Florida Man Accused of Inmate Murder-for-Hire Plot
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Florida Man Accused of Inmate Murder-for-Hire Plot
- A 69-year-old Florida man, David Butka, allegedly offered a fellow inmate $5,000 to kill his neighbor, who was a witness in a prior aggravated assault case involving a drone dispute.
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The alleged murder-for-hire plot unfolded in early September 2026, while Butka was incarcerated in the Lake County Jail, and was reported to authorities by the inmate on September 16, 2026.
A Florida man is facing charges of solicitation to commit first-degree murder after allegedly attempting to hire a fellow inmate to kill his neighbor. David Butka, 69, was already in custody at the Lake County Jail on an aggravated assault charge stemming from a drone dispute with the same neighbor.
The initial incident occurred on July 22, 2026, in Clermont, Florida. Butka was reportedly involved in an ongoing dispute with his neighbor over the use of a drone near the neighbor’s property. On that day, a witness observed Butka yelling at the neighbor and throwing a rock at their truck, causing damage. Butka denied the allegations but was arrested for aggravated assault.
Weeks later, around September 7 or 8, 2026, while still in jail, Butka allegedly approached another inmate. According to investigators, Butka offered the inmate $5,000 upfront to kill his neighbor, who was also a witness in his criminal case. Butka reportedly told the inmate he had approximately $1.3 million in the bank and provided specific details about the intended victim, including their first name, physical description, home address, morning schedule, and directions to the residence.
The alleged plot was exposed on September 16, 2026, when the inmate reported the offer to a Lake County Jail supervisor and provided a handwritten note containing information about the plan. Butka had been scheduled for release on September 17, 2026, but was subsequently arrested on the new charge. Butka has denied the murder-for-hire allegations, claiming that any money discussed with the inmate was related to obtaining legal representation and that he believed his credit card had been misused. His bond for the solicitation to commit murder charge was set at $25,000.