Butch Martin

In February of 1998, Butch Martin’s wife, Marcia, their one-year-old daughter, and Marcia’s three-year-old son died after their home caught fire. Despite being at a job site twenty minutes away on the other side of town when a neighbor spotted the fire and called 911, Butch was arrested and charged with their murders.

Due to Butch and Marcia’s tumultuous relationship and inaccurate forensic evidence, Butch was tried and convicted in 1999 on three capital murder charges.  During the trial, arson investigators testified that the fire that killed Butch’s family was intentionally set due to the presence of what at the time was considered to be intentionally placed accelerants and the presence of a pour pattern.  The alleged accelerants have since been identified as being present in hundreds of everyday household products. Likewise, what arson science once considered pour patterns are now known to be common effects of fire that can happen spontaneously.

Additionally, forensic experts for the prosecution testified that there were signs of head trauma on the remains of Marcia and her son that were inflicted before their death. A review by an independent medical examiner found that the injuries were consistent with death by fire and, if trauma had been present, there is no scientific way to tell if it was pre or postmortem. The forensic pathologist in Butch’s case later lost his medical license and served time in federal prison.

Every expert to look at the case since his conviction, including the Fire Marshall of the State of Texas, has ruled that the fire was not intentional.

An evidentiary hearing was held on the case in May of 2022.  During the hearing, the judge heard evidence from the independent medical examiner, a forensic anthropologist and arson investigators regarding Butch’s innocence. On March 12, 2024 the district judge ruled that Butch should be released on parole and he was able to return home to his family pending a decision from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

In November of 2022, the district judge recommended to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals that Butch have his conviction vacated. On May 22, 2024 the Court of Criminal Appeals released their decision declaring Butch is actually innocent.