Jessica 0 #1 September 5, 2002 Police say pet helped to solve murder Detective: Bird collected DNA while fighting off owner's killers 09/04/2002 By TIM WYATT / The Dallas Morning News "Bird" loved Kevin Butler so much that he died trying to fend off his owner's killers. The 18-inch white-crested cockatoo couldn't save Mr. Butler, but police say Bird helped solve his brutal Christmas Eve slaying. DNA found on the bloody beak of the dead cockatoo provided the key evidence to put a suspect at the murder scene of Mr. Butler, 48, in Pleasant Grove, a Dallas police detective testified Tuesday at an examining trial. A day before a Dallas grand jury decides whether Johnny Serna, 22, and Daniel Torres, 30, should be tried for capital murder, Detective Brent Mauldin told a judge that Bird "came to his owner's rescue by diving and pecking at Torres" during a violent struggle in Mr. Butler's living room. "The bird attacked him, and he stabbed at him with a fork," Detective Mauldin testified. The bird flew to the kitchen but carried a sample of the killer's blood, he said. "So he forked the bird?" prosecutor George West asked. "Yes," Detective Mauldin answered. Police took the bodies of Mr. Butler and Bird to the Dallas County medical examiner's office. Tests found that Mr. Butler had been bound, beaten and stabbed multiple times. The cockatoo was missing a leg and died from a stab wound to the back. Mr. Serna and Mr. Torres denied any involvement in the crime until test results came back in July with a DNA match of evidence collected from Bird's beak and a sample taken from Mr. Torres months earlier. Faced with the evidence, the detective testified, Mr. Serna confessed that his half brother slashed Mr. Butler's throat while he searched the house for valuables. Police said the slaying was the result of a long-running feud between Mr. Serna and Mr. Butler because Mr. Serna had altered a check Mr. Butler gave him to pay for an aboveground pool liner. Mr. Serna is being held in the Dallas County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail; Mr. Torres is being held in lieu of $750,000 bail. Mr. Butler's body was discovered in his living room by a friend who went to his house after Mr. Butler failed to show up for Christmas dinner. His truck and a videocassette recorder were stolen, along with about $1,200 in cash, according to police reports. Mr. Butler's truck was found a few days later. Detective Mauldin told Judge Jim Pruitt that an analysis on more forensic evidence collected from Mr. Butler's truck had not been completed. Mr. Serna's DNA samples did not match any of the samples collected, nor were his fingerprints found in Mr. Butler's home in the 3300 block of Etta Drive, near Scyene Road and Prairie Creek Road. Mr. Serna and Mr. Torres live in the block behind Mr. Butler's house. Mr. Butler got the cockatoo from a friend two years ago and named him after former NBA great Larry Bird, Mr. West said. Tests on the bird did not determine his age. Cockatoos are large members of the parrot family known for being intelligent, affectionate and having boisterous personalities. Mr. West said the bond between Mr. Butler and Bird was obvious. "Bird died valiantly," Mr. West said. "There were feathers scattered through the house, and he put up a fight, no doubt about that. "Kevin's family and co-workers have told me that you just didn't mess with Kevin while that bird was around."Skydiving is for cool people only Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #2 September 5, 2002 I like to think my pycho attack kitty would also try to protect me from anybody, but i hope i never have to find out. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viking 0 #3 September 5, 2002 i know for a fact that my dog Emily would go down fighting!! that dog goes ape shit if the UPS guys even knock on the door. and god forbid you should use the door bell!! I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #4 September 5, 2002 Are you trying to justify the fact that your birds have taken chunks out of me every time I've seen them? Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymut 0 #5 September 5, 2002 QuoteBeware of man approaching with fork in hand... Matt A well-informed person is somebody who has the same views and opinions as yours. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
