Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode Title: Baseball-Star Brutal Attacks on HS Girls Walks Free "Sketchy as Hell!"
Date: November 12, 2025
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline
Host: Nancy Grace

Episode Overview

This explosive episode dives into the deeply disturbing case of Jesse Butler, an 18-year-old high school baseball star from Stillwater, Oklahoma, who brutally assaulted at least two high school girls. Despite facing a possible 78-year sentence for a litany of violent offenses—including rape, attempted murder by strangulation, and aggravated assault—Butler ultimately received only counseling, community service, and a curfew after pleading "no contest" (nolo contendere). Nancy Grace, with guests including legal and forensic experts, investigative journalists, and advocates for assault survivors, dissects the case, the legal maneuvers, the influence of Butler’s prominent family, and the devastating consequences for the victims. Outrage is palpable as they interrogate how the criminal justice system failed so profoundly.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Case and Plea Deal Breakdown

• Jesse Butler: Star high school baseball player with deep family ties to Oklahoma State University athletics.
• Crimes: Multiple, bloody assaults and sexual attacks on two high school girls, with corroborating medical and video evidence.
• Plea Outcome: Given "youthful offender" status, allowed nolo contendere plea (functionally a conviction, but not a technical admission of guilt), and received counseling, community service, and probation, walking free without jail time.
• Outrage: This outcome drew sharp condemnation and protests in Stillwater, with calls for the resignation of both the presiding Judge Susan Worthington and District Attorney Laura Thomas.

Nancy Grace:

"A high school baseball star brutally, brutally attacks multiple high school girls, leaving them bleeding. And he walks free with counseling. ... He gets counseling and community service. I call that sketchy as hell." ([03:55])

2. Legal Analysis: Nolo Contendere and Systemic Failures

• Nolo Contendere: Grace and guest attorney Randy Kessler debate the legal nuance—though it avoids a direct admission, the consequences are functionally the same as a guilty plea ([05:10-06:37]).
• Juvenile vs. Adult Trial: The group discusses how, by law, rape is a “seven deadly sin” allowing (and typically requiring) 17-year-olds to be tried as adults. Still, Butler was shielded as a juvenile.
• Victim Impact Ignored: Arguments that a relationship between victim and assailant somehow mitigates the crime are demolished; evidence, including video of violence and unconsciousness, is overwhelming.

Randy Kessler:

"There has to be some loophole or some technicality, some deficiency in their case, because...there is never a lock on a case, ever." ([08:53])

Nancy Grace:

"The law is that there in most jurisdiction are seven deadly sins for which a juvenile will have a bind over hearing and most likely get treated as an adult. ... Rape is a seven deadly." ([11:20])

3. The Evidence: Medical, Psychological, and Forensic Testimony

• Victims suffered profound physical injuries—including unconsciousness, throat surgery, facial drooping, genital bleeding, and brain injury ([14:03] [15:41] [17:27]).
• Ample forensic evidence: Video of one assault showing the victim being strangled and losing control of bodily functions.
• Expert testimony on lasting trauma and risk: Strangulation increases risk of future homicide exponentially ([29:57] Dr. Cheryl Ehret).

Forensic Nurse Rachel Countryman:

"The symptoms are, you know, quite astounding ... The body is not getting oxygen, the tissues in the body are not getting oxygen. And she is very close to losing her life." ([17:27])

Dr. Cheryl Ehret:

"Strangulation puts the victim at risk of 750% more likely to be murdered by the person who strangled her during an attack." ([29:57])

4. Family Influence and Community Outrage

• Butler's father served as Cowboys football director at Oklahoma State for 16 years; his mother and sister also work in athletics administration—fueling accusations of favoritism ([07:12] [19:11] [20:17]).
• Both victims and the wider Stillwater community protest the sentence, seeing it as a “sweetheart deal” bought through influence and power, not merit.
• The episode plays audio from protestors and community leaders demanding accountability ([18:33] [19:49]).

Rep. J.J. Humphrey (KFOR):

"If that don't set you on fire, your wood's wet ... That looks like favoritism all day long for me." ([18:33])

5. Patterns of Leniency and Judicial Record

• Judge Susan Worthington’s Record: Known for past leniency in sex crime cases (e.g., suspending most of a 10-year sentence for a teacher convicted of sex crimes; after early release, he reoffended) ([49:30]).
• District Attorney Laura Thomas: Under fire for repeated low-sentencing deals.
• Comparisons: Nancy draws parallels to infamous failures in the justice system (e.g., O.J. Simpson, Casey Anthony, Sean Combs/Brother Love verdicts) showing that systemic breakdowns allow offenders to go free even with strong evidence.

6. Victim Voices

• The episode features chilling, direct statements from the victims, detailing the lifelong emotional and physical scars, and the crushing sense of impunity for attackers ([54:06] [47:09]):

Victim LS:

"I will never forget the night you strangled me unconscious because I said no. ... A medical professional later told me that I was just 30 seconds away from dying." ([47:09])

Victim Statement:

"I've had to carry this weight while going to school, trying to act like I'm okay. ... You didn't just strangle me with your hands. You strangle my voice, my joy, my ability to feel safe in my own body." ([54:06])

7. Repercussions, Next Steps, and Calls for Justice

• No real recourse: Once a plea deal is struck and accepted by a judge, there is almost no way to reverse it unless corruption or extreme irregularity is proven; all focus remains on preventing recurrences ([52:25] [55:38]).
• Conditions of release: Butler must follow a strict plan until age 19 (weekly counseling, community service, curfew, no social media), but the pain for the victims and community will last much longer.

Nancy Grace:

"Two high school girls brutally attacked. And the attacker enters a nolo, which is a conviction, and walks free with counseling ... In the meantime, judge, get off the bench. And same to you, district attorney. You're not worth the salt that goes in my bread. Begone." ([54:31] [55:48])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the Plea Deal:
  "He pled guilty. It's not that girlfriend accuses. It's way past that. He has pled and been sentenced, right?" — Nancy Grace [04:13]
• Defense Perspective:
  "He can say for the rest of his life he did not contest the facts. ... There is a difference. But in the eyes of the law..." — Randy Kessler [05:59]
• About Judicial Influence:
  "Typically with their son...they get really influential people like mayors and the heads of football programs at colleges to write on behalf of the defendant. ... It makes it worse." — Nancy Grace [20:42]
• On Physical Evidence:
  "We have video evidence. Typically, it's he said, she said. This is not ... The state has the video of the girl unconscious, being strangled, and then sex assaulted." — Shannon Henry & Nancy Grace [13:48] - [14:03]
• Victim’s Words (LS):
  "I will never forget the night you strangled me unconscious because I said no. That moment changed my life ... If you had kept your hands on my neck just a little longer, I wouldn't be standing here today." — LS [47:09]
• Nancy's Closing Rebuke:
  "Judge, get off the bench. And same to you, district attorney. You're not worth the salt that goes in my bread. Begone. I don't want to see anything but tail hole and elbows out of ye while you run out of town." — Nancy Grace [55:48]

Timestamps: Important Segments

• [03:55] – Main case intro: brutality and plea outcome
• [04:54] – Nolo contendere legal explanation
• [07:12] – Details on Butler family's influence
• [13:48] – Medical experts: impact and evidence
• [17:27] – Forensic nurse explains near-fatal strangulation
• [18:33] – Community outrage; protests and calls for resignations
• [23:10] – Defense attorney weighs in on systemic failures
• [29:57] – Dr. Cheryl Ehret: risk of reoffending and lack of remorse
• [32:21-35:54] – Victims' detailed accounts of assaults
• [49:30] – Judge’s prior leniency enabling later sex crimes
• [54:06] – Victims share lifelong consequences
• [54:51] – What happens next/conditions of plea deal
• [55:48] – Nancy’s final call to action

Tone & Takeaways

Nancy Grace's signature unvarnished tone—passionate, indignant, bombastic—pervades the episode. Her outrage is backed by methodical questioning of factual and legal details. The guests’ voices—ranging from legal experts to victim advocates to forensic professionals—underscore the real, lifelong damage of sexual violence and the disastrous impact that favoritism and neglect in the justice system can have on survivor outcomes and public trust.

Listeners come away with a clear sense of how privilege and connections can subvert justice, and how survivors of violence are too often left to bear their pain while perpetrators go free. The episode closes with a direct appeal to overturn the plea, remove the judge and DA, and support survivors—leaving listeners roused to demand justice.

If you have information related to this case, contact Stillwater Police at 405-372-4171. If you or someone you know is an assault victim, seek support at 800-656-4673.