San Antonio, Texas — A man was taken into custody in connection to the death of a 31-year-old woman found lifeless in her car earlier this month, with officials linking the case to an alleged road rage incident. Nicholas Hernandez, 24, has been charged with murder in the Nov. 8 killing of Julie Marie Butcher.
Authorities reported that Butcher, a mother of four, was discovered with a gunshot wound to the head in her vehicle along the I-35 access road. The incident, which took place near Rittiman Road around 9:20 p.m., shocked the community and launched a detailed investigation by local police.
Eyewitness accounts played a crucial role in the investigation. One witness at the scene described seeing a small, blue and silver sedan firing at Butcher’s car. This description was confirmed by video surveillance footage, which captured the sedan speeding away from the area shortly after the shots were fired.
The breakthrough in the case came from an anonymous tip just two days after the murder. The informant alleged that an individual known as “Nick Hernandez” admitted to shooting Butcher during a conversation with a close acquaintance. Police later confirmed that “Nick” referred to Nicholas Hernandez.
Investigators delved deeper into Hernandez’s activities around the time of the murder. They uncovered that he had filed a police report claiming he was the victim of a robbery while playing basketball on Nov. 6 – two days prior to Butcher’s death. Hernandez reported that his 9mm handgun, among other belongings, was stolen during the incident.
Further probing led to a witness who claimed Hernandez confessed to being involved in a road rage encounter that escalated to gunfire. This account was supported by text messages found during the investigation. Subsequent searches at Hernandez’s residence turned up incriminating evidence, including a black duffle bag and a basketball that he reported stolen.
Additional inquiries led police to three more witnesses. One revealed contradictions in Hernandez’s story about the basketball game, noting they were playing at a different location, and there was no mention of a robbery. Meanwhile, another witness recounted Hernandez admitting to shooting at a car that subsequently went off the road. The final witness alleged that Hernandez requested help in disposing of two 9mm shell casings from his Volkswagen Jetta on the night of the murder.
As part of the investigation, authorities obtained and analyzed Hernandez’s phone records, which placed him near the scene of the crime at the presumed time of the shooting. His movements after the incident matched the escape route described by initial eyewitnesses.
Following these findings, Hernandez was arrested on Nov. 27. In the wake of the arrest, Butcher’s family issued a heartfelt statement expressing their gratitude for the progress in the investigation and the support they have received from the community. They described Butcher’s life as a precious gift and emphasized their commitment to seeking justice in her memory.
The family also continues their call for financial support through a GoFundMe campaign aimed at aiding Butcher’s four children.