DANVILLE – The intense month-long manhunt for the suspect behind a tragic police chase in Danville has culminated with the arrest of Jaylin J. Butler, 22.
Authorities captured Butler in connection with the September 26 incident that later led to the death of 74-year-old William J. Marietta.
Marietta succumbed to his injuries at Carle Hospital in Urbana, following the crash. A chase began when Danville Police officers identified a car driven by Butler, already known to them due to a revoked license. Despite their attempts to pull him over, Butler fled, leading officers on a dangerous pursuit through town. Amid the chase, he allegedly recklessly discarded a handgun from the window, which officers subsequently recovered.
The high-speed pursuit reached its tragic end at the intersection of Voorhees and Gilbert Streets. There, Butler’s vehicle collided with Marietta’s pickup truck, critically injuring the man who later passed away. A passenger in Marietta’s truck also sustained injuries.
Butler is now being held without bond at the Danville Public Safety Building, facing a series of charges including reckless homicide, aggravated fleeing and eluding, aggravated battery, armed violence and felon in possession of a weapon.
