Demetra Faye Parker, a kind-hearted 19-year-old from Tennessee, was staying at the Country Boy Inn in Dalton, Georgia, when her life was cut short in one of the state’s most horrific crimes. Known for her generosity and trusting nature, Demetra had befriended her motel neighbors, Danny and Janice Buttrum, a young couple with a toddler. But her kindness would ultimately lead her into unimaginable danger.
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On September 3, 1980, Demetra failed to check out of her motel room, prompting the manager to investigate. What he found was a horrific scene: the room was in chaos, and Demetra’s body lay on the floor, covered in nearly 100 stab wounds. Blood was everywhere, and the sheer brutality of the attack left seasoned investigators shaken. It was clear this was no random act of violence.
Authorities quickly began piecing together clues and turned their attention to Demetra’s neighbors at the motel, Danny and Janice Buttrum. The young couple, accompanied by their toddler, had recently befriended Demetra, relying on her for rides and babysitting. But beneath their seemingly normal exterior, the Buttrums harbored dark secrets and a violent streak that culminated in this horrific crime.
As the investigation unfolded, it became clear this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment attack. The Buttrums’ troubled histories and disturbing behavior painted a chilling picture of what might have driven them to target Demetra. This shocking case highlights the devastating consequences of misplaced trust and the evil that can lurk behind even the most unassuming facades.
Demetra Parker’s murder remains a haunting chapter in true crime history, a story of kindness betrayed and innocence lost. Her tragic death is a stark reminder of how darkness can invade even the most innocent lives.
Someone wrote a book about Janice Buttrum. It’s available at Amazon.
Click to enlarge for easy reading. Due to the inconvenient dimensions, I have cut the text of the first page of the article into a few different pieces.
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