TX - James, 48 & Michelle Butler, 46, driving RV to Fort Lauderdale from Corpus Christi, 14 Oct 2019

[otto]

If one wanted to cross to Mexico with less intense scrutiny Del Rio would be a better choice . Less commercial traffic less intense search less K9 teams was my thought. Sorry wasn't very clear. Need a nap !!

Thank you! So the thinking is that the vehicles were stolen and taken to Mexico through Del Rio, where the border is lax?

 

[otto]

Their bodies were found in the exact location that their camper had been parked, as they were boondocking on the beach near mile marker 263. They were seen as they entered the area on the 14th. Family posted a timeline and I posted it upthread a bit.

I tend to believe that someone surprised them during the evening of Oct 16 or early morning of Oct 17. They texted family on the 16th and were supposed to face time a granddaughter for her birthday on the 17th, which they never did. Most opportune time for the attack would be if they were sitting outside before going to bed, maybe enjoying the water, reading, etc. James allegedly had a gun for protection according to family posting on the Missing FB page, so I think that would have made it more difficult for someone to break in during the overnight hours. All links previously posted and partially JMO

Like this? Bodies 3 miles South of Bob Hall Pier.

 

[otto]

The truck and RV was spotted on camera crossing into Mexico on Oct 21, at the Del Rio border crossing.

Is there in information about locations after Oct 21 at Del Rio border?

 

[Luckyzmom]

Not so much lax, more resources go to busier crossings. Commercial vehicles allow far more opportunities to conceal contriban and humans. Sad

 

[Lilibet]

Would their 2018 Chevy Silverado truck have any kind of GPS location device?

If we know their truck and trailer were observed entering Mexico, does that mean that they had their original NH plates? Those plates would certainly stand out from a distance when mixed in with Texas-licensed vehicles.

And there has to be other highway/ gas station footage of that rig.

Does anyone know how far it is from where they were last seen to the border crossing?

BBM

My husband and I were full time RVers from 2003-2011. This is tragic. It just breaks my heart.

Many full timers change their state of residency to TX for tax reasons (also SD and NV). Is it possible they had gone through this process in TX and had TX plates? Often people would establish residency at an Escapees RV Park in TX.

I remember walking across the border from Del Rio to Cuidad Acunas. It didn’t seem like a major crossing at that time. This time of year many “winter Texans” start arriving in RVs, so their truck and RV wouldn’t really stand out on Hwy 90 IMO.

In all those years we only boon-docked once and it was fairly remote. I remember being a little nervous. My husband told me later that a guy drove by in a car and yelled something threatening. One other time we drove into an RV Park that was mostly “permanents” who looked like extras from “Deliverance.” We turned around, got our money back (thankfully) and left.

But overall, for those considering full-timing, it’s a really neat way of life. I say go for it, but exercise caution and awareness. What happened to the Butlers was an unusual event, not the norm. And I’m so sorry they didn’t get to do it longer.

 

[zecats]

Is there in information about locations after Oct 21 at Del Rio border?

View attachment 212957

None. But the family didn't report them missing until Oct 23, so 2 days had passed since the camera caught the truck crossing the border, with the statement that it was NOT James driving.

 

[otto]

I am reminded of another double murder of a couple on a road trip. It turned out that the suspect befriended or was friendly with the couple at a gas station. What exactly happened next is unknown, but the suspect drove away from the crime scene in the victim's truck. The RV was torched with the bodies.

Point being that it might not be two people.

I agree with others that this might be someone that they met while camping, or while stopped somewhere. It could be one person who commandeered them.

Did they have weapons?

 

[zecats]

Like this? Bodies 3 miles South of Bob Hall Pier.

View attachment 212956

¥es but info I saw stated the pier was only mile from where they were camped. However, it still was fairly isolated.

 

[otto]

It was deactivated. Family tried to find them through their cell phones, their GPS /OnStar...whatever device they had. All turned off...links provided previously.

They were found through a cell phone.

There was a young woman in Mobile Alabama whose GPS was de-activated and then she was found miles away submerged in her car in the bayou. I guess it's relatively easy to de-activate the equipment if people know what they're doing, especially car thieves.

 

[zecats]

BBM

My husband and I were full time RVers from 2003-2011. This is tragic. It just breaks my heart.

Many full timers change their state of residency to TX for tax reasons (also SD and NV). Is it possible they had gone through this process in TX and had TX plates? Often people would establish residency at an Escapees RV Park in TX.

I remember walking across the border from Del Rio to Cuidad Acunas. It didn’t seem like a major crossing at that time. This time of year many “winter Texans” start arriving in RVs, so their truck and RV wouldn’t really stand out on Hwy 90 IMO.

In all those years we only boon-docked once and it was fairly remote. I remember being a little nervous. My husband told me later that a guy drove by in a car and yelled something threatening. One other time we drove into an RV Park that was mostly “permanents” who looked like extras from “Deliverance.” We turned around, got our money back (thankfully) and left.

But overall, for those considering full-timing, it’s a really neat way of life. I say go for it, but exercise caution and awareness. What happened to the Butlers was an unusual event, not the norm. And I’m so sorry they didn’t get to do it longer.

Family stated they had been out west, had been working somewhere on the coast. They were headed to Florida to work at a Christmas tree farm, and were to start Nov 20. I believe Texas was a stop on the way and they also planned to visit New Orleans. So they appear to have been traveling and working odd jobs to support their journey. IMO

 

[zecats]

They were found through a cell phone.

There was a young woman in Mobile Alabama whose GPS was de-activated and then she was found miles away submerged in her car in the bayou. I guess it's relatively easy to de-activate the equipment if people know what they're doing, especially car thieves.

I know. That part is strange. Their phone did ping near the bodies.

Maybe it was meant that no one answered the cell or it went to voice mail. I did read that attempts were made to track the truck by GPS and that have been turned off. Someone seems to have known what to do, perhaps has done this before - at least the vehicle stealing part anyway.

 

[otto]

¥es but info I saw stated the pier was only mile from where they were camped. However, it still was fairly isolated.

Maybe the pier was one mile in one direction and their bodies were 2 miles in the other direction? Their bodies were 3 miles from the pier.

 

[zecats]

Remains of New Hampshire couple found buried on Texas beach sparks homicide investigation

The couple had been traveling around the country since June 2018, taking part-time jobs along the way to supplement their travels. They were previously living in Rumney, a small town with a population of about 1,500 in New Hampshire.

Deborah van Loon, James Butler’s sister, said when she last spoke to her brother on Oct. 16, he requested that she show their home to perspective buyers.

 

[otto]

Family stated they had been out west, had been working somewhere on the coast. They were headed to Florida to work at a Christmas tree farm, and were to start Nov 20. I believe Texas was a stop on the way and they also planned to visit New Orleans. So they appear to have been traveling and working odd jobs to support their journey. IMO

Thanks. I wondered if they had been travelling in Mexico and returned through Del Rio.

I guess it was bad luck that the couple wasn't reported missing until Oct 23rd. If the were abducted and murdered on Oct. 14, why did the bad guy wait a week to cross the border? Was he waiting to hear for the all clear? It certainly wasn't a bolt for the border scenario. Why not?

 

[zecats]

Thanks. I wondered if they had been travelling in Mexico and returned through Del Rio.

I guess it was bad luck that the couple wasn't reported missing until Oct 23rd. If the were abducted and murdered on Oct. 14, why did the bad guy wait a week to cross the border? Was he waiting to hear for the all clear? It certainly wasn't a bolt for the border scenario. Why not?

See link above - James talked to his sister on the 16th so they were not killed on the 14th. They were supposed to call again on the 17th to wish a grandchild happy birthday and they never called and were not heard from after that. Likely killed 10/16-10/17. Good question what went on between then and Oct 21, 4-5 days.

ETA Here is link Remains of New Hampshire couple found buried on Texas beach sparks homicide investigation

 

[zecats]

Maybe the pier was one mile in one direction and their bodies were 2 miles in the other direction? Their bodies were 3 miles from the pier.

You are correct.

"The section of beach where both bodies were found, known to residents as "the bowl," is about three miles south of Bob Hall Pier and is a desolate section of beach."

Bodies found on Texas beach identified as New Hampshire couple

 

[otto]

I need to visualize

 

[zecats]

Lots more to the story and their travels/ temp work here. And about James' career in the Navy.
Rumney couple killed in Texas had been living an unconventional dream

James and Michelle Butler set out on an adventure in summer 2018, traveling the country in a camper, but on Friday it was confirmed they were murdered in Texas last month at a beach campsite near Corpus Christi.

They went to Texas to work as gate guards on an oil rig, van Loon said, signing people in and out. They returned to New Hampshire in May for the wedding of James Butler’s niece. The Butlers visited again in September to see Michelle Butler’s son marry, staying for a week to spend time with family.

In October, the Butlers left their oil rig jobs and started making their way east toward their next gig in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. When they reached Corpus Christi, a beach town on the Gulf of Mexico, van Loon said they decided to stay a while. The couple found a campsite on a Padre Island beach where they could park the RV for free.


They had been there just over two weeks when Michelle Butler’s family tried to reach her for one of their regular video calls, but she did not pick up.

It was not like the Butlers to not answer the phone and the family began to worry. They reported the Butlers missing on Oct. 23.

 

[otto]

Did I read that they were found in an area called "the bowl?"
Is this what that means?

"The section of beach where both bodies were found, known to residents as "the bowl," is about three miles south of Bob Hall Pier and is a desolate section of beach."​

Bodies found on Texas beach identified as New Hampshire couple

 

[otto]

I find it unusual that someone who is not a local would know that 3 miles South of the pier is a good place to hide a body. Without the cell phone ping, they would have never been found.

How did the cell phone remain active and not confiscated by the suspect from Oct 14 to Oct 21? Where was the cell phone found on the body? In a pocket, or tossed on top?