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| Takuma Ito and Go Matsuura |
Raymond O. Butler is on death row in
the state of California.
In March of 2019, the state halted executions, leaving death row in the air. As someone who has seen every crime that was committed to earn this sentence, it is truly reserved for the worst of the worst, and he or she will likely serve life in prison if the death penalty is no longer an option.
In March of 2019, the state halted executions, leaving death row in the air. As someone who has seen every crime that was committed to earn this sentence, it is truly reserved for the worst of the worst, and he or she will likely serve life in prison if the death penalty is no longer an option.
Crime
Butler killed two college students Takuma Ito and Go Matsuura and,
while in jail awaiting trial on that case, stabbed another inmate, Tyrone Flemming to
death.
On the night of March 25, 1994, defendant approached Takuma Ito and Go Matsuura in the parking lot of a Ralphs grocery store in San Pedro. Ito and Matsuura were Japanese citizens attending Marymount College. Ito had gotten out of his car; Matsuura was in the passenger seat. As Ito stood by the open driver's side door, defendant confronted him and demanded money. Defendant took Ito's wallet, removed cash from it, then forced Ito to the ground and shot him in the back of the head. After a brief pause, defendant fired several times into the car, also striking Matsuura in the head at close range. Defendant drove away in Ito's car, leaving his victims in the parking lot. Ito and Matsuura were taken to the hospital and kept on life support until their families arrived from Japan.
Ito's car was found the next day. Defendant was arrested a few days later, after an eyewitness identified him in a photographic lineup. He was later implicated in the murders by the three companions who drove with him to the Ralphs parking lot: his sister-in-law Kelli Waquan, Waquan's niece Christine Munoz, and Munoz's friend Irene Ruiz.
On the night of March 25, 1994, defendant approached Takuma Ito and Go Matsuura in the parking lot of a Ralphs grocery store in San Pedro. Ito and Matsuura were Japanese citizens attending Marymount College. Ito had gotten out of his car; Matsuura was in the passenger seat. As Ito stood by the open driver's side door, defendant confronted him and demanded money. Defendant took Ito's wallet, removed cash from it, then forced Ito to the ground and shot him in the back of the head. After a brief pause, defendant fired several times into the car, also striking Matsuura in the head at close range. Defendant drove away in Ito's car, leaving his victims in the parking lot. Ito and Matsuura were taken to the hospital and kept on life support until their families arrived from Japan.
Ito's car was found the next day. Defendant was arrested a few days later, after an eyewitness identified him in a photographic lineup. He was later implicated in the murders by the three companions who drove with him to the Ralphs parking lot: his sister-in-law Kelli Waquan, Waquan's niece Christine Munoz, and Munoz's friend Irene Ruiz.
Address
Raymond O. Butler K17700
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin, CA 94974
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin, CA 94974
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