
Preferred Name | Jean Thomas Butchart | City | Belleville | ||
Legal Name | Catherine Butchart | State | MI | ||
Age | 26 | Gender Identity | Transman | ||
Race | White | Date of Death | 08/04/2023 |
Crime Category: Random Act of Violence | Weapon Used: Gun
On August 4th, 2023, in Belleville, MI, Jean was shot in a string of violent shootings in his mobile home community.
Advocate: “He had been pulling weeds and cleaning the grounds when, about 5 p.m. August 4, he was shot in the head by a stranger. He died at the scene. He was “one victim in a string of random, violent attacks by a suspect now awaiting trial for murder,”
Location: Van Buren Estates, 16800 block of Lohr Road, Belleville, MI, at about 5:00 p.m.
Personal Information:
Jean earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis on hydrology. He planned to become a teacher.
Obituary: ‘He was excited to put his education to use in Savannah, Georgia, where he used geographical information systems (GIS) to map water bodies and water drainage, and literally opened the floodgates to perform water management. His love of the natural world extended to a love of camping, foraging, gardening, and mushroom-hunting, earning him the affectionate nickname “Nature Boy” among his many friends.’
HRC: “Jean was striving toward a brighter future for himself where he could educate others about environmental issues and matters, something that was apparently very close to his heart,”

Murder Suspect:

Matthew Torrey Tiggs Jr.
22 | Black
Birthdate: 04/09/2001
Motive: Random Violence
Charged: Murder
Hate Crime: No
Last Public Update: 01/03/2024
Current Status: Awaiting Trial
Case ID: 23-004666-01-FC
File Date: 08/04/2023
Competency Hearing: 04/26/2024
Wayne County, Michigan
STATE OF MICHIGAN V MATTHEW TORREY TIGGS, JR.
Jury Trial is scheduled: 09/03/2024

Tiggs is accused of participating in an altercation with an unnamed 45-year-old man in the mobile home community they both lived in. During the altercation, Tiggs pulled out a gun and aimed it at the man before running away. (July, 28th, 2023)
On August 4th, 2023, Tiggs approached Jean Butchart who was gardening and shot him multiple times, including the head. Emergency services arrived and found Jean dead. Tiggs fled the scene before emergency services arrived.
On August 6th, 2023, Tiggs approached an unnamed 47-year-old man sitting in his car in the mobile home community, and fired, shooting him multiple times. He survived his injuries. He barricaded himself in a nearby mobile home and after a two-hour standoff, police arrested him.
No motive has been released and it appears to be random shootings. Tiggs will be evaluated to stand trial on 04/26/2024 and then face a jury trial on 09/03/2024.
News Timeline: 07/28/2023 | 08/04/2023 | 08/09/2023 | 09/21/2023 | 12/13/2023 | 01/02/2024 | 01/03/2024
Carr, B. (2023, August 4). 30-year old man shot, killed outside Jeffersonian apartment complex on Detroit’s east side – Jean Burchart. Click on Detroit. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2023/08/04/30-year-old-man-shot-killed-outside-jeffersonian-apartment-complex-on-detroits-east-side/
Case No. 23-004666-01-FC STATE OF MICHIGAN V MATTHEW TORREY TIGGS, JR. – Jean Butchart. (2023, August 4). Register of Actions State of Michigan. https://cmspublic.3rdcc.org/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=4033244
Hotts, M. (2023, August 9). Macomb County man charged with ‘very violent’ incidents in mobile home park attacks – Jean Butchart. Macomb Daily. https://www.macombdaily.com/2023/08/09/macomb-county-man-charged-in-series-of-very-violent-incidents-in-mobile-home-park/
Jean Thomas Butchart – Obituary. (2023, August 4). Nie Funeral Home. https://www.niefuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Jean-Thomas-Butchart?obId=28645905
Otzman, R. K. (2023a, August 17). Court Watching: Matthew Tiggs arraigned on murder, assault charges in VBT – Jean Butchart. Belleville Area Independent. https://bellevilleareaindependent.com/court-watching-matthew-tiggs-arraigned-on-murder-assault-charges-in-vbt/
Otzman, R. K. (2023b, September 21). Court Watching: Tiggs preliminary exam set Sept. 25 on 9 charges including murder – Jean Butchart. Belleville Area Independent. https://bellevilleareaindependent.com/court-watching-tiggs-preliminary-exam-set-sept-25-on-9-charges-including-murder/
Owen, G. (2024, January 3). A trans man was brutally murdered in a trailer break. Then cops tragically misgendered him. – Jean Butchart. LGBTQ Nation. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/a-trans-man-was-brutally-murdered-in-a-trailer-break-then-cops-tragically-misgendered-him/ar-AA1mqccQ
Ring, T. (2024, January 2). Michigan transgender man Jean Butchart shot and killed in series of attacks. Advocate. https://www.advocate.com/crime/transgender-man-shot-killed-michigan
Wayne County Sheriff. (2023, August 9). Inmate Detail – TIGGS, MATTHEW TORREY Junior – Jean Butchart. Wayne County Sheriff Inmate Inquiry. https://50.239.65.109/NewWorld.InmateInquiry/MI8218200/Inmate/Detail/-1977870
Worthy, K. L. (2023, August 6). Eastpointe Man Charged in Van Buren Township Homicide and Assaults – Jean Butchart. Charter County of Wayne Michigan. https://www.waynecounty.com/elected/prosecutor/eastpointe-man-charged-in-van-buren-township-homicide.aspx
Images are publicly available through public sources, personal posts, family members and information websites as well as stills from cited videos and news websites. Images are digitally enhanced for artistic purposes. All information is accurate to the best of the author’s knowledge at time of publishing. Updates will be made as needed.