URBANA, Ill. (AP) — A Champaign man has been arrested in the death of a 14-year-old boy whose body was found Friday in a roadside ditch by passersby.
Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz said Daryl Vandyke, 55, is charged with the first-degree murder in Steven Wayne Butler III’s death. He’s being held in lieu of $2 million bond.
This July 30, 2021, booking photo provided by the Champaign County Correction Center shows Daryl Vandyke, who is accused of murdering 14-year-old Steven Butler III. (Champaign County Correction Center)
Rietz said Vandyke is an acquaintance of the boy’s father. She said he was arrested at his home about 11 a.m. Friday and declined to speak with police.
Butler’s father made a Facebook post Thursday asking for helping finding his son, who he said had left home that day to mow a lawn but didn’t return, The (Champaign) News-Gazette reported.
Butler’s father reported him missing to Champaign police about 7:30 p.m. Thursday. He said his son wasn’t returning his phone calls and it was out of character for him not to stay in touch.
Two cyclists found Butler’s body just before 7 a.m. Friday in a roadside ditch east of Urbana. Authorities immediately recognized him as the missing youth.
Rietz said the boy was the victim of blunt-force injuries.
