Daughter of John Leonard Smith and Mary Margaret Heib/Heid. Wife of George Thomas Butler. Patricia was a secretary for an insurance agency.
Cause of death: Murder. Patricia and her father were both shot by her estranged husband, George Thomas Butler. He then committed suicide.
--------
Shotgun Blasts Kill Three at S.A. Home
By John Polich
Because a young North Side San Antonio housewife refused to return to her estranged husband Sunday, she and her father were killed by shotgun blasts, and her mother was wounded by the 31-year-old spouse before he turned the sawed-off weapon on himself, also inflicting fatal injuries.
Dead are Mrs. Patricia Butler, 22, mother of a small child; her father, John Leonard Smith, 50, of 110 Maplewood La., where the executions occurred; and George Thomas Butler, 31, who police identified as the assailant.
In poor condition at Bexar County Hospital with gunshot wounds in both arms was Mrs. Mary Smith, 45.
Escaping without injury when they fled the scene were three sons of the Smiths, Thomas, 15, Jimmy, 9, and Mark, 6; and the seven-month-old daughter of the Butlers, who was about to be fed by Mrs. Smith when the melee began.
Police said Smith was dead at the scene with a gunshot wound in the chest, while Mrs. Butler died while undergoing surgery at Bexar County Hospital, also with a gunshot wound in the chest.
The weapon used was a 20-gauge sawed-off shotgun, loaded with 5/8 inch slug load.
Smith, an auto salesman, and his wife were shot inside the comfortable North Side home, while Mrs. Butler was shot in a neighbor's yard, at 115 Maplewood Ln, while fleeing her husband, police were informed.
Witnesses said Butler approached his wife, then placed the gun to his chin and fired. A slug from the fatal shot exited the top of Butler's head and lodged in a small tree.
Police said they learned that Butler had been in San Antonio for about three weeks attempting to persuade his wife to return to him. He earlier had been living in Dallas, but had recently purchased a car in Houston, Homicide Det. Sgt. Abe Flores reported. The officer said he was told Butler had been discharged from the army several months ago.
Butler and his wife had been separated about two months, Flores said a member of the family told him.
The seven-month-old daughter of the Butlers late Sunday was being kept by Mr. and Mrs. William H. Robinson, 118 Maplewood Ln, where she had been taken by young Thomas Smith, after the shootings occurred.
The 15-year-old boy told police that Butler had been to the house earlier Sunday afternoon and at that time, in his presence, told his wife he loved her enough to kill himself.
The visibly shaken youth, who at a late hour had not been informed of deaths of his father and sister, said Butler returned at about 7:45 p.m., while he (Thomas) was in the front yard. It could not be determined if Thomas had seen the weapon.
The youth told police Butler asked him to go inside and "get Patricia," and added that when he opened the door, Butler rushed past him and fired a shot at the elder Smith, felling him.
The teenager said he then fled to a neighbor's house, and they called police.
Apparently Butler next walked into the kitchen and fired one or two shots at Mrs. Smith, who was preparing food for the infant.
Mrs. Butler rushed from the house via the front door, with her husband in pursuit, Patrolman A. L. Dominguez said four teenage witnesses told him.
The youths, who police did not identify, reported Butler yelled at his wife, by now in the neighbor's yard, she turned around and he fired from about 30-feet distance, Dominguez said.
She collapsed by a tree, he ran over to where she way lying and shot himself under the chin, the witnesses related.
- San Antonio Express
February 2, 1970
Cause of death: Murder. Patricia and her father were both shot by her estranged husband, George Thomas Butler. He then committed suicide.
--------
Shotgun Blasts Kill Three at S.A. Home
By John Polich
Because a young North Side San Antonio housewife refused to return to her estranged husband Sunday, she and her father were killed by shotgun blasts, and her mother was wounded by the 31-year-old spouse before he turned the sawed-off weapon on himself, also inflicting fatal injuries.
Dead are Mrs. Patricia Butler, 22, mother of a small child; her father, John Leonard Smith, 50, of 110 Maplewood La., where the executions occurred; and George Thomas Butler, 31, who police identified as the assailant.
In poor condition at Bexar County Hospital with gunshot wounds in both arms was Mrs. Mary Smith, 45.
Escaping without injury when they fled the scene were three sons of the Smiths, Thomas, 15, Jimmy, 9, and Mark, 6; and the seven-month-old daughter of the Butlers, who was about to be fed by Mrs. Smith when the melee began.
Police said Smith was dead at the scene with a gunshot wound in the chest, while Mrs. Butler died while undergoing surgery at Bexar County Hospital, also with a gunshot wound in the chest.
The weapon used was a 20-gauge sawed-off shotgun, loaded with 5/8 inch slug load.
Smith, an auto salesman, and his wife were shot inside the comfortable North Side home, while Mrs. Butler was shot in a neighbor's yard, at 115 Maplewood Ln, while fleeing her husband, police were informed.
Witnesses said Butler approached his wife, then placed the gun to his chin and fired. A slug from the fatal shot exited the top of Butler's head and lodged in a small tree.
Police said they learned that Butler had been in San Antonio for about three weeks attempting to persuade his wife to return to him. He earlier had been living in Dallas, but had recently purchased a car in Houston, Homicide Det. Sgt. Abe Flores reported. The officer said he was told Butler had been discharged from the army several months ago.
Butler and his wife had been separated about two months, Flores said a member of the family told him.
The seven-month-old daughter of the Butlers late Sunday was being kept by Mr. and Mrs. William H. Robinson, 118 Maplewood Ln, where she had been taken by young Thomas Smith, after the shootings occurred.
The 15-year-old boy told police that Butler had been to the house earlier Sunday afternoon and at that time, in his presence, told his wife he loved her enough to kill himself.
The visibly shaken youth, who at a late hour had not been informed of deaths of his father and sister, said Butler returned at about 7:45 p.m., while he (Thomas) was in the front yard. It could not be determined if Thomas had seen the weapon.
The youth told police Butler asked him to go inside and "get Patricia," and added that when he opened the door, Butler rushed past him and fired a shot at the elder Smith, felling him.
The teenager said he then fled to a neighbor's house, and they called police.
Apparently Butler next walked into the kitchen and fired one or two shots at Mrs. Smith, who was preparing food for the infant.
Mrs. Butler rushed from the house via the front door, with her husband in pursuit, Patrolman A. L. Dominguez said four teenage witnesses told him.
The youths, who police did not identify, reported Butler yelled at his wife, by now in the neighbor's yard, she turned around and he fired from about 30-feet distance, Dominguez said.
She collapsed by a tree, he ran over to where she way lying and shot himself under the chin, the witnesses related.
- San Antonio Express
February 2, 1970
Daughter of John Leonard Smith and Mary Margaret Heib/Heid. Wife of George Thomas Butler. Patricia was a secretary for an insurance agency.
Cause of death: Murder. Patricia and her father were both shot by her estranged husband, George Thomas Butler. He then committed suicide.
--------
Shotgun Blasts Kill Three at S.A. Home
By John Polich
Because a young North Side San Antonio housewife refused to return to her estranged husband Sunday, she and her father were killed by shotgun blasts, and her mother was wounded by the 31-year-old spouse before he turned the sawed-off weapon on himself, also inflicting fatal injuries.
Dead are Mrs. Patricia Butler, 22, mother of a small child; her father, John Leonard Smith, 50, of 110 Maplewood La., where the executions occurred; and George Thomas Butler, 31, who police identified as the assailant.
In poor condition at Bexar County Hospital with gunshot wounds in both arms was Mrs. Mary Smith, 45.
Escaping without injury when they fled the scene were three sons of the Smiths, Thomas, 15, Jimmy, 9, and Mark, 6; and the seven-month-old daughter of the Butlers, who was about to be fed by Mrs. Smith when the melee began.
Police said Smith was dead at the scene with a gunshot wound in the chest, while Mrs. Butler died while undergoing surgery at Bexar County Hospital, also with a gunshot wound in the chest.
The weapon used was a 20-gauge sawed-off shotgun, loaded with 5/8 inch slug load.
Smith, an auto salesman, and his wife were shot inside the comfortable North Side home, while Mrs. Butler was shot in a neighbor's yard, at 115 Maplewood Ln, while fleeing her husband, police were informed.
Witnesses said Butler approached his wife, then placed the gun to his chin and fired. A slug from the fatal shot exited the top of Butler's head and lodged in a small tree.
Police said they learned that Butler had been in San Antonio for about three weeks attempting to persuade his wife to return to him. He earlier had been living in Dallas, but had recently purchased a car in Houston, Homicide Det. Sgt. Abe Flores reported. The officer said he was told Butler had been discharged from the army several months ago.
Butler and his wife had been separated about two months, Flores said a member of the family told him.
The seven-month-old daughter of the Butlers late Sunday was being kept by Mr. and Mrs. William H. Robinson, 118 Maplewood Ln, where she had been taken by young Thomas Smith, after the shootings occurred.
The 15-year-old boy told police that Butler had been to the house earlier Sunday afternoon and at that time, in his presence, told his wife he loved her enough to kill himself.
The visibly shaken youth, who at a late hour had not been informed of deaths of his father and sister, said Butler returned at about 7:45 p.m., while he (Thomas) was in the front yard. It could not be determined if Thomas had seen the weapon.
The youth told police Butler asked him to go inside and "get Patricia," and added that when he opened the door, Butler rushed past him and fired a shot at the elder Smith, felling him.
The teenager said he then fled to a neighbor's house, and they called police.
Apparently Butler next walked into the kitchen and fired one or two shots at Mrs. Smith, who was preparing food for the infant.
Mrs. Butler rushed from the house via the front door, with her husband in pursuit, Patrolman A. L. Dominguez said four teenage witnesses told him.
The youths, who police did not identify, reported Butler yelled at his wife, by now in the neighbor's yard, she turned around and he fired from about 30-feet distance, Dominguez said.
She collapsed by a tree, he ran over to where she way lying and shot himself under the chin, the witnesses related.
- San Antonio Express
February 2, 1970
Cause of death: Murder. Patricia and her father were both shot by her estranged husband, George Thomas Butler. He then committed suicide.
--------
Shotgun Blasts Kill Three at S.A. Home
By John Polich
Because a young North Side San Antonio housewife refused to return to her estranged husband Sunday, she and her father were killed by shotgun blasts, and her mother was wounded by the 31-year-old spouse before he turned the sawed-off weapon on himself, also inflicting fatal injuries.
Dead are Mrs. Patricia Butler, 22, mother of a small child; her father, John Leonard Smith, 50, of 110 Maplewood La., where the executions occurred; and George Thomas Butler, 31, who police identified as the assailant.
In poor condition at Bexar County Hospital with gunshot wounds in both arms was Mrs. Mary Smith, 45.
Escaping without injury when they fled the scene were three sons of the Smiths, Thomas, 15, Jimmy, 9, and Mark, 6; and the seven-month-old daughter of the Butlers, who was about to be fed by Mrs. Smith when the melee began.
Police said Smith was dead at the scene with a gunshot wound in the chest, while Mrs. Butler died while undergoing surgery at Bexar County Hospital, also with a gunshot wound in the chest.
The weapon used was a 20-gauge sawed-off shotgun, loaded with 5/8 inch slug load.
Smith, an auto salesman, and his wife were shot inside the comfortable North Side home, while Mrs. Butler was shot in a neighbor's yard, at 115 Maplewood Ln, while fleeing her husband, police were informed.
Witnesses said Butler approached his wife, then placed the gun to his chin and fired. A slug from the fatal shot exited the top of Butler's head and lodged in a small tree.
Police said they learned that Butler had been in San Antonio for about three weeks attempting to persuade his wife to return to him. He earlier had been living in Dallas, but had recently purchased a car in Houston, Homicide Det. Sgt. Abe Flores reported. The officer said he was told Butler had been discharged from the army several months ago.
Butler and his wife had been separated about two months, Flores said a member of the family told him.
The seven-month-old daughter of the Butlers late Sunday was being kept by Mr. and Mrs. William H. Robinson, 118 Maplewood Ln, where she had been taken by young Thomas Smith, after the shootings occurred.
The 15-year-old boy told police that Butler had been to the house earlier Sunday afternoon and at that time, in his presence, told his wife he loved her enough to kill himself.
The visibly shaken youth, who at a late hour had not been informed of deaths of his father and sister, said Butler returned at about 7:45 p.m., while he (Thomas) was in the front yard. It could not be determined if Thomas had seen the weapon.
The youth told police Butler asked him to go inside and "get Patricia," and added that when he opened the door, Butler rushed past him and fired a shot at the elder Smith, felling him.
The teenager said he then fled to a neighbor's house, and they called police.
Apparently Butler next walked into the kitchen and fired one or two shots at Mrs. Smith, who was preparing food for the infant.
Mrs. Butler rushed from the house via the front door, with her husband in pursuit, Patrolman A. L. Dominguez said four teenage witnesses told him.
The youths, who police did not identify, reported Butler yelled at his wife, by now in the neighbor's yard, she turned around and he fired from about 30-feet distance, Dominguez said.
She collapsed by a tree, he ran over to where she way lying and shot himself under the chin, the witnesses related.
- San Antonio Express
February 2, 1970
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