An Indiana judge has rejected a plea agreement that would have significantly reduced the prison sentence for a man accused of stalking and fatally shooting his girlfriend while she was hiding from him in a wooded area. The decision means the defendant will now face a murder trial later this year.
Derek Pixley, 34, is charged with murder in the death of Brittney Elizabeth Boman, 29, who survived for nearly three months after being shot before dying from her injuries in December 2022.
Judge Rejects Plea Agreement
According to court records, prosecutors and defense attorneys had negotiated a plea agreement under which Pixley would plead guilty to reckless homicide instead of murder.
The proposed agreement called for a six-year prison sentence, with credit for time already served reducing the actual time behind bars to fewer than five years.
However, Clark Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Karaffa rejected the agreement during a court hearing, stating that the proposed sentence was outside what the court considered reasonable.
The courtroom reacted with audible surprise after the judge announced his decision.
The ruling came after emotional statements from the victim’s family, including Boman’s mother, who strongly opposed the plea agreement.
Victim Was Hiding in Woods
The case began on Oct. 2, 2022, near Brownstown Road in Henryville, Indiana.
Investigators said Brittney Boman had gone into a wooded area to hide because she was trying to avoid her boyfriend, Derek Pixley.
According to statements she later gave investigators while hospitalized, Boman remembered being in the woods before losing consciousness.
When she regained awareness, she recalled seeing Pixley standing over her.
She had suffered a gunshot wound to the neck.
Emergency responders rushed her to the hospital, where doctors fought to save her life.
Victim Described the Shooting
Although critically injured, Boman survived for more than two months and was able to speak with investigators during her recovery.
According to investigators, she told deputies she had entered the woods specifically to hide from Pixley.
Family spokesperson Shawn Bostock later described what Boman remembered about the attack.
He said she reported being blinded by a bright light, hearing a gunshot, and immediately collapsing to the ground.
According to Bostock, she experienced severe pain and drifted in and out of consciousness before eventually waking to see Pixley standing over her.
Those statements became a key part of the investigation into her shooting.
Protective Order Was Already in Place
Authorities said Boman had previously obtained a protective order against Pixley before the shooting occurred.
Following the incident, Pixley was arrested in October 2022 on charges related to violating that protective order as well as possession of methamphetamine.
However, investigators continued examining the shooting for more than two years.
In May 2025, Pixley was arrested again and formally charged with murder in connection with Boman’s death.
Victim Died After Months in Hospital
Despite receiving extensive medical treatment, Boman never fully recovered from her injuries.
She died on Dec. 30, 2022, nearly three months after the shooting.
Her death led investigators to pursue homicide charges.
Mother Opposes Reduced Charge
During the plea hearing, Boman’s mother, Shawnee Goodman, urged the court not to accept the agreement.
She argued that the evidence supported a murder prosecution rather than reckless homicide.
“He shot at her twice,” Goodman said, adding that she believed important facts would never be presented if the case ended in a plea agreement.
She also alleged that Pixley had stalked her daughter before the shooting.
“It was not an accident, and there is no part of reckless homicide that sits well with me,” Goodman told the court.
Her emotional statement played a significant role before Judge Karaffa announced his decision to reject the plea.
Trial Scheduled for Later This Year
Following the rejection of the plea agreement, the case will now proceed toward trial.
Pixley remains charged with murder, and court records show that his jury trial is currently scheduled to begin on Nov. 30.
Prosecutors have not publicly explained why they initially agreed to reduce the charge from murder to reckless homicide.
Family Remembers Brittney Boman
Following her death, family members remembered Brittney Boman as someone who loved spending time outdoors and deeply cared for those around her.
Her obituary described her as a country girl who enjoyed fishing and being in nature.
It also noted that she loved her family fiercely, had a special affection for dogs—particularly blue heelers—and was passionate about encouraging children’s literacy.
Friends and relatives said she lived with energy, loyalty, and determination, adding that she would be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.
Case Continues
With the plea agreement now rejected, Derek Pixley will face a murder trial in Clark County later this year.
Prosecutors will seek to prove that the shooting was an intentional killing, while the defense will have the opportunity to challenge the evidence before a jury.
The case continues to draw attention because of the victim’s account of the shooting, the existence of a prior protective order, and the judge’s decision to reject a plea deal that would have resulted in a substantially shorter prison sentence.
