A woman accused of assaulting her live-in boyfriend allegedly admitted during the attack that earlier in the day she killed the couple’s 5-month-old son, but wouldn’t have done so if the victim had a better job.
The suspect, 21-year-old Yasmine Michelle Lilia Butterfield of Kalapana, is charged with two counts of second-degree assault, domestic abuse, first-degree terroristic threatening, unlawful imprisonment, and interfering with the report of an emergency for the alleged attack on her boyfriend, which took place New Year’s Eve.
According to police, prior to the domestic incident, Puna patrol officers and Hawaii Fire Department medics responded to a report of an unresponsive 5-month-old boy. Responders met Butterfield and her boyfriend on Highway 130 while they were en route to the Pahoa Fire Station for medical assistance.
The baby was taken by ambulance to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 5:54 a.m. on Dec. 31.
An autopsy was performed Monday, and the forensic pathologist indicated the infant had evidence of life-threatening traumatic injuries. The final determination of the cause of death, however, is pending additional testing.
Police Capt Rio Amon-Wilkins of the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Division told the Tribune-Herald on Thursday they are continuing the investigation into the baby’s death and suspect foul play.
Amon-Wilkins said Butterfield is “absolutely” a suspect in the infant’s death and the baby’s father isn’t a suspect.
Butterfield’s boyfriend, a 20-year-old man, told police on New Year’s Day that he and Butterfield were involved in an argument concerning the death of the baby.
He reported that during the argument, Butterfield confessed to killing the infant.
The man said he attempted to leave the house during the argument, but Butterfield allegedly struck him several times with a wooden block and a metal broomstick, threatened him with a knife, and refused to allow him to call for help or leave the residence.
The man declined medical attention after summoning police Sunday morning.
Butterfield, who has no prior felony convictions, admitted to police she struck the victim with a block and broomstick and disconnected the house’s Wi-Fi so the victim couldn’t make phone calls, documents state. At Butterfield’s initial court appearance Thursday, her court-appointed attorney, Stanton Oshiro, requested his client be released on her own recognizance or court-supervised release without monetary bail.
Deputy Prosecutor Kevin Soong objected to Oshiro’s motion, and Hilo District Judge Kanani Laubach maintained Butterfield’s bail at $43,000 and ordered her to return to court Monday for a preliminary hearing.
The second-degree assault, first-degree terroristic threatening and unlawful imprisonment charges are all Class C felonies that carry a potential prison sentence of five years.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.