MURDER (2 COUNTS) - GUILTY
BURGLARY - GUILTY
THEFT BY TAKING - GUILTY
MICHAEL WILLARD
BUTTRAM
MURDER (2 COUNTS) - GUILTY
BURGLARY - GUILTY
THEFT BY TAKING - GUILTY
In March, 1999, Michael Willard Buttram, without authority, entered into the home of Mildred Cantrell. Mildred called 911 and as she asked for assistance, the phone went dead. Buttram murdered 19 year old Tara Cantrell. He then chased Tara's mother, Mildred, into the laundry room. With Mildred Cantrell on her knees, he shot her 4 times and then executed her with one more shot to the head. When the 911 operator called back, Buttram answered the phone. When the operator asked for the woman who has just called, he responded in a perfectly calm voice; sure, hold on a just a minute. He then hung up the phone, stole Tara's car and left. Buttram was the subject of nation wide man hunt until he finally turned himself in. Tara's car was recovered in El Paso, Texas.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty on all counts, and the jury sentenced him to Life without Parole on the two murder counts. The court imposed additional sentences of 20 years for the Burglary and 10 years for the theft by taking.
PROSECUTORS
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
Patrick Head, District
Attorney Marc Cella
Russ Parker, Sr. Asst. District
Attorney
Gary Walker
Laura Murphree, Asst. District Attorney