Butler murder case goes to Grand Jury

William Alan Butler, the father accused of murdering his 13-year-old son two weeks ago, has waived a preliminary hearing in Magistrate Court and the case has been sent on to Morgan County Circuit Court.

William Allan Butler, 73, of Fulton Road, Hedgesville, is accused of shooting his adopted son, Andrew Arthur Butler, when the two went outside to fire handguns on Saturday evening, June 18.

Butler told police that he was standing five feet in front of his son, showing him where to fire the gun. He turned his back, heard a shot that he believed was directed at him, spun around and fired at his son, striking him in the right eye, according to the criminal complaint filed by Deputy Sheriff C. H. Cobern.

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

With the preliminary hearing waived, the case may be presented to the Grand Jury for a possible murder indictment against Butler on September 6.