JACKSONVILLE – At the time, Brenton Butler was 15 and charged with murder and robbery, a murder that happened at the Ramada Inn last May.
Butler spent six months in jail, was tried by a jury and six months later was acquitted. Now the Butler family (pictured, left) said that they are moving forward with a civil lawsuit seeking $2.5 million in damages.
"We knew he was innocent from the beginning," Andre Butler said. "So it was nothing more than our faith in the Lord that really held us, that carried us through this ordeal, which was extremely stressful."
Butler's family is trying to recover after their son spent six months in jail for a murder he didn't commit. Police have now linked two men to the crime, but the family said that the damage is done.
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This is very hard for me because this is putting me back to May 7 completely and it is so hard," Melissa Butler said. "I missed him so much and he never should have been taken away are me."
Sheriff Nat Glover admitted that Butler's arrest should not have happened.
"I personally regret the arrest of Brenton Butler," Glover said.
However, Butler's attorney, Tom Fallis, said that the family deserves more answers.
"Are you apologizing for the beating? Are you apologizing for coercing him? Are you apologizing for depriving him of his family and making him vulnerable? Be more specific," Fallis (picture, right) said.
The family also said that an apology does not begin to heal the pain and humiliation that Butler suffered as accused killer for six months.
"I don't know the intent that was given," Andre Butler said. "I would like to think that it was sincere, but it will never make this family whole again."
Fallis said that the JSO did not do their job. He also said that Butler was not allowed to even call his parents until he signed a confession. Fallis wants to know why the sheriff's son, Michael Glover, was able to beat a confession out of Butler with others present.
Butler spent six months in jail, was tried by a jury and six months later was acquitted. Now the Butler family (pictured, left) said that they are moving forward with a civil lawsuit seeking $2.5 million in damages.
"We knew he was innocent from the beginning," Andre Butler said. "So it was nothing more than our faith in the Lord that really held us, that carried us through this ordeal, which was extremely stressful."
Butler's family is trying to recover after their son spent six months in jail for a murder he didn't commit. Police have now linked two men to the crime, but the family said that the damage is done.
"Are you apologizing for the beating? Are you apologizing for coercing him? Are you apologizing for depriving him of his family and making him vulnerable? Be more specific," Fallis (picture, right) said.
The family also said that an apology does not begin to heal the pain and humiliation that Butler suffered as accused killer for six months.
"I don't know the intent that was given," Andre Butler said. "I would like to think that it was sincere, but it will never make this family whole again."
Fallis said that the JSO did not do their job. He also said that Butler was not allowed to even call his parents until he signed a confession. Fallis wants to know why the sheriff's son, Michael Glover, was able to beat a confession out of Butler with others present.