Man charged with stabbing cousin

Fight erupted while pair watched football game

Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009

A Waldorf man is accused of stabbing his cousin to death with a kitchen knife during an argument that erupted while the two were watching a football game Sunday evening, according to police.

After the altercation began at the Waldorf home, resident Ronald Xavier Butler asked his cousin, William Arthur Chase, to leave, court documents stated. Chase refused and slapped Butler's face a couple of times as the fight escalated, Butler, 41, reportedly later told a detective.

At some point, Butler allegedly grabbed a "butcher knife" from the kitchen and threatened to stab Chase unless he left the home, the documents reported. When Chase again refused to go, Butler stabbed his cousin once in the chest, he reportedly told detectives.

There was evidence the men had been drinking, although it is unclear how large a role alcohol played in the incident, according to Kristen Timko, spokeswoman for the Charles County Sheriff's Office.

A woman and two children were in the home during the stabbing, but didn't see the attack. The woman called 911 to report the assault, according to Timko.

Police went to the home in the 9900 block of Bunker Hill Road at about 7:25 p.m. and arrested Butler, who was still at the scene, said Timko. Chase, 51, of Waldorf was taken to Civista Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Butler was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault and carrying a dangerous weapon with intent to injure, court records show.

He is being held at the Charles County jail.

A woman who said she and Chase had seven children together described him as a kind person with a "heart of gold." The woman said the day Chase died, he helped shovel the driveways of neighbors trapped in their homes because of the snow.

"He was a very gentle person. He wasn't aggressive," she said.

Chase spent his whole life in Charles County, she said, and worked in construction. In his free time, he liked playing and watching baseball, football and basketball, said the woman, who asked not to be identified by name.

People who knew Butler on the job said they were shocked when they heard of the murder charge against him.

"He had a nice relationship with everybody," said Alfonso Scaldaferri, a job superintendent at the construction company where Butler worked. "He just came in and did his job."

Scaldaferri said he didn't see any signs of trouble when he spoke with Butler last week.

Butler had worked for many years off and on with the Alexandra, Va.-based company, Pollard Construction.

"There was no odd behavior on the job sites," said Yonie Dow, an office manager with the business, referring to Butler's work performance. "It sent chills down my spine when I heard about the charges."

Dow said that Chase was also a laborer with Pollard many years ago.

A woman who answered the phone at Chase's listed address declined to comment.

Detective G. Higgs of the major crimes unit is investigating.

brodgers@somdnews.com