The horse didn't kill her mother, she did and now she's going to prison

The Horse Didn’t Kill Her Mother, She Did and Now She’s Going to Prison

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1 min read
July 22, 2025

CORTLAND, N.Y. — A Fulton woman was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of her mother after an eight-day trial in Cortland County and has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, prosecutors announced.

Ariela Thran, 33, was found guilty by a jury for the December 2023 murder of her mother, Patricia “Allison” Halverson, whose body was discovered on January 3, 2024, near farming equipment at her Solon, N.Y. residence. The body had been exposed to the elements, and the case was initially complex due to the lack of a murder weapon.

Initially Thran tried to pin the murder on a horse. That didn’t seem to gallop right with the jury and the judge.

The investigation, led by New York State Police Troop “C” Major Crimes Unit, spanned three states and several counties. Prosecutors relied heavily on circumstantial and digital evidence to link Thran to the crime.

District Attorney Patrick Perfetti called the conviction “a testament to our system of justice,” and praised Assistant District Attorneys Richard Van Donsel and Zachariah Zallo for leading the prosecution.

“Today’s verdict brought justice for Ms. Halverson, her grandchildren, family, and friends,” ADA Zallo said.

Thran will be eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 25 years.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

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