Neighbors Shocked When Woman Left for Dead Less Than A Mile Away

It wasn't so just a few hours before.

That's when state troopers and deputies from the Eastland Co. Sherriff's department were on a manhunt.

Searching for a man who had allegedly slashed a woman's throat and left her at a ditch to die.

"Her throat was slashed fairly deeply, but she was still able to speak she told my deputies exactly what had happened, who had done this to her, where they had come from," said Wayne Bradford, Eastland Co. Sheriff.

That man was William Travis Butler, who was staying near the cemetery where he left the 58 year-old.

She was eventually found by a driver who took her to the hospital. 

It's the type of news that neighbors in the area never imagined they'd ever hear.

"Whenever I found out I said, "that's our neighbor, you know?," said Skipp Ezzell, who lives next to the home where Butler was staying.

Just a few miles away the entire Rising Star school district went on a lock-down so no one could come in or out.

"I didn't really know what to think I just I didn't think that could happen here, it's a small town but I just didn't think that could happen here," said a senior there.  

Police scoped out the area for hours.

Until the 35 year-old was finally caught at the same place where it all began.

The Elm cemetery off Co. Rd. 375.

"I still cant believe the guy still came back here," said Ezzell, "That's what shocks me more than anything."

Now many here have a bit of relief.

"Well I'm glad they caught him," said Ezzell. 

As the calm returns and things return to normal now that Butler is behind bars.

Sheriff Bradford tells us that Deborah Krieger Partin is expected to recover from her injuries.