Sacramento Sheriff’s Department homicide detectives have arrested Neven Glen Butler, 18, of North Highlands for the murder of 86-year-old Fusako Petrus. Butler was already being held in jail on assault and elder abuse charges stemming from unrelated attack on Wednesday.
In reference to that second incident, Sgt. Tony Turnbull, a spokesman for the department, said a call came in about an assault in the 2200 block of Northrop Avenue in Sacramento. Investigators said unprovoked, Butler physically assaulted a 92-year-old woman and left her with facial injuries. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Butler was reportedly still in the area when deputies arrived. He was taken into custody without incident. Detectives said collected evidence and witness interviews are what lead them to finally decide to charge Butler with the killing of Petrus.
Sacramento County Sheriff's Department booking photo of 18-year-old Neven Glen Butler arrested for the murder of 86-year-old woman at Highland High.
A little after 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday that the Sheriff’s Communication Center received a 9-1-1 about two women being attacked near the running track at Highlands High School. Deputies went there and found the woman. The deputies said Petrus was unresponsive, so they immediately began CPR. Sacramento Metro Fire responded and pronounced her deceased at the scene. The second woman, who was a walking companion of Petrus, was medically treated at the scene and did not go to the hospital. She is 61-years-old old.
Investigators said the two victims commonly walked in that area for exercise. The 61-year-old victim was initially attacked by Butler. They add that when Petrus heard the commotion, she attempted to assist her friend. The suspect then turned his attention to Petrus, sexually assaulted her and the other woman, then beat them both before running toward Walerga Road.