A Bexar County judge on Friday sentenced Nicholas Hernandez, 25, to 35 years in prison for shooting Julie Marie Butcher in the head during a road rage encounter on the Northeast Side in November 2024, a case that left the 31-year-old mother of four dead at the scene along Interstate 35 near Rittiman Road.
The sentence was the maximum allowed under Hernandez’s plea agreement, closing a high-profile case that rattled commuters and grieving relatives. Investigators said Butcher was driving when a confrontation with another motorist escalated and a round fired from a 9 mm handgun struck her through the driver’s side, sending her SUV rolling into a ditch. Hernandez pleaded guilty last week in state district court. Prosecutors described a web of evidence built from witness accounts, surveillance video and phone records that placed him and his blue-and-silver sedan near the shooting and tied him to admissions afterward.
Police were called just before 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 8, 2024, for reports of shots fired and a rollover on the I-35 southbound access road between Eisenhauer and Rittiman. Officers found Butcher unresponsive inside an overturned SUV and pronounced her dead. A witness told detectives a blue-and-silver sedan pulled alongside and the driver fired before speeding away toward Rittiman. Investigators canvassed nearby businesses and gathered video showing a similar car leaving the area. Days later, an anonymous tip named Hernandez and said he had confessed to a friend. Detectives said additional witnesses then came forward, and messages recovered from phones supported the account. At sentencing, the judge said the evidence showed a needless act of violence during an ordinary drive home.
According to the arrest affidavit summarized in court, Hernandez was behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Jetta when the dispute unfolded. Prosecutors said ballistics indicated a 9 mm round consistent with a semiautomatic handgun; charging documents referenced a Beretta-style pistol described by a witness. The Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Butcher’s death a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the head. Relatives said the impact forced the vehicle into a ditch off the access road, where first responders attempted to reach her through the crumpled frame. No other injuries were reported in the immediate crash. Authorities have not identified a single specific trigger for the altercation and said the exact words exchanged remain unknown.
Butcher, a general manager at a Papa John’s in New Braunfels, was remembered by family as a devoted mother and steady presence for her four children. Loved ones described her as organized and upbeat, known for late-night check-ins and weekend outings that juggled school schedules and sports. Friends said she was driving home from work when the shooting happened. In the weeks after, mourners gathered along the access road where the SUV came to rest, leaving flowers near a storm drain and a small wooden cross. A community fundraiser created days after the killing drew widespread support, with messages from coworkers and neighbors referencing her “all-in” commitment to family.
Hernandez’s arrest came on Nov. 27, 2024, after detectives traced the sedan, corroborated the tip and interviewed acquaintances who said he acknowledged the shooting. Court records show he initially faced a murder charge and later entered the plea that produced Friday’s sentence. State District Judge Kristina Escalona presided over the case and imposed the maximum term available under the agreement. Prosecutors told the court the killing reflected an escalating pattern of aggressive driving and split-second decisions that turned deadly. Defense statements were brief, with Hernandez addressing the court to say he accepted responsibility.
Road rage investigations often hinge on quick scene work—mapping shells and glass, pulling nearby camera footage, and tracking vehicles through license-plate hits and traffic cameras. In this case, detectives said business surveillance and highway-facing cameras helped narrow a timeline from the last time Butcher was seen on video to the moments after the gunshot. The affidavit noted that a sedan matching the description was captured leaving the corridor minutes after the 9:30 p.m. calls. Investigators also highlighted digital evidence from phones that aligned with witness statements. Police said no other suspects are being sought.
Texas law allows a wide range of punishment for murder, and plea agreements commonly cap exposure in exchange for a guaranteed term. With credit for time served since his 2024 arrest, Hernandez will enter the state prison system under the 35-year sentence, which does not include a deadly weapon enhancement beyond the underlying murder count. Neither side discussed parole calculations in open court. Prosecutors said the plea spared the family a trial while still delivering a lengthy term. The district attorney’s office said it would not comment further until the written judgment is filed.
Family members spoke briefly outside the courthouse, thanking supporters and describing the sentence as a measure of accountability. “We can breathe a little easier knowing this part is over,” one relative said, adding that the focus now turns to caring for the children. Commuters along the I-35 corridor said the case has weighed on them for more than a year, a reminder of how quickly routine traffic disputes can spiral. A roadside memorial remained in place this weekend, with fresh flowers, a ribbon in Butcher’s favorite color and notes affixed to a small cross.
As of Sunday evening, Hernandez remained in Bexar County custody pending transfer to state prison. The written judgment and commitment paperwork are expected to be processed in the coming days. No further hearings are scheduled in the case, and police said the investigative file will be closed after final records are archived.
Author note: Last updated January 26, 2026.