Jockey Butterfly arrested in Baltimore murder case

Bryson L. Butterfly, an 18-year-old jockey who was most recently riding in the mid-Atlantic area, was arrested last week in West Virginia and charged with first-degree murder and robbery, according to the U.S. Marshal’s Office.

Butterfly, a native of Washington who has 58 career wins from 771 starts, was being held in West Virginia after being arrested by the federal marshals at a residence near Charles Town Races. The marshal’s office said that he was charged as an accomplice in the murder of a 17-year-old high school student in Baltimore, Md., but had not been located until recently.

Two other individuals have been charged in the case. Butterfly is currently being held in a regional jail and is awaiting extradition to Baltimore County, which is prosecuting the case.

A spokesperson for the Baltimore County prosecutor’s office said on Monday that Butterfly has yet to be transferred to the Baltimore County jail and that she could not comment on the progress of his case until he was in the county’s custody.

Butterfly last rode on July 12 at Penn National Racecourse in Grantville, Penn. He began his career on the West Coast but has ridden primarily on the Maryland circuit for the past year. For his career, he has $2.1 million in earnings.

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