On September 15, 2015, Justin Butler, 32, was found deceased near Tijeras, New Mexico, alongside his companion, Darla Watrous. Both had sustained gunshot wounds; Butler was pronounced dead at the scene, while Watrous survived. Watrous informed authorities that the pair, who were high school sweethearts, had embarked on a camping trip with the intention of a mutual suicide pact.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Watrous, a convicted felon, was in possession of a firearm during the incident, a violation of her legal restrictions. Consequently, she faced charges related to firearm possession by a felon, which could result in a prison sentence of up to 1.5 years if convicted. Notably, Watrous did not face charges directly related to Butler's death.
Additionally, when authorities searched Butler's residence in Albuquerque, they discovered explosive materials. The Albuquerque police bomb squad was deployed, leading to a temporary shutdown of the surrounding neighborhood. Investigators concluded that Butler was experimenting with the materials and found no evidence suggesting he was planning any attacks.
The case drew significant attention due to the mysterious circumstances surrounding the shooting and the subsequent legal proceedings involving Watrous. The discovery of explosive materials at Butler's home added another layer of complexity to the investigation, though no further charges were filed in connection with those materials.
