August 10, 2005

Homicide case goes to grand jury
Liz Hackenburg Staff Writer

Two Thibodaux men accused of killing another man inside his apartment will face a grand jury later this month, Lafourche Parish District Attorney Camille A. “Cam” Morvant II said. Steven Butler, 20, 622 Maple St., and Jeremy Johnson, 21, 420 Victory St., were arrested July 5 for the slaying of Peter Andras Jr., 59, July 1 at his home in the 1600 block of Ridgefield Avenue. The two will go before a Lafourche Parish Grand Jury Aug. 29. The jury could either indict the pair on second-degree murder charges, or find that the evidence presented to them is insufficient to prosecute Butler and Johnson on the charges, Morvant said. In that case, the two might still face lesser charges if Morvant decides action is still warranted.Andras was found lying dead on the floor of his home about 11 p.m. July 1.His death was attributed to a combination of asphyxiation, a heart condition and stab wounds to the upper part of his body. A motive for the slaying has not been determined, but police found evidence that Andras’ home had been burglarized and that he might have known his attackers, according to police reports at the time of his death. No signs of forced entry were found at Andras’ home. Police were notified that something was wrong from a person who saw something at the apartment that she thought was a medical emergency, the reports said. Police did not divulge more details about the person’s discovery. Thibodaux Police Chief Craig Melancon said in July that Johnson had confessed to the killing, but would not say whether Butler confessed. Andras was a retired Nicholls State University maintenance worker who was known for his generous ways.Police indicated that his assailants might have taken advantage of Andras’ trusting nature the night he died.

Andras’ death bears similarities to two other
unsolved deaths in the city. Murphy Baye, 83, was found dead of an apparent heart attack in his home at 1706 Oakley Ave. in July 2004. Eddie Filce was killed in 1993 at his home about 11 houses away from Baye’s home. Baye had a heart condition, family members said last year. No signs of blunt force or trauma were found on his body, but investigators found blood inside his ransacked home and maintain that his death was suspicious. Arrests were never made in Baye’s or Filce’s death.

Melancon said all three slain men had similar acquaintances and died in similar manners.He said the men were “very friendly and had a lot of people going in and out of their homes.”Butler and Johnson are being held at the Lafourche Parish Detention Center. Johnson’s bond is set at $100,000, Butler’s at $500,000.