MEDFORD, Ore. (Jun 12. 2026) — A Prospect man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty in a case involving the fatal shooting of his partner and multiple counts related to the sexual assault and abuse of animals.
The Jackson County District Attorney’s Office announced that Chad McPherson, 33, pleaded guilty Thursday to first-degree manslaughter, three counts of sexual assault of an animal and two counts of first-degree aggravated animal abuse.
Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Pro Tem Paul Moser sentenced McPherson to 35 years in the Oregon Department of Corrections, followed by three years of post-prison supervision. McPherson also will be required to register as a sex offender.
The case began June 5, 2025, when McPherson called 911 to report finding his partner, 52-year-old Anthony Monteleone, injured inside their Prospect home. Deputies with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and emergency medical personnel responded to the residence and discovered Monteleone suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was transported to a hospital but later died from his injuries.
Investigators said evidence at the scene was inconsistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. During the investigation, a witness contacted law enforcement and reported being inside the home when the shooting occurred.
According to prosecutors, the witness said McPherson and Monteleone had been arguing when she heard Monteleone tell McPherson to put away a gun. She then heard a single gunshot. The witness told investigators that McPherson hurried her from the home and that she returned to her residence near Bend because she feared for her safety. Detectives later corroborated details placing her at the scene.
Authorities also observed numerous surveillance cameras throughout the residence and property. Investigators believed a storage device connected to the camera system had been removed and tampered with. After conducting an extensive search, detectives located a hard drive in a wooded area near the home that appeared to have been discarded.
Prosecutors said a search warrant allowed investigators to recover footage from two camera angles showing the moments leading up to the shooting. According to the district attorney’s office, the video showed McPherson removing a pistol from his waistband and pointing it at Monteleone during an argument before firing a shot into a nearby wall.
Monteleone then entered a bedroom while McPherson remained outside, prosecutors said. As Monteleone reopened a pocket door that had been shut, McPherson allegedly thrust the firearm toward the partially opened doorway. Investigators determined the gun penetrated the door and discharged, striking Monteleone in the head.
Authorities said McPherson failed to render aid following the shooting. Instead, investigators alleged he removed the witness from the home, altered the scene to suggest the shooting was self-inflicted, disconnected surveillance equipment and discarded shell casings.
McPherson later told investigators he did not intend to shoot Monteleone and that the firearm discharged unintentionally as he forced the barrel through the door, according to prosecutors.
During the homicide investigation, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office released photographs from inside the residence that showed distinctive decorations. Prosecutors said those images prompted tips from two separate organizations focused on animal welfare investigations. The groups reported they believed the residence could be connected to individuals they had been attempting to identify in videos depicting animal abuse.
Based on that information, investigators obtained additional search warrants for electronic devices seized from the home. Prosecutors said detectives discovered numerous videos involving McPherson and Monteleone that depicted sexual assaults involving dogs, deer and goats.
Two dogs shown in the videos had been located at the residence during the homicide investigation, according to the district attorney’s office. Investigators also found videos showing McPherson and Monteleone killing animals, prosecutors said.
In announcing the sentence, the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office thanked the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for what it described as an extensive investigation into an exceptionally difficult case.
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