18-Year-Old With 'Serious Mental Issues' Allegedly Kills Elderly Woman In Sexually Motivated Assault

An 18-year-old has been accused of fatally beating an elderly Sacramento woman in what's being called a "sexually motivated assault," People reports.

Authorities told the magazine that Fusako Petrus, 86, and her 61-year-old neighbor were walking on the track outside Highlands High School around 6 a.m. on April 26 when they were attacked by Neven Butler, a former varsity football player at Highlands.

Butler allegedly attacked Petrus' neighbor first, investigators said, then turned on Petrus when she tried to fend him off with her walking stick.

A woman working out nearby witnessed the attack and called 911, but Petrus died from her injuries by the time police arrived. Her neighbor is expected to survive.

“There was no rhyme nor reason for this,” said Sacramento County sheriff’s Sgt. Tony Turnbull. “This was an innocent woman going about her day. This guy was just very brazen.”

The “stranger attack” was sexually motivated, Turnbull added.

Butler has since been charged with murder and two counts of assault with attempt to commit rape for the deadly attack.

Authorities were able to pin Butler to the crime because he was taken into custody for a similar incident later the same day, during which he assaulted a 91-year-old woman at a local senior living community.

“He didn’t work there. He had some family members who worked there, and he was visiting,” Turnbull said. “(Butler) just got up and, unprovoked, just started physically assaulting the (91)-year-old female."

Butler, a dropout who reportedly has "serious" mental health issues, was arraigned on charges of felony assault and elder abuse for that second attack. 

Butler has yet to enter a plea. His next hearing date is set for June 8.

Those who knew Petrus remember her as a caring, devoted friend.

“Anybody that tried to be there for their friend is what a hero is,” said Twyla Rowe, the daughter of one of Petrus’ other friends. 

“Fusako was there and did her best (to save her companion), even though it was probably impossible to prevail in something like that. (Butler) was a large cat attacking two kittens. There would be no chance.”