Woman dies after stabbing

MAT-SU -- Alaska State Troopers say a 27-year-old Wasilla area man stabbed his mother to death Wednesday evening. Grace Butler, 54, was pronounced dead at Valley Hospital after being stabbed in the face and abdomen, according to a trooper press release. Troopers are charging Butler's son, 27-year-old Aaron Butler, with first-degree murder and second-degree murder after arresting him at the scene. Aaron Butler gave up without incident, according to AST.

Troopers responded to the victim's home on Dewberry Drive off Vine Road after a call came in about 10:56 p.m. Wednesday, the press release said. A relative of the victim dialed 911 after arriving at the house and finding the victim bleeding on a couch, according to trooper reports. They did not give the name of the person who called.

Troopers arrived at the scene at 11:07 p.m. and performed emergency first aid. Grace Butler was transported to Valley Hospital aboard a Mat-Su Borough ambulance. Radio traffic during the transport indicated she was unconscious and breathing with difficulty while in transit.

In the press release, troopers wrote that Grace Butler said "she had been stabbed by her son," when the unnamed relative arrived at the house. Troopers also wrote that the relative who dialed 911 "remained on the telephone until Aaron appeared from the bathroom, at which time she ran out of the house."

Captain Dennis Casanovas, of the Palmer Trooper Post said trooper policy does not allow him to give out information about whether or not Aaron Butler has been interviewed by troopers or whether or not he has confessed to the murder. More information will become available when charging documents against Aaron Butler are made public by the courts.

"My guess is there will be some sort of arraignment by this afternoon, and of course we'll know more after the autopsy is done," Casanovas said Thursday morning.

Casanovas did not have any information about how long Grace Butler was receiving first aid solely from troopers before the ambulance crew arrived. Casanovas said all troopers receive basic emergency first aid training and that many troopers continue their medical training to become Emergency Medical Technicians.

"We respond to motor-vehicle accidents and violent offenses almost on a daily basis," Casanovas said. "[Trooper training is] first aid training. Some of our commissioned staff have continued their medical training, but the basic training that is provided to the troopers is at the first aid level."

Aaron Butler is being held without bail at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility, and the murder investigation is ongoing, according to the press release.