He received significant public sympathy and spoke about how much he missed his daughter and the difficulties he faced while incarcerated.
In 2012, Justice Mary Hogg decided that Ellie should be returned to her parents’ care.
Shortly afterward, Ellie expressed a desire to speak with Justice Hogg about this decision.
Unfortunately, that conversation never took place, and Butler gained custody in 2013 — just months before Ellie tragically lost her life.
Butler was convicted of murder and sentenced to at least 23 years in prison.
