Insets: Nicholas Hernandez and victim Julie Marie Butcher (Bexar County Jail/GoFundMe). Background: The Julie Butcher crash scene (KENS/YouTube).
A Texas man, aged 25, has confessed to fatally shooting a mother of four during a road rage incident in San Antonio. This tragic event led to the victim’s car overturning into a ditch. A judge has sentenced him to over 30 years in prison for this crime.
Nicholas Hernandez received a 35-year prison sentence last Friday after pleading guilty in a state district court to the murder of 31-year-old Julie Marie Butcher. The San Antonio Express-News reported that this was the maximum sentence permissible under his plea agreement.
Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales expressed his condolences, stating, “Julie’s life was tragically taken, and we hope her loved ones find some comfort in the sentence handed down today,” in a statement to ABC affiliate KSAT.
The incident occurred on November 8, 2024, as Butcher was driving along Interstate 35. She became embroiled in a heated altercation with Hernandez, which ended with him shooting her in the head and fleeing the scene, according to KSAT. The arrest affidavit details the confrontation, though the motives remain unclear.
Butcher’s vehicle was discovered in a ditch, where authorities pronounced her dead upon arrival.
Following the incident, Hernandez reportedly confided in several friends about the shooting, which ultimately led them to inform the detectives.
At least four witnesses came forward and reported speaking with Hernandez about the slaying or items related to it. One told investigators that Hernandez had asked him to dispose of two 9 mm shell casings. Another provided police with text messages that showed Hernandez talking about the shooting.
On top of that, Hernandez had called the San Antonio Police Department himself 15 hours after Butcher’s murder to try to report a Beretta 9 mm handgun that he owned as stolen, according to KSAT. The same model was used to kill Butcher.
“This Thanksgiving, our family is profoundly grateful for the progress toward justice for Julie Marie Butcher,” her family said in a statement after Hernandez’s arrest, calling it “an important step forward in this difficult journey” after weeks of not getting answers.
“While the pain of her loss is still with us, we take comfort in the dedication of law enforcement and the overwhelming support from our community,” the family said. “Your prayers, kindness, and solidarity have been a source of strength for us.”
A GoFundMe organized on behalf of Butcher’s father, David Delgado, describes her as a “beloved wife, mother, daughter, and friend.” She worked as a general manager at the Papa John’s in New Braunfels.
“She leaves behind her devoted husband, Michael Butcher, and their four precious children — Hailey, Jaxson, Michael, and Kenneth — who are now faced with an overwhelming loss,” the GoFundMe says.
