Neighbors’ drone dispute turns into murder-for-hire plot, authorities say
CLERMONT, Fla. (WESH) - Authorities in Florida say a fight between neighbors over drone use turned into a murder-for-hire plot when a man allegedly asked another inmate he was in jail with to carry out a deadly plan.
David Butka, 69, is facing a charge of solicitation to commit first-degree murder after investigators with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office allege he asked another inmate he was in jail with to kill his neighbor.
It started on July 22 when investigators say Butka was first arrested. A probable cause affidavit says he was flying his drone near his neighbor’s home in Clermont, which had become “an ongoing civil issue.”
As someone was trying to leave the home in their car, the affidavit says a witness saw Butka yelling at the victim and throwing a rock at the car. Butka was arrested on an aggravated assault charge and booked into the Lake County Jail.
Investigators say Butka approached another inmate inside the jail on Sept. 8 and offered him “$5,000 up front” to kill one of his neighbors, who was a witness in his criminal case. He allegedly gave the inmate the victim’s name and physical description...