Guide Note

On June 20, 2008, Demarius Cummings was arrested with his cousin, James Broadnax, for murdering the owners of a Garland, Texas, Christian recording studio. Musician Matthew Butler and business partner Stephen Swan had been found shot to death the previous day outside Zion Gate Records. According to jailhouse interviews with the suspects, Broadnax pulled the trigger in both cases, but each of the cousins is being charged with capital murder.¹

Fast Facts

1. Cummings and Broadnax are both 19
2. Say that they traveled from Dallas to commit random robbery
3. Arrested in their hometown, Texarkana²
4. Victims Butler and Swan were 28 an 26 respectively

In an interview with Greta Van Susteren, Butler's widow, Jamie Butler, expressed compassion for the assailants.

• "God died on the cross for them and that he will forgive them. And my husband, I know, is waiting at the gates of heaven, wanting to meet these men and saying, I forgive you, as well."—Jamie Butler³