Sean Morgan and Scott Swanson
The suspect in last week’s homicide was arraigned Tuesday afternoon, May 28, in Linn County Circuit Court on five charges, including murder.
Page Lee Butterfield, 25, appeared in front of Judge DeAnn L. Novotny, who set bail at $1 million. Butterfield is charged with murder, attempted murder, second-degree assault, felon in possession of a firearm and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Butterfield was located and arrested by Oregon State Police in Sisters the evening of Sunday, May 26, after a trooper spotted a red 2008 Ford Edge that an acquaintance of Butterfield’s had reported stolen in Albany. Butterfield had been a suspect in the theft of the vehicle.
Police began looking for Butterfield following the shooting death of Corey A. Burdick, 43, of Sweet Home and the shooting of Ervin Larry Smith, 65, of Sweet Home at 541 Surrey Lane. Smith was wounded and transported to the hospital for treatment.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case, police responded to a call at the address at 2:32 a.m. on Friday, May 24, based on a report that two males had been shot.
An officer located Smith, with a gunshot wound to his torso, outside his travel trailer at the address. He was later listed in stable condition. The officer also located Burdick deceased inside the trailer with an apparent gunshot wound to the head.
The caller, Alyssa Godell, told police she arrived to pick up Burdick, and another male, whom she did not know, also arrived, according to the affidavit. During the investigation, she identified the suspect in a photo lineup.
Godell told an investigator that Burdick said he needed to talk to Butterfield about something, and the three of them entered the travel trailer, according to the affidavit. The witness said Burdick accused Butterfield of sending inappropriate messages to Burdick’s girlfriend, and a physical fight ensued between Burdick and Butterfield.
Godell told police Smith came out of the bedroom while the two were arguing, according to the affidavit. Butterfield was sitting in a chair near the door. She and Burdick were seated on the couch.
Godell told police she became scared and backed away from the argument when she heard a gunshot, according to the affidavit.
She said she briefly looked back and saw Butterfield with his arms extended holding what appeared to be a gun toward Smith and Burdick, according to the affidavit. She hid in the bedroom area, heard two more gunshots, and then heard a vehicle leaving the area.
Police located two 9 mm casings inside the trailer and one more just outside the trailer door, according to the affidavit, and a May 25 autopsy showed that Burdick suffered from a single gunshot wound to the back of the head fired at close range.
Butterfield is scheduled to appear next at a status hearing at 9:30 a.m. June 10.