multiple counts related to arms possession and drug distribution.
As the federal case moves forward in Vermont, Springfield residents and local law enforcement will be watching for developments. The overlapping federal and state charges mean defendants may face prolonged legal proceedings, and if convictions are secured at the federal level, sentences could be lengthy.
Anyone seeking court records or official updates on the indictments should consult the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont or Rutland County court filings for the most current information.
