Sharell Butler, left, is charged with the deaths of John Hopkins Drago (center) and Christopher Umpierrie
15-year-old Sharell Butler, described as a “baby faced” killer by the NY Daily News, is behind bars charged with the murders of two men.
The lanky, slightly built Butler was arrested Saturday and charged with the stabbing death of 22-year-old John Hopkins Drago, whose mutilated body was found stuffed in a garbage bag next to a dumpster in an alley behind a Bronx building on Dec. 21.
He was stabbed 40-50 times in the head, upper torso and arms according to the medical examiner’s office.
The Russian-born Drago had a history of arrests for minor drug offenses and he was estranged from his adopted family which is why he was not reported missing.
An anonymous police source said Drago may have been silenced before he could snitch to police about another murder Butler may have helped carry out.
Police say Butler and Robert Pastore, 19, also in custody, planned a home invasion to rob Christopher Umpierrie, 24, of cash and weed.
But the home invasion went awry and Umpierrie was shot to death. Police say Butler was carrying a loaded handgun on her when she was arrested Saturday.
In addition to a murder charge, Pastore is charged with statutory rape for having sexual relations with Butler who is not old enough to legally consent.
Butler, who is known on the streets as “Lady Red”, was led into a Bronx courtroom Saturday wearing a bandage on her right hand and a blank expression on her face.
Butler pleaded not guilty to all charges. Her family members sat somberly in their seats as the judge ordered Butler held without bail.
Butler’s lawyer said, “She’s just a 15-year-old girl and she’s scared. She just wants to be with her mother right now.”
After the hearing, her mother lashed out at the news media outside the courtroom. Photographers braced themselves against her displaced anger and frustration which was probably all too familiar to her daughter.
Butler is charged with murder, manslaughter and assault in connection with the death of Drago, and second-degree murder in the shooting death of Umpierrie.
“She’s one piece of a work,” said a police source of the troubled teenager.
