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Dallas murder solved--Dead bird helps avenge his owner. Source-Dallas Morning News/Austin American-Statesman
A pet bird holds the key piece of evidence leading to the identification his owner's killer, reported the Dallas Morning News. Last year, on Christmas Eve, both Kevin Butler and his 18-inch white-crested cockatoo named Bird, were attacked and killed in their Dallas, Texas home. Bird was found with a bloody beak that provided DNA evidence leading to the killer's identity, a Dallas police detective explained to the grand jury.
Bird attempted to rescue Butler by diving and pecking at the killer during a violent struggle in the living room. When the killer fought back, Bird was forced to retreat into the kitchen where he lay until detectives found him dead with blood on his beak.
The Dallas County medical examiners office determined that Butler had been bound, beaten and stabbed to death. Upon examining Bird, they found that he was missing a leg, and had ultimately died of a stab wound in the back.
Johnny Serna, 22, and Daniel Torres, 30, who live a block behind Butler, had both denied any knowledge of the murder until the DNA on Bird's beak turned out to match the DNA taken months earlier from Torres. The weight of the evidence led to Serna's breaking down and admitting that his half-brother, Torres, had slashed Butler's throat while he scoured the house for money and valuables. Butler was targeted over an earlier dispute in which Serna altered a check Butler had given him to pay for an aboveground pool liner. Both suspects are being held in the Dallas County Jail- Torres on $750,000 bail, and Serna on $1 million bail.
Butler's lifeless body was found by a friend when he failed to show for Christmas dinner. The killers escaped Butler's home with his truck, VCR, and about $1,200 in cash. The truck was recovered within a few days following the murder.
Forensic testing of the evidence collected from the truck is ongoing. Police admit that thus far, Serna's DNA samples do not match any of the samples collected, and his fingerprints have not yet been found in Butler's home.
Bird, named after former NBA star Larry Bird, had lived with Butler for two years. Cockatoos are known for being intelligent, affectionate, and for having lively personalities. The bond between Butler and Bird was evidenced in Bird's courageous attempt to save Butler's life. "Bird died valiantly," West told the Dallas Morning News. "There were feathers scattered through the house, and he put up a fight, no doubt about that. Kevin's family and co-workers have told me that you just didn't mess with Kevin while that bird was around."
A pet bird holds the key piece of evidence leading to the identification his owner's killer, reported the Dallas Morning News. Last year, on Christmas Eve, both Kevin Butler and his 18-inch white-crested cockatoo named Bird, were attacked and killed in their Dallas, Texas home. Bird was found with a bloody beak that provided DNA evidence leading to the killer's identity, a Dallas police detective explained to the grand jury.
Bird attempted to rescue Butler by diving and pecking at the killer during a violent struggle in the living room. When the killer fought back, Bird was forced to retreat into the kitchen where he lay until detectives found him dead with blood on his beak.
The Dallas County medical examiners office determined that Butler had been bound, beaten and stabbed to death. Upon examining Bird, they found that he was missing a leg, and had ultimately died of a stab wound in the back.
Johnny Serna, 22, and Daniel Torres, 30, who live a block behind Butler, had both denied any knowledge of the murder until the DNA on Bird's beak turned out to match the DNA taken months earlier from Torres. The weight of the evidence led to Serna's breaking down and admitting that his half-brother, Torres, had slashed Butler's throat while he scoured the house for money and valuables. Butler was targeted over an earlier dispute in which Serna altered a check Butler had given him to pay for an aboveground pool liner. Both suspects are being held in the Dallas County Jail- Torres on $750,000 bail, and Serna on $1 million bail.
Butler's lifeless body was found by a friend when he failed to show for Christmas dinner. The killers escaped Butler's home with his truck, VCR, and about $1,200 in cash. The truck was recovered within a few days following the murder.
Forensic testing of the evidence collected from the truck is ongoing. Police admit that thus far, Serna's DNA samples do not match any of the samples collected, and his fingerprints have not yet been found in Butler's home.
Bird, named after former NBA star Larry Bird, had lived with Butler for two years. Cockatoos are known for being intelligent, affectionate, and for having lively personalities. The bond between Butler and Bird was evidenced in Bird's courageous attempt to save Butler's life. "Bird died valiantly," West told the Dallas Morning News. "There were feathers scattered through the house, and he put up a fight, no doubt about that. Kevin's family and co-workers have told me that you just didn't mess with Kevin while that bird was around."
