Husband who cradled dying wife now indicted in fatal shooting, NC officials say
.png "“Decorated soldier” Rachael Loken died Jan. 3 at her home in Moore County’s West End community, but her husband’s indictment came 10 months later, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office said in a Nov. 18 news release")
An unusual “accidental” killing has become a criminal case, with a widower facing involuntary manslaughter accusations in the shooting of his wife, according to investigators in North Carolina.
“Decorated soldier” Rachael Loken died Jan. 3 at her home in Moore County’s West End community, but her husband’s indictment came just this week, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office said in a Nov. 18 news release.
“The initial report indicated that a firearm discharged while being handled in an adjacent room by her husband, Christopher Loken,” the sheriff’s office said in the release.
“Following a review of the case, the Moore County grand jury returned a true bill of indictment for one count of involuntary manslaughter.”
Christopher Loken was arrested and is being held without bond. His first court appearance is Dec. 8, officials said.
Rachael Loken’s death “was reported as accidental,” the sheriff’s office says, but detectives continued “examining all aspects of the incident to determine the circumstances.”
Details of that investigation have not been released.
A GoFundMe campaign organized by Rachel Loken’s family noted she “passed away in the arms of her husband.”
“Rachael was a decorated soldier who honorably served our country for over 15+ years. She was a loving wife, a devoted mother to her stepson Nate and son Wyatt,” the GoFundMe campaign says. “Chris, a recently retired soldier and a dedicated volunteer firefighter with the West End Fire Department, is now faced with unimaginable grief and the daunting task of navigating life without his soulmate.”
An obituary reports Rachael Loken, 41, enlisted in the U.S. Army in February 2007 and earned the rank of Master Sergeant.
A charge of involuntary manslaughter applies in cases of “unlawful killing of a person without malice, without premeditation and deliberation, and without the intent to kill or inflict serious bodily injury,” according to the University of North Carolina School of Government.
This story was originally published November 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM.