Cudahy man charged in arson fire says he was trying to kill spider

A Cudahy man on his first day as a temporary worker at a Waukesha food company destroyed more than $13,000 worth of product because he was trying to kill a spider, a criminal complaint filed this week said. Kevin Butler, 24, faces up to seven years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines if convicted of felony arson. The charging document said Butler appears on surveillance video at A.L. Schutzman Company on the morning of Oct. 18, his first day on the job. In the video, Butler is seen walking down an aisle, setting fire to a sack of almonds and walking away. Another employee saw the fire and put it out with a fire extinguisher, but not before it destroyed two sacks of almonds, each weighing 2,100 pounds, the complaint said. Interviewed by a detective, Butler was very apologetic and said he didn't set the fire intentionally, the complaint said. "He stated that he noticed a spider and proceeded to light the spider on fire, which is something that he has done since childhood," the complaint said. A company spokesperson said the company complies with all food and sanitation requirements, and he said he's never seen a spider at the facility, the complaint said. Butler was charged with one count of arson of property and one count of criminal damage to property, both Class I felonies.

A Cudahy man on his first day as a temporary worker at a Waukesha food company destroyed more than $13,000 worth of product because he was trying to kill a spider, a criminal complaint filed this week said.

Kevin Butler, 24, faces up to seven years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines if convicted of felony arson.


The charging document said Butler appears on surveillance video at A.L. Schutzman Company on the morning of Oct. 18, his first day on the job. In the video, Butler is seen walking down an aisle, setting fire to a sack of almonds and walking away.

Another employee saw the fire and put it out with a fire extinguisher, but not before it destroyed two sacks of almonds, each weighing 2,100 pounds, the complaint said.

Interviewed by a detective, Butler was very apologetic and said he didn't set the fire intentionally, the complaint said.

"He stated that he noticed a spider and proceeded to light the spider on fire, which is something that he has done since childhood," the complaint said.

A company spokesperson said the company complies with all food and sanitation requirements, and he said he's never seen a spider at the facility, the complaint said.

Butler was charged with one count of arson of property and one count of criminal damage to property, both Class I felonies.