Man who allegedly tried to set family on fire turns himself in

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 | 9:47 a.m.

A 40-year-old man accused of trying to set his family on fire and then giving officers the slip in May turned himself in to North Las Vegas Police on Tuesday night.

Victor Darryl Butler had managed to escape from North Vista Hospital in North Las Vegas, where he was taken after officers arrested him on May 19 for attempted murder of his wife and children, said Tim Bedwell, spokesman for North Las Vegas Police.

Butler surrendered to police at the North Las Vegas Police Station at 1301 E. Lake Mead Blvd. at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday, Bedwell said.

Police went to Butler's house on May 19 in the 2900 block of Daley Street, near Cheyenne Avenue and Civic Center Drive, after receiving a 911 call and found paint thinner on the clothing of Butler's 37-year-old wife and one of the children, Bedwell said.

Police watched the home through the weekend, but saw no signs of Butler, Bedwell said.

Officers believed that Butler was about to set fire to his family when one of them was able to escape and call police, Bedwell said.

When police had arrested him, Butler struggled and then claimed he was injured during his arrest and was taken to North Vista Hospital.

Butler escaped, his hands cuffed in the front, and had not been seen since, police said.

Live chat: Tuesday, noon PST; Chat with Krista Creelman; Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question