2009 South Park attacks

Murder and rape case in Washington June 2026 June 2026 the rape case in Seattle the threats against South Park Studios and Comedy Central 200 (South Park) and 201 (South Park) South Park, Seattle, Washington, U.S. July 19, 2009 Murder rape stabbing 1 1 Isaiah Kalebu (life imprisonment without the possibility of parole) Guilty Aggravated murder attempted first-degree murder first-degree rape first-degree burglary On July 19, 2009, Isaiah Kalebu broke into the house of Teresa Butz and Jennifer Hopper in South Park, Seattle and raped and stabbed them. Butz died from her injuries while Hopper lived. Kalebu was found guilty of aggravated murder, attempted murder, and rape, and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The case is the subject of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing work, The Bravest Woman in Seattle. Background Victims Teresa Butz (October 1969 – July 19, 2009) was originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and had 10 siblings, including actor Norbert Leo Butz.Green Jesse September 22, 2013 Big Fish Star Norbert Leo Butz on How Tragedy Changed His Life and Career http://www.vulture.com/2013/09/norbert-leo-butz-on-big-fish.html September 25, 2013 Vulture. New York Magazine She studied at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, where she graduated with a degree in business. She moved to Seattle in the 1990s. She was in a same-sex relationship with Jennifer Hopper.Brodeur Nicole 10 years after attack that killed her partner, South Park survivor sings to heal https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/10-years-after-attack-that-killed-her-partner-south-park-survivor-sings-to-heal/ June 8, 2026 The Seattle Times July 17, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190717210930/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/10-years-after-attack-that-killed-her-partner-south-park-survivor-sings-to-heal/ July 17, 2019 live The couple were planning to get married and scheduled a trip to Barcelona for Butz's 40th birthday in October. Perpetrator Isaiah Kalebu was 23 years old at the time of the attacks and had a history of mental illness. He was previously charged with felony harassment after he made threats of killing his mother. Judge Brian Gain let Kalebu out on no bail in August 2008. Six days prior to the attacks, a prosecutor suggested that Kalebu be imprisoned again due to him being a suspect in an arson attack; Gain rejected the request. He did not know Butz or Hopper prior to attacking them. Attack On July 19, 2009,Netter Sarah Washington Man Charged in Brutal Home Invasion Days After Judge Declined to Jail Him https://abcnews.com/US/story?id=8184899&page=1 June 8, 2026 ABC News July 27, 2009 Isaiah Kalebu entered the house of Teresa Butz, 39, and Jennifer Hopper, 36 in South Park, Seattle, through an open bathroom window.Brodeur Nicole The songs of a survivor https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/the-songs-of-a-survivor/ June 8, 2026 The Seattle Times April 13, 2014 December 4, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221204014259/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/the-songs-of-a-survivor/ live He raped and cut the women for two hours.Johnson Gene Victim recounts brutal attack that killed partner https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna43336200 June 8, 2026 NBC News June 9, 2011 He told them he would not harm them if they complied, which was false. Butz threw a table at the window, breaking it, and jumped out and onto the street to seek help at around 3:00 am. She died on the street, covered in blood. Hopper was hospitalized at the Harborview Medical Center.Miletich Steve Green Sara Jean Lucas Phillip South Park stabbing victim had "taste for life" https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/south-park-stabbing-victim-had-taste-for-life/ June 8, 2026 The Seattle Times July 21, 2009 June 8, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260608135442/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/south-park-stabbing-victim-had-taste-for-life/ live Arrest and trial Police released surveillance footage of Kalebu committing an unrelated burglary with his dog in an attempt to locate him. A bus driver saw him with the dog and called the police at Magnuson Park. Isaiah Kalebu was arrested on July 24, 2009, and he was positively connected to the crime through DNA evidence left behind. Kalebu was charged with aggravated murder, attempted murder, rape, and burglary. His bail was set at $10 million.$10 million bail set in Seattle stabbing case https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32143997 June 8, 2026 NBC News July 26, 2009 December 1, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201201093453/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32143997 live The trial was postponed once due to Kalebu's suicide attempt. During the trial, Kalebu was restrained to a chair, cursed Judge Michael Hayden, and made homophobic comments. On August 12, 2011, Kalebu was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the aggravated murder of Butz and the attempted first-degree murder and first-degree rape of Hopper. He was also found guilty for first-degree burglary.Sullivan Jennifer South Park killer Kalebu sentenced to life without parole for murder, rapes https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/south-park-killer-kalebu-sentenced-to-life-without-parole-for-murder-rapes/ June 8, 2026 The Seattle Times August 12, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20221207142232/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/south-park-killer-kalebu-sentenced-to-life-without-parole-for-murder-rapes/ December 7, 2022 live He is imprisoned in Clallam Bay Corrections Center. In media Eli Sanders won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing for the work The Bravest Woman in Seattle, about Hopper and the attacks.Eli Sanders https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/eli-sanders Pulitzer Prize June 8, 2026 June 8, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260608145324/https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/eli-sanders live Sanders's book While the City Slept is about Kalebu and the lead-up to the attacks.How a Seattle murderer slipped through the cracks of the mental health system https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-a-seattle-murderer-slipped-through-the-cracks-of-the-mental-health-system June 8, 2026 PBS News April 27, 2016 June 8, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260608145325/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-a-seattle-murderer-slipped-through-the-cracks-of-the-mental-health-system live Sanders Eli 'While the City Slept' excerpts: Madness and murder in a broken system https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/books/while-the-city-slept-excerpts-madness-and-murder-in-a-broken-system/ June 8, 2026 The Seattle Times February 6, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160207085940/https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/books/while-the-city-slept-excerpts-madness-and-murder-in-a-broken-system/ February 7, 2016 live References 30em South Park attacks South Park attacks Category:Deaths by stabbing in the United States Category:LGBTQ history in Washington (state) South Park attacks Category:Murder in Washington (state) Category:Rapes in the United States Category:Violence against LGBTQ women Category:Violence against women in Washington (state)