Alabama man receives eight life sentences for armed kidnapping, rape and torture of two underage girls

PRATTVILLE, Alabama (TCN) – A 37-year-old man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for kidnapping and raping two underage girls in 2022. Prosecutors described the case as an “emotional case.”

The 19th District Attorney’s Office announced On Thursday, June 13, a judge sentenced Michael Jerome Butler to eight consecutive life terms in state prison. Butler pleaded guilty in April to two counts of first-degree kidnapping, two counts of first-degree rape, two counts of first-degree sodomy, first-degree robbery and sexual torture.

He is also accused of fatal shots fired at Victoria Malet in St. Clair County. Her body was found in a wooded area on November 6, 2022. AL.com reports Butler is due to go on trial in November. The documents show he is now in custody in the St. Clair County Jail.

According to AL.com, on November 3, 2022, two 17-year-old girls were leaving a local Walgreens store when Butler kidnapped them, fled in their car and sexually assaulted them at gunpoint. He later reportedly drove to Georgia in the victims’ car and allegedly committed more crimes, including robbery and armed burglary.

The Elmore Autauga News reports Butler told victims their names were written on the bullets in his gun, even though the victims did not know him before the incident. Butler allegedly claimed he wanted to be a famous serial killer whose life would be made into movies.

Officers from Leeds Police arrested Butler after a chase. He reportedly crashed into an embankment and fled on foot, but was soon caught and arrested.

Butler is a convicted felon, and 19th Judicial District Attorney CJ Robinson described his objections to prison reform in a statement.

He wrote: “The bottom line is simple. … A monster like Michael Butler was in prison for his fourth crime, charged by a south Alabama court. However, he was released early without an ankle bracelet (which was required) and then failed to appear for parole.”

Robinson continued, “Butler drove to our circuit and began his reign of terror. There is no excuse, no justification, and no dollar amount that can mitigate the sickening reality that these unspeakable acts of violence could have been avoided.”

According to Elmore Autauga News, one of the victims told Butler at the sentencing, “You have no power over me.”

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