Butler City police say a 64-year-old man is facing charges after officers found a person’s body hidden inside a trash bin at an apartment on the 200 block of North Main Street. Investigators say the victim appeared to have been dead for several days before officers made the discovery, and that the suspect admitted he placed the body in the container days after the person died.
Police identified the suspect as 64-year-old Cavell Watkins. He is charged with the delivery of narcotics and the abuse of a corpse. The Butler County Coroner's Office responded to the scene and later conducted an autopsy, which investigators say showed the person had been deceased for several days. Watkins was remanded to the Butler County Prison pending prosecution, according to WTAE.
Charges and legal exposure
Under Pennsylvania law, abuse of a corpse is a misdemeanor of the second degree, carrying a maximum sentence of up to two years in jail, as outlined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 5510 and related sentencing rules. Delivery charges fall under the state’s Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act and can bring significantly higher penalties depending on the drug involved and the circumstances. Prosecutors also have the option to pursue enhanced counts if a death is tied to distribution, under 35 P.S. § 780‑113.
Investigation and next steps
Officers said they entered the apartment after getting consent from a resident to conduct a welfare check inside the unit where the body was ultimately found. Detectives are still gathering evidence as the case moves forward. The Butler County Coroner's Office has not publicly released the victim’s name.
According to police, Watkins told investigators the person “likely died from a drug overdose,” a detail included in charging documents cited by WTAE. Prosecutors are expected to review the coroner’s findings and finalize how the charges will be presented as the case proceeds through Butler County courts.
