Local News
Buttrey pleads guilty to murder
Robert Earl Buttrey, formerly of Walnut Springs, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder last Friday in 249th District Court in Somervell County.
Buttrey, aka Robbie Buttrey and Robbie Buttery, will serve two five-year sentences concurrently with credit for 1,021 days served in the Somervell County jail, meaning he could be freed on parole today, according to Dick Turner, one of his Cleburne attorneys. Buttrey was previously represented by Cleburne attorneys Ben Hill Turner and Shelly Fowler.
“[Assistant District Attorney] Martin Strahan and I prepared the case. We were ready to go to trial. We spoke to the families of both victims, and they knew what the evidence was,” said Assistant District Attorney Larry Chambliss
Buttrey was charged and indicted in 2006 in connection with the double homicide of Casey Tiner and T.J. Steele, Granbury High students who disappeared in Hood County in August 2000. Law enforcement officials determined they were last seen with Buttrey.
Investigators said Steele’s car was found near Comanche Peak with the keys still inside. That car later caught fire.
Buttrey was in the car with Steele and Tiner the night before the victims’ disappearance, said Somervell County chief deputy Darrell McCravey.
McCravey said in 2007 that the vehicle was found within walking distance of where Buttrey was picked up on Peak Road by his girlfriend the next morning.
Buttrey called his girlfriend, McCravey said, to say that he, Steele and Tiner had argued.
Tiner and Steele were rumored at the time to have eloped to California.
A later report had them living in Stephenville.
Their bones were discovered by a seismograph crew on a ranch in Somervell County in December 2000.
The remains had been in that location since shortly after Steele and Tiner were reported missing, McCravey said.
The bones were identified as the missing boy and girl by forensic anthropologists studying DNA and dental records.
The deaths were ruled homicides by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Buttrey was sought for questioning but had disappeared.
He turned up in Arizona, was arrested and transported to Tarrant County, where he was wanted on a misdemeanor assault charge.
He was later housed at Somervell County jail while he awaited trial.
“There was an indication from Buttrey that he wanted to plead to the minimum,” Chambliss said. “We presented that to the families. It was their thought that we should do [a plea agreement to five years]. I’m sure it was a very difficult decision. It was made by all of us together. My heart goes out to both families.”
Chambliss declined comment on the quality of the evidence in the case.
“We were prepared to go to trial,” he said. “We would have done our very best. What the jury would have decided, only God knows.”
- Cleburne
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Burglars hit Joshua, Venus and Alvarado
Bond was set at $1,500 Friday for Timothy Hungate, a 50-year-old Burleson man charged with assault bodily injury.
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Chamber: Come one, come all to the business expo
The Cleburne Chamber of Commerce is banking on a little change doing the Business and Outdoor Exposition a little good.
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Court rules for woman
The Texas Supreme Court on Aug. 27 ruled that a Joshua woman paralyzed in a 2005 crash can pursue a contempt-of-court action against Toyota Motor Corp. for allegedly hiding information about automobile defects, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
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Robertson retires from recreation
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Cleburne man faces assault charge
A 62-year-old Cleburne man was magistrated Thursday in the court of Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 Ronny McBroom for assault.
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Burglars hit Joshua, Venus and Alvarado
- Johnson County
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Johnson County Emergency Services District No. 1 Director Joey Reed shows his awards, commendations and badges collected over a lifetime of service with fire departments in Texas and California, including Burleson, Arlington, Haltom City and Los Angeles County.
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Stoked about his job
A visitor to Joey Reed’s office immediately encounters a variety of awards, commendations, medals, pictures, model fire engines, helmets and other mementos from a life’s work in firefighting.
- Burglars hit Joshua, Venus and Alvarado
- Chamber: Come one, come all to the business expo
- Court rules for woman
- Law enforcement, community stand by widow
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Stoked about his job
- Alvarado
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Police arrest suspected cemetery vandals
Alvarado police took into custody three juveniles who are suspected of damaging more than 100 gravestones in Alvarado’s Balch Cemetery, Police Chief Josh Vincent said Friday.
- Police officer benefit concert today
- Friday night sights
- Vandals desecrate cemetery
- Stage set for benefit honoring officer
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Police arrest suspected cemetery vandals
- Burleson
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Burglars hit Joshua, Venus and Alvarado
Bond was set at $1,500 Friday for Timothy Hungate, a 50-year-old Burleson man charged with assault bodily injury.
- Officer files suit against city
- Friday night sights
- Crash claims life of Burleson drag racer
- Businessman says city’s first tattoo studio will be upscale
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Burglars hit Joshua, Venus and Alvarado
- Godley
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Riggin Cleveland, front right of the edge of the banner, and Garrett Murdick, back left edge, with their teammates at the 2008 Walk To Defeat ALS and their inspiration for walking, Riggin’s grandmother, Barbara Turner, standing with a walking aid.
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Godley boys not leaving the side of those in ALS fight
Two teenage boys from Godley soon may be visiting a grocery store near you. They won’t necessarily be looking for groceries, but, rather, sponsors to help them participate in a fund drive to raise money for the ALS Association of North Texas.
- Friday night sights
- Believe and see
- Godley man arrested on suspicion of assault
- Explosion reported at munitions plant between Godley and Cresson
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Godley boys not leaving the side of those in ALS fight
- Grandview
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Police officer benefit concert today
A concert benefiting a Grandview police officer injured in the line of duty kicks off at 5 p.m. today in Alvarado.
- Friday night sights
- Stage set for benefit honoring officer
- Free concert to feature local bands
- Snow cone devotees turn out to help Grandview officer
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Police officer benefit concert today
- Joshua
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Friday night sights
Football was in the air this weekend as Johnson County teams hit the field for the first time in 2010.
- Duty earns Joshua student prestigious ROTC award
- Man found dead hit by car; driver interviewed
- Partners in fighting crime
- Joshua man scuffles with police
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Friday night sights
- Keene
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Friday night sights
Football was in the air this weekend as Johnson County teams hit the field for the first time in 2010.
- Assistance program on table
- Former Keene teacher pleads not guilty
- Garage sale a booster to prison Bible studies
- Keene teacher indicted
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Friday night sights
- Rio Vista
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Friday night sights
Football was in the air this weekend as Johnson County teams hit the field for the first time in 2010.
- Three hospitalized in Rio Vista wreck
- Fort Worth man killed in Rio Vista wreck
- Hobbs looking to rebuild Eagle football from the ground up
- Godley, Grandview and Rio Vista grab accolades
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Friday night sights
- Venus
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Rusty Redden, a former offender, leads the men and their family members in bible study during a No Turning Back support group meeting Tuesday at Venus United Methodist Church.
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No turning back
Jimmy Humphus had an idea. He had already ministered to prisoners for three years at the Sanders Estes unit, a small minimum security prison in Venus.
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No turning back
