A West Babylon man was indicted for allegedly violently robbing and killing a Deer Park man in December 2024.
On December 11, 2024, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Donald Klune, 65, was in his parked vehicle on Brook Avenue in Deer Park. Jason Butt-Champagne allegedly approached the car, forcefully pulled the victim out of it, and proceeded to kick and beat the victim. Klune, an amputee with only one leg, was physically unable to defend himself during the attack. Butt-Champagne then allegedly fled the scene in Klune’s vehicle, leaving the victim without his phone.
A good Samaritan found the victim in the road and called 911. Klune was transported to South Shore University Hospital but died two days later, on December 13, 2024.
An autopsy was conducted by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner, who concluded that Klune’s death was caused by blunt force injuries.
On December 12, 2024, members of the Suffolk County Police Department canvased the Deer Park area and located Klune’s vehicle in a commercial parking lot. While officers were securing the victim’s vehicle, Butt-Champagne was allegedly walking nearby when he was struck by a motor vehicle on Commack Road. Officers responded to that scene and allegedly observed car keys near Butt-Champagne. The car keys were secured and later confirmed to have belonged to Klune.
After a long-term investigation, Butt-Champagne was arrested on May 11, 2026.
On May 21, 2026, Butt-Champagne was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis for the following charges:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony
- Robbery in the First Degree, a Class B felony
- Robbery in the Second Degree, a Class C felony
- Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D felony
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor
“This defendant allegedly brutally attacked Donald Klune and left him for dead on the side of the road for nothing more than his car,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “The Suffolk County Police Department never gave up in our pursuit of justice for Mr. Klune and his loved ones, and my office will continue to do so during this prosecution.”
Wilutis ordered Butt-Champagne be remanded during the pendency of the case. Butt Champagne is due back in court on June 24, 2026, and faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.