Wife who survived attempted murder-suicide speaks out
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Deputies say a couple returning from a high school reunion got into a violent argument. Now a man is dead and his wife is recovering in the hospital.
Investigators said Jason Butler shot his wife, Rachel Butler, during a fight in their driveway in Montgomery County, before turning the gun on himself.
The couple apparently went out to the driveway after coming home from the husband's 20th high school reunion.
At one point, the argument escalated and according to deputies, Jason pulled out a gun from his truck and shot his wife in the chest. He then shot and killed himself.
When officers arrived, they found Jason with a gunshot wound to the head and Rachel unconscious but breathing.
Rachel spoke exclusively to ABC13. She says that despite what he did, her husband was still a good man.
"He was a great father. A great friend. He was a good husband, despite what he did," said Rachel.
Rachel is now in the ICU, but expected to fully recover.
"I have a broken rib and I do have a gunshot wound to my chest," Rachel explained. "And I have a tube in my side that's draining blood and other fluids from my lungs."
Court documents show Rachel filed for divorce last month.
"We had been in counseling," she explained. "We were trying to deal with things and work through them, so that, even if we weren't to remain married, we could be good friends and co-parents our kids."
Local domestic violence experts say Rachel's story is tragic, but not as unusual as you might think.
"When somebody is trying to leave a domestic violence situation or when somebody has already left, it's the most violent time," explained Sandra Corrales, the Chief Program Officer at the Houston Area Women's Center. "It's the most critical time."
If you're looking for help, contact the Women's Center here.
