A younger West Virginia jockey charged with first-degree homicide was linked to the crime by cellphone information, in response to Maryland prosecutors.
Bryson Butterfly, above, claimed he had met the sufferer to purchase medication and was ambushed by two males. Prosecutors say the jockey was the “ringleader,” who orchestrated the deadly theft. (Picture: Thoroughbred Every day Information)
Bryson Butterfly, 18, was a promising rider who raced recurrently on the Hollywood On line casino at Charles City Races. However he was arrested by US Marshalls at his dwelling near the on line casino on June 23 on suspicion of collaborating within the homicide of his good friend, Elias Cieslak, 17.
Prosecutors declare Butterfly conspired with two others to rob Cieslak at gunpoint, however the holdup turned deadly. Cieslak was shot lifeless in Overlea, Md. on April 23.
David Lofton, 32, and one other 17-year-old, who is just not named as a result of he’s a minor, have additionally been charged with homicide.
Theft ‘Orchestrated’
Police spoke to Butterfly close to a McDonalds in Overlea shortly after discovering Cieslak’s physique. The jockey instructed officers he had picked the sufferer up in his Subaru Forester as a part of a medication deal. Cieslak had agreed to promote Butterfly 4 kilos of marijuana for $8,500, in response to courtroom paperwork.
Butterfly claimed that whereas the deal was taking place, two males confirmed up in a black Infiniti Q50 and robbed Cieslak of his medication as Butterfly fled. Butterfly instructed police he had left the world earlier than the sufferer was shot lifeless.
Police discovered $7,700 in counterfeit cash on the crime scene.
Suspicious of Butterfly, investigators examined information of his cellphone, which he claimed had been stolen within the theft. They found that the telephone referred to as the cellphone of the youthful alleged robber shortly earlier than Butterfly picked up Cieslak in his automotive.
Data additionally appeared to point out Butterfly was in fixed contact with Lofton on the day of the crime.
After the killing, the telephone traveled to — or near – an tackle in West Baltimore, the place Butterfly had claimed to dwell. It pinged off the mast on the similar time the jockey was being interviewed by police.
‘Circumstantial Proof’
At a bail listening to on Wednesday, Butterfly’s lawyer Sara Kopecki argued the state’s case was “based mostly at finest on circumstantial proof,” as reported by The Baltimore Sun.
State prosecutors painted Butterfly because the “ringleader” of the theft.
Cieslak’s father, Juan Cieslak, stated Wednesday the sufferer was proud to observe Butterfly competing in races on TV and wore a T-shirt with the accused’s face printed on it.
“I want I might have my son again they usually might have theirs,” he instructed The Baltimore Solar after the listening to, referring to Butterfly’s members of the family. “They will speak to their son on the telephone, however I can’t speak to my son in heaven.”
Butterfly was denied bail and stays incarcerated within the Baltimore County Detention Middle. A preliminary listening to within the case is scheduled for August 18.
