Former Sweet Home resident Page Lee Butterfield was sentenced April 6 to life in prison with no possibility of parole for second-degree murder after the 2019 killing of another Sweet Home man in what prosecutors described as an argument over a drug deal.
Butterfield, 27, was convicted in a jury trial in the death of Corey A. Burdick, 43, of Sweet Home, who was shot and killed at 541 Surrey Lane, off Ames Creek Drive, early on the morning of May 24, 2019. Ervin Larry Smith, of Sweet Home, was also shot; he was hospitalized and later recovered.
Butterfield was also convicted of second-degree felony assault with a firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm.
He was sentenced to life, with a minimum of 25 years, with no possibility of reduced sentence or participation in work release programs or other early release.
According to police, the murder occurred at a travel trailer occupied by Smith at 541 Surrey Lane. According to Police Chief Jeff Lynn at the time, Butterfield and the other two men all showed up at the residence “at about the same time” and an altercation broke out between Burdick and Butterfield.
Butterfield pled not guilty to five counts, claiming self defense. The defense claimed he was being robbed by Burdick and Smith during a drug deal.
Butterfield waived a jury trial and was found guilty by Judge Tom McHill.
Butterfield was arrested in Sisters several days after the shootings, when he was spotted by Oregon State Police officers.