One Lie, Two Graves: Pamela Butler

In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: In February 2009, 47-year-old Pamela Butler vanished without a trace from her Washington, D.C., home—despite the high-tech security system meant to protect her. Investigators found no signs of forced entry, no struggle, no immediate answers. But the deeper they dug, the more sinister the truth became. At the center of the mystery stood one man: José Angel Rodríguez-Cruz—her seemingly devoted boyfriend. But Pamela wasn’t the first woman in his life to disappear. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. 

This is the story of Pamela Butler. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Speaks to the planning.

Speaker 2 (00:01):
I'll go by the name of Charlamagne of God and
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(00:22):
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Speaker 1 (00:46):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host, Hunter and Today, we're
delving into the case of a forty seven year old
woman who mysteriously vanished in Washington, d C. What began

(01:07):
as an ordinary day in February two thousand and nine
quickly spiraled into a haunting mystery that left her loved
ones still searching for the truth. This is the story
of Pamela Butler. February twelfth, two thousand and nine, Pamela

(01:28):
was seen for the last time near her home on
Fourth Street Northwest in Washington, d C. She was talking
to her boyfriend, a man by the name of Jose
Angel Rodriguez Cruz, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Little did anyone know that seemingly routine interaction would mark

(01:52):
the beginning of a heart wrenching disappearance. Pamela wasn't your
average person. Was meticulous, cautious, and had taken every possible
measure to protect herself. Her home was armed with an
elaborate security system, complete with motion sensor floodlights, and surveillance

(02:14):
cameras at every exit. Yet despite these precautions, she vanished
without a trace, leaving behind nothing but questions. When investigator
searched Pamela's home, they found no sign of struggle or

(02:35):
foul play, But something didn't add up either. Her two vehicles,
a gray Mercedes Benz and a gold Jaguarre, were both
left untouched. However, her purse, credit cards, driver's license, and
keys were gone. It was as if she had simply

(02:56):
disappeared into thin air. As the investor instigation unfolded, Pamela's boyfriend,
Jose quickly became a person of interest. But what motive
could he have to want to harm Pamela. During questioning,
Jose claimed that Pamela had ended their relationship on the

(03:17):
night of February thirteenth, just one day before Valentine's Day.
Surveillance footage confirmed he left her home around eleven thirty
pm that night. According to him, the breakup was unexpected
but civil. He couldn't understand why she ended things, and

(03:37):
yet he seemed oddly unfazed by her sudden decision. The
deeper investigators dug into Jose's past, the more unsettling the
picture became. Not only was he now tied to Pamela's disappearance,
but his dark history raised even more question. Evidence surface

(04:02):
that he had been involved in multiple instances of domestic violence,
including threats made against his female boss. It seemed that
a pattern of violence followed him wherever he went. But
the real twists in this case came when a chilling
connection between Pamela's disappearance and another unsolved mystery were uncovered.

(04:26):
Years before Pamela vanished, Jose had been estranged from his
first wife, twenty six year old Marta Haiti Rodriguez Cruz.
Marta had accused him of domestic violence and was set
to testify before she mysteriously disappeared from Arlington, Virginia on

(04:47):
May twenty sixth, nineteen eighty nine. Just two years later,
her remains were discovered along Interstate ninety five, just a
mile from where a authorities would later find Pamela's body. However,
March's remains wouldn't be positively identified until twenty eighteen. As

(05:14):
the layers of the story unfolded, the truth finally began
to emerge. In twenty seventeen, Jose was formally charged with
the murder of Pamela Butler. Just months later, he admitted
to the brutal crime, pleading guilty to second degree murder.

(05:34):
He struck a deal with prosecutors, agreeing to reveal the
location of Pamela's remains in exchange for a drastically reduced sentence,
He was handed down a mere twelve year sentence followed
by five years of supervised release for his role in
her death, a deal that left many questioning the true

(05:56):
cost of justice. In twenty twenty one, a shocking twist,
Jose admitted to another gruesome crime, the brutal killing of
his first wife, Marta. He was slapped with a forty
year sentence for the nineteen eighty nine murder. My thoughts

(06:19):
and prayers are with Pamela Butler's family and friends, as
well as the loved ones of Marta. If you or
someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, reach out to
the National Domestic Violence Hotline at one eight hundred seventy
nine to nine safe. That number can also be found
in the description box below. As we wrap up this episode,

(06:44):
don't forget to hit the follow button to stay updated
on this case and others like it. Also, be sure
to subscribe to Hunting for Answers on YouTube and follow
us on Instagram and TikTok. Thank you so much much
for joining us on another episode. Until next time, Hunting

(07:18):
for Answers is a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network.
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