Dangerous fugitive in case of slain New Hampshire couple caught, authorities say

The bodies of James and Michelle Butler were found on Padre Island last week.

November 6, 2019, 2:51 PM

The persons of interest connected with the murders of a New Hampshire couple in Texas have been captured in Mexico, according to authorities.

Adam Curtis Williams, 33, who was considered armed and dangerous, and the passenger he was traveling with, Amanda Noverr, were wanted in connection with the deaths of James and Michelle Butler, whose bodies were discovered in a shallow grave on Padre Island in Texas last week.

A felony theft arrest warrant was issued for Williams on Tuesday, authorities said. The circumstances surrounding their capture is unclear.

Police said Williams was the man seen driving the Butlers' RV across a checkpoint in Mexico in surveillance footage from Oct. 21. Noverr is the passenger seen in the footage, authorities said.

PHOTO: The Kleberg County Sheriff's Office in Texas released this image of two persons of interest related to the murder investigation of James Butler and Michelle Butler, who were found buried in a shallow grave on Padre Island in Texas on Oct. 28, 2019.
The Kleberg County Sheriff's Office in Texas released this image of two persons of interest related to the murder investigation of James Butler and Michelle Butler, who were found buried in a shallow grave on Padre Island in Texas on Oct. 28, 2019.
Kleberg County Sheriff via KXII

The surveillance footage had been released before Williams and Noverr were identified.

"Thankfully they have two individuals who have been identified. They were chasing a ghost a few days ago, but I know the U.S. Marshals have teamed up with Mexican authorities and they are utilizing all their resources at this point," Lenny DePaul, a former chief inspector with the U.S. Marshals, told ABC News.

The remains of the Butlers were found on Oct. 28, one day after deputies, following up on a lead, noticed a bra covered in sand sticking out of the side of a dune, Kleberg County Sheriff's Lt. David Mendoza said Monday.

The New Hampshire couple was on a cross-country RV road trip and were last seen on Oct. 15 as they left the Padre Balli Park, Mendoza said. The next day, Michelle Butler posted to social media that they had "just arrived at their new home for the next couple of weeks" before they were to set out to Florida, Mendoza said.

PHOTO: A photo of James and Michelle Butler is displayed during a press conference about their murder investigation held by the Kleberg County Sheriff's Office in Texas, Nov. 4, 2019.
A photo of James and Michelle Butler is displayed during a press conference about their murder investigation held by the Kleberg County Sheriff's Office in Texas, Nov. 4, 2019.
Kleberg County Sheriff via KXII

"I think with the way the timeline played out, these two victims were missing for a couple of weeks. It’s not a straight-up carjacking," said DePaul. "And the million dollar question at this point -- what the motive was. No one seems to know that."

Williams has not been charged for the Butlers' deaths and no arrest warrant has been issued for Noverr, authorities said Tuesday. Both are believed to be from the Utah area, authorities said.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Kleberg County Sheriff's Office at 361-595-8500.

ABC News' Marcus Moore and Dom Proto contributed to this report.