News and Investigations

Polk County Sheriff's Office homicide detectives arrested 22-year-old Deandre Coffer of Winter Haven on Saturday, February 17, 2018, for one count 2^nd-degree murder (F-1). Coffer, who lived with the victim, 32-year-old Kiara Butler, told deputies he punched and choked Butler after a disagreement.

According to the affidavit, on Saturday, February 17, 2018, around 9:11 p.m., Coffer called 9-1-1 for deputies to respond to their home located at 213 Summer View Drive in Winter Haven. Coffer told deputies that Butler was reading a "voodoo" book to his son, and he did not agree with her decision. He told deputies that he asked his son to leave the room, and Butler and Coffer began fighting. He said he began choking and punching her.

After he believed she became unconscious he called 9-1-1 to report the incident and walked to a neighbor's home with their two children and waited for deputies to arrive. He told deputies he smoked marijuana prior to the incident. Butler was declared deceased on-scene.

Deputies searched the home and did not find any "voodoo" books.

"What a senseless act. Ms. Butler was brutally beat to death by someone she trusted. There is no excuse. Coffer admitted to smoking marijuana prior to his violent attack and made up a bizarre story about voodoo. He will have plenty of time in prison to think about the pain he has caused others." Grady Judd, Sheriff

Coffer suffered injuries on his right hand consistent with continuous punching and received treatment at Bartow Regional Medical Center before he was booked into the Polk County Jail.

Coffer has a previous criminal history to include the following charges: DWLSR, shoplifting, possession of marijuana, and FTA DWLSR.