| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: BALL, CHRISTOPHER 0489 (AR13-4319) THE DEFENDANT DID UNLAWFULLY AND WITHOUT ANY PREMEDITATED DESIGN TO EFFECT DEATH, FELONIOUSLY ENGAGED IN THE PERPETRATION OF, OR THE ATTEMPT TO PERPETRATE A FELONY CRIME, KILL AND MURDER VICTIM DEANNA LEE STIRES, A HUMAN BEING, BY INJECTING THE VICTIM WITH ILLEGAL NARCOTICS AND COMPLICATED BY AN AGGRAVATED BATTERY, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATUTE 782.04(2) AND THE DEFENDANT DID HAVING BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY, UNLAWFULLY OWN OR HAVE IN HIS CARE, CUSTODY, POSSESSION OR CONTROL, TO-WIT: A 380 CALIBER PISTOL, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATUTE 790.23(1)(A) ON 122312, THE VICTIM, MS DEANNA LEE STIRES, WAS REPORTED MISSING TO THE HERNANDO COUNTY SHERIFFâS OFFICE. DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION, INFORMATION LED DETECTIVES TO A WITNESS WHO RESIDES IN FLORAL CITY, CITRUS COUNTY, FLORIDA. THIS WITNESS WAS KNOWN TO BE IN POSSESSION OF PROPERTY BELONGING TO THE VICTIM ON 122412 AT 1919 HOURS AT A CIRCLE K STORE LOCATED ON US HIGHWAY 19 IN CITRUS COUNTY. ON 011713, THE WITNESS WAS CONTACTED AND INTERVIEWED ABOUT HIS CONTACT WITH THE VICTIM. THE WITNESS STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN WITH VICTIM STIRES ON 122312 THROUGH 122512 AFTER MEETING HER AT THE HOME OF THE DEFENDANT, MR BYRON BOUTIN LOCATED AT 7340 WEST BRADY LANE IN HOMOSASSA, CITRUS COUNTY. HE HAD TAKEN SEVERAL DRUGS OVER THE COURSE OF THESE DAYS WITH VICTIM STIRES DURING SEVERAL PARTIES WHICH TOOK PLACE AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN BOTH CITRUS AND HERNANDO COUNTIES, TO INCLUDE THE RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 7340 WEST BRADY LANE, HOMOSASSA, CITRUS COUNTY. THE WITNESS ADVISED THAT ON OR ABOUT 122412, HE WENT TO A FRIENDâS HOUSE ON MITCHELL ROAD IN BROOKSVILLE TO LOOK AT A BOAT MOTOR THAT WAS FOR SALE. HE THEN RETURNED TO A RESIDENCE OFF OF FORT DADE AVENUE IN BROOKSVILLE TO SEE IF VICTIM STIRES WANTED TO ACCOMPANY HIM TO GET HIS BOAT SO THAT THE MOTOR COULD BE INSTALLED ON IT. VICTIM STIRES AGREED AND WENT WITH THE WITNESS TO GET THE BOAT. THEY RETRIEVED THE BOAT AND TRAILER AND RETURNED TO THE HOUSE ON MITCHELL ROAD WHERE THEY INSTALLED THE MOTOR AND SMOKED MORE DRUGS. DURING THE COURSE OF THE EVENING, DEFENDANT BOUTIN AND HIS GIRLFRIEND, MS CRYSTAL BRINSON, ALSO ARRIVED AT THE RESIDENCE AND HUNG OUT FOR A SHORT TIME. A DISAGREEMENT ENSUED OVER A PACKAGE OF METHAMPHETAMINE THAT BELONGED TO THE WITNESS WHICH HE BELIEVED VICTIM STIRES TOOK FROM HIM. THE WITNESS ADVISED THAT HE CONFRONTED VICTIM STIRES BUT SHE DENIED TAKING THE DRUGS. AT THAT POINT, MS BRINSON TOOK VICTIM STIRES ASIDE AND SPOKE TO HER ALONE. AFTER SPEAKING TO VICTIM STIRES, MS BRINSON WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE MISSING DRUGS FROM VICTIM STIRES AND RETURNED THEM TO THE WITNESS. AFTERWARDS, MS BRINSON AND DEFENDANT BOUTIN DECIDED TO LEAVE AND TOOK VICTIM STIRES WITH THEM. VICTIM STIRES WAS REPORTEDLY LAST SEEN BY THE WITNESS LEAVING THE HOUSE ON MITCHELL ROAD IN THE COMPANY OF DEFENDANT BOUTIN AND MS BRINSON IN A BLUE COLORED LINCOLN. THIS INFORMATION WAS LATER CORROBORATED BY THE OWNERS OF THE RESIDENCE ON MITCHELL ROAD. THE WITNESS FURTHER ADVISED THAT ON APPROXIMATELY 122612, DEFENDANT BOUTIN AND MS BRINSON KNOCKED ON HIS DOOR, WAKING HIM. HE STATED THAT DEFENDANT BOUTIN AND MS BRINSON EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT AFTER RETURNING TO DEFENDANT BOUTINâS RESIDENCE IN HOMOSASSA, THE THREE OF THEM CONTINUED USING ILLEGAL NARCOTICS AND AT SOME POINT VICTIM STIRES WENT âAPE-SHITâ; PULLING DEFENDANT BOUTINâS BELONGINGS OUT OF HIS CABINETS AND ACCUSING HIM OF STEALING THE ITEMS. SHE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY SUBDUED BY MS BRINSON WHICH CAUSED VICTIM STIRES TO BE INJURED AND WAS OBSERVED TO BE BLEEDING. DEFENDANT BOUTIN AND MS BRINSON TOLD THE WITNESS THAT THEY NEEDED HIS ASSISTANCE IN FINDING A REMOTE LOCATION WHERE THEY COULD DUMP VICTIM STIRESâ BODY. WHEN THE WITNESS ASKED WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE WAS TOLD THAT DURING THE ALTERCATION VICTIM STIRES HAD TO BE SUBDUED AND WAS GIVEN A âHOT SHOTâ; WHICH THE WITNESS DESCRIBED AS AN UNKNOWN INJECTABLE NARCOTIC. FROM THAT POINT, THE VICTIM WAS TAKEN TO A BARN LOCATED ON DEFENDANT BOUTINâS FATHERâS PROPERTY OFF OF CENTRALIA ROAD IN BROOKSVILLE, HERNANDO COUNTY. THE WITNESS STATED THAT DEFENDANT BOUTIN AND MS BRINSON LEFT HER THERE FOR A SHORT TIME AND WHEN THEY RETURNED, VICTIM STIRES WAS EITHER âDEAD OR NOT DOING WELL.â SHE WAS THEN PUT INTO THE TRUNK OF DEFENDANT BOUTINâS LINCOLN AND TRANSPORTED BY BOTH DEFENDANT BOUTIN AND MS BRINSON TO THE WITNESSâ RESIDENCE. THE WITNESS ADVISED THAT MS BRINSON ASKED HIM TO LOOK AT THE BODY IN THE TRUNK BUT HE REFUSED AND NEVER ACTUALLY SAW VICTIM STIRESâ BODY. THE WITNESS EXPLAINED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW IF DEFENDANT BOUTIN AND MS BRINSON WERE SERIOUS OR WERE PULLING A JOKE ON HIM BUT HE DID GIVE THEM DIRECTIONS TO A REMOTE LOCATION KNOWN AS âCROOM â RITAL ROAD.â THE TWO PARTIES REPORTEDLY PARTED WAYS AND THE WITNESS WENT TO THE WALMART LOCATED IN BUSHNELL. INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM NEIGHBORS OF DEFENDANT BOUTIN, THROUGH SWORN TESTIMONY, INDICATE THAT APPROXIMATELY ON 122512/ 122612, IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, THEY HEARD A FEMALE SCREAMING AND WHAT APPEARED TO SOUND LIKE A PHYSICAL DISTURBANCE INSIDE OF DEFENDANT BOUTINâS TRAILER. THE SCREAMING STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND NO OTHER SOUND WAS HEARD UNTIL DEFENDANT BOUTIN LEFT IN THE DARK BLUE COLORED LINCOLN CONTINENTAL AT APPROXIMATELY 0600 HOURS THAT MORNING. ON 011813, THE CITRUS COUNTY AND HERNANDO COUNTY SHERIFFâS OFFICES EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT FOR DEFENDANT BOUTINâS RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 7340 WEST BRADY LANE, HOMOSASSA, CITRUS COUNTY, FLORIDA. DURING THE SEARCH OF THE RESIDENCE AND THE VEHICLES/OUTBUILDINGS, CRIME SCENE TECHNICIANS LOCATED NUMEROUS ITEMS OF INTEREST. TECHNICIANS LOCATED/COLLECTED NUMEROUS PIECES OF TRACE EVIDENCE THAT INCLUDED SUSPECTED BLOOD TRANSFER SAMPLES THAT TESTED POSITIVE FOR BLOOD ON THE PRESUMPTIVE TESTS. OF PARTICULAR NOTE WAS BLOOD/TRACE EVIDENCE TRANSFER LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR DOOR AS WELL AS OTHER AREAS THROUGHOUT THE RESIDENCE. ADDITIONALLY, TECHNICIANS SEIZED A LARGE AMOUNT OF GUNS/AMMUNITION FROM A SAFE LOCATED IN DEFENDANT BOUTINâS BEDROOM. ONE 380 CALIBER HANDGUN IN PARTICULAR WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE SEVERAL LONG PIECES OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE HAIR LODGED IN THE FRONT SLIDE/BARREL AREA. THESE POSSIBLE HAIR SAMPLES WERE NOTED TO BE APPROXIMATELY THE SAME COLOR/SHADE OF VICTIM STIRESâ HAIR. DURING A SEARCH OF THE 1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, TECHNICIANS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE A SECTION OF THE TRUNKâS INTERIOR, WHICH WAS NOTED TO HAVE SEVERAL RED STAINS, WHICH TESTED POSITIVE FOR HUMAN BLOOD ON THE PRESUMPTIVE TESTS. ON 011813, THE LEVY COUNTY SHERIFFâS OFFICE RESPONDED TO A WOODED HUNTING AREA OFF OF STATE ROAD 24 IN OTTER CREEK, FLORIDA (GPS COORDINATES: 29.32704, -82.74470). LEVY COUNTY DEPUTIES WERE LED TO THIS LOCATION AFTER RECEIVING A CALL FROM SOME LOCAL HUNTERS WHO STUMBLED UPON A DECEASED HUMAN FEMALE WHICH HAD BEEN WRAPPED UP IN A BLACK SHEER TYPE FABRIC AND BOUND BY BLACK PLASTIC ZIP TIES, METAL WIRE AND BLACK TIE DOWN STRAPS WITH BUCKLES. THIS BODY WAS TAKEN TO THE ALACHUA COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINERâS OFFICE WHERE THEY LATER IDENTIFIED THE HUMAN FEMALE AS THE VICTIM, DEANNA LEE STIRES. ON 011813 AND 012013, BOTH CITRUS COUNTY AND HERNANDO COUNTY DETECTIVES INTERVIEWED DEFENDANT BOUTIN AS TO HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THIS CASE. DURING BOTH INTERVIEWS, DEFENDANT BOUTIN PROVIDED NUMEROUS INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS AND DENIED ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE DISAPPEARANCE AND SUBSEQUENT DEATH OF VICTIM STIRES. DEFENDANT BOUTIN ADMITTED THAT HE AND MS BRINSON PICKED UP VICTIM STIRES OFF OF MITCHELL ROAD IN BROOKSVILLE, AS DESCRIBED BY THE WITNESS, AND TOOK HER BACK TO HIS RESIDENCE AT 7340 WEST BRADY LANE IN HOMOSASSA. VICTIM STIRES STAYED WITH THEM FOR AN ENTIRE DAY AND AT ONE POINT, HE AND MS BRINSON LEFT VICTIM STIRES ALONE AT THE RESIDENCE TO HELP OUT A FRIEND. AFTER BEING GONE FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR THEY RETURNED TO FIND HIS RESIDENCE IN DISARRAY AND VICTIM STIRES GONE. ON 012913, THIS DETECTIVE RECEIVED CONFIRMATION FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT (FDLE) CRIME LAB IN TAMPA, FLORIDA THAT THE BLOOD EVIDENCE FOUND ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR DOOR OF DEFENDANT BOUTINâS RESIDENCE, AS WELL AS THE BLOOD FOUND IN THE TRUNK OF THE DEFENDANTâS LINCOLN TOWN CAR WAS IN FACT THE VICTIMâS BLOOD. ON 013013, THIS DETECTIVE MADE CONTACT WITH DEFENDANT BOUTIN AT 7340 WEST BRADY LANE IN HOMOSASSA. DEFENDANT BOUTIN WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER WHERE I CONDUCTED A SWORN, RECORDED INTERVIEW WITH DEFENDANT BOUTIN, POST MIRANDA. DEFENDANT BOUTIN AGREED TO SPEAK WITH ME, AT WHICH TIME HE EXPLAINED THAT HE FINALLY WANTED TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO VICTIM STIRES. HE ADVISED THAT AFTER RETURNING TO HIS RESIDENCE IN HOMOSASSA FROM PICKING VICTIM STIRES UP IN BROOKSVILLE, THE THREE OF THEM (MS BRINSON, DEFENDANT BOUTIN AND VICTIM STIRES) CONTINUED USING ILLEGAL NARCOTICS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. ON THE EVENING OF 122512, HE AND MS BRINSON LEFT VICTIM STIRES ALONE AT HIS RESIDENCE TO HELP OUT A FRIEND. UPON RETURNING TO THE RESIDENCE A SHORT TIME LATER, VICTIM STIRES HAD TORN UP THE HIS RESIDENCE AND WAS ACTING CRAZY. HE STATED THAT VICTIM STIRES WAS MAKING STATEMENTS THAT HE HAD STOLEN A FRIEND OF HERS CLOTHES AND SHE WAS GOING TO RETURN THEM TO HIM. DEFENDANT BOUTIN STATED THAT SHE EVENTUALLY CALMED DOWN BUT HE NOTICED THAT A BAG OF METHAMPHETAMINE AND A PIPE FULL OF âMETHâ WAS MISSING. THEY CONFRONTED VICTIM STIRES, HOWEVER, SHE DENIED TAKING THE ITEMS. EVENTUALLY HE LOCATED THE BAG OF âMETHâ IN VICTIM STIRESâ POSSESSION BUT STILL COULD NOT FIND THE PIPE. DEFENDANT BOUTIN STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS LOOKING FOR THE PIPE, MS BRINSON BEGAN INTERROGATING VICTIM STIRES. HE STATED THAT THE CONVERSATION SEEMED CALM AND NON-CONFRONTATIONAL AND EVEN AT ONE POINT HE WITNESSED MS BRINSON GIVING VICTIM STIRES AN INJECTION OF WHAT HE BELIEVED WAS MORPHINE. HE EXPLAINED THAT IT APPEARED TO HIM THAT VICTIM STIRES WANTED THE INJECTION AND IT SEEMED CONSENSUAL. HE STATED THAT A FEW MINUTES LATER THEY DECIDED TO LEAVE THE RESIDENCE AND WERE PLANNING TO DROP VICTIM STIRES OFF AT A MUTUAL FRIENDâS RESIDENCE, OFF OF FORT DADE AVENUE IN BROOKSVILLE. PRIOR TO THEM LEAVING, VICTIM STIRES BECAME EXTREMELY UPSET AND BEGAN âFLIPPING OUTâ ON MS BRINSON. DEFENDANT BOUTIN ADVISED THAT VICTIM STIRES SUDDENLY BECAME SCARED THAT MS BRINSON WAS GOING TO HURT HER IN SOME WAY AND BEGAN SCREAMING AS THEY WERE ABOUT TO WALK OUT THE BACK DOOR TO HIS RESIDENCE. AT THAT TIME, HE WITNESSED MS BRINSON STRIKE VICTIM STIRES ON THE BACK OF HER HEAD SEVERAL TIMES, USING HIS 380 CALIBER PISTOL. DEFENDANT BOUTIN ADVISED THAT VICTIM STIRES IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WAS LYING UP AGAINST THE BACK DOOR. HE EXPLAINED THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE THAT MS BRINSON WAS IN POSSESSION OF THE 380 CALIBER PISTOL AND DID NOT SEE HER WITH IT UNTIL SHE BEGAN STRIKING VICTIM STIRES WITH IT. DEFENDANT BOUTIN EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD THE PISTOL IN HIS POSSESSION FOR MOST OF THAT PAST WEEK WHILE HANGING OUT WITH MS BRINSON AND SHE DID KNOW WHERE HE KEPT IT. DEFENDANT BOUTIN ALSO ADMITTED THAT HE KNEW HE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN POSSESSION OF ANY FIREARMS BECAUSE HE IS A CONVICTED FELON. AFTER THE PHYSICAL ALTERCATION, THEY PICKED UP VICTIM STIRES AND PLACED HER IN THE REAR SEAT OF THE LINCOLN TOWN CAR. HE DECIDED TO TAKE VICTIM STIRES TO HIS FATHERâS HOUSE OFF OF CENTRALIA ROAD IN BROOKSVILLE INSTEAD OF TAKING HER TO THE FRIENDâS HOUSE OFF OF FORT DADE AVENUE. WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT HIS FATHERâS HOUSE, THEY PULLED INTO HIS FATHERâS DETACHED GARAGE (ALSO DESCRIBED AS A BARN.) WHEN HE PULLED VICTIM STIRES OUT OF THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED VICTIM STIRES WAS SNORING AND SWEATING PROFUSELY. DEFENDANT BOUTIN STATED THAT HE DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF IT AND JUST THOUGHT THAT THE MORPHINE MS BRINSON HAD GIVEN HER HAD MADE HER PASS OUT BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN UP FOR SEVERAL DAYS USING âMETH.â HE STATED THAT HE AND MS BRINSON LAID VICTIM STIRES DOWN ON AN INVERSION TABLE AND BOUND HER HANDS BEHIND HER BACK, USING DUCT TAPE, IN CASE SHE WOKE UP AND STARTED TO âFREAK OUTâ AGAIN. THEY ALSO PLACED A RAG IN HER MOUTH AND DUCT TAPED HER MOUTH, WRAPPING IT AROUND HER HEAD ONE AND A HALF TIMES. DEFENDANT BOUTIN ADVISED THAT HE AND MS BRINSON DROVE TO THE MUTUAL FRIENDâS HOUSE OFF OF FORT DADE AVENUE AND MADE CONTACT WITH THEIR FRIEND, MS CONNIE WALLER. APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR LATER THEY RETURNED TO HIS FATHERâS RESIDENCE TO CHECK ON VICTIM STIRES AND FOUND VICTIM STIRES DECEASED. DEFENDANT BOUTIN STATED THAT THEY STOOD THERE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES IN SILENCE UNTIL IT WAS DECIDED THAT THEY NEEDED TO GET RID OF VICTIM STIRESâ BODY. MS WALLER INSTRUCTED THEM TO WRAP VICTIM STIRES UP AND TO TAKE HER TO A SECLUDED PLACE TO DUMP HER BODY. DEFENDANT BOUTIN EXPLAINED THAT HE AND MS BRINSON WRAPPED UP THE BODY, USING MATERIALS FOUND IN THE GARAGE WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS A THIN BLACK FABRIC, METAL WIRE, BLACK ZIP TIES AND BLACK NYLON STRAPS. DEFENDANT BOUTIN STATED THAT HE AND MS BRINSON PLACED VICTIM STIRESâ BODY IN THE TRUNK OF HIS LINCOLN TOWN CAR AND DROVE AROUND FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS WITH HER BODY IN THE TRUNK. HE ADVISED THAT AT ONE POINT, THEY STOPPED AT THE WITNESSES HOUSE IN FLORAL CITY AND ASKED FOR HIS HELP IN LOCATING A SECLUDED SPOT TO GET RID OF VICTIM STIRESâ BODY. DEFENDANT BOUTIN ADVISED THAT HE AND MS BRINSON TOLD THE WITNESS WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND HE PROVIDED THEM DIRECTIONS TO A SECLUDED PLACE TO DUMP THE BODY. HE ADVISED THAT HE TRIED TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS PROVIDED, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE A SUITABLE SPOT TO DUMP THE BODY. DEFENDANT BOUTIN ADVISED THAT THE NEXT DAY (122712) HE DROPPED MS BRINSON OFF AT MS CONNIE WALLERâS HOUSE BECAUSE SHE HAD COURT THAT MORNING. WHILE SPEAKING TO MS WALLER, SHE TOLD HIM TO DRIVE NORTH ON US HIGHWAY 19 UNTIL HE CROSSED OVER THE BARGE CANAL, AND TO TAKE ONE OF THE OLD LOGGING ROADS TO AN AREA WHERE HE COULD DUMP VICTIM STIRESâ BODY. DEFENDANT BOUTIN STATED THAT HE FOLLOWED MS WALLERâS DIRECTIONS AND FOUND A SECLUDED AREA AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR NORTH ON US HIGHWAY 19, TURNING EAST ON A CROSS ROAD AND INTO A PUBLIC HUNTING AREA. AT THAT TIME, HE DUMPED VICTIM STIRESâ BODY IN A WOODED AREA WHERE HE KNEW THAT SHE WOULD EVENTUALLY BE DISCOVERED. AT THAT TIME, DEFENDANT BOUTIN WAS PLACED UNDER ARREST, HANDCUFFED BEHIND HIS BACK AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY WHERE HE WAS CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA SATE STATUTE 782.04(2) WITH NO BOND; AND ONE COUNT OF POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A FELON, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE 790.23 (1,) WITH A BOND OF $10,000.00, PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. |
