Restraining order filed against man after search

ST. GEORGE — The wife of missing hiker Bryan Butas, whom authorities later traced to Australia, filed for a protective order against her husband in 5th District Court this week.

Pamela Butas sought the restraining order against her 35-year-old husband on Aug. 15 for cohabitant abuse. The couple has three children.

The restraining order was signed the next day by Judge James Shumate, who also ordered that Bryan Butas be served with a copy of it at a location in Brunswick, Ohio.

Bryan Butas was the focus of a 10-day intensive search and rescue effort by the Washington County Sheriff's Office and dozens of volunteers after he said he was going hiking and didn't return. Co-workers reported him missing on July 29 after he failed to return to work.

While his car was found parked at Oak Grove Campground near Leeds in Washington County, there was no sign of the missing hiker and the search was called off.

Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith said during a news conference last week that investigators traced Bryan Butas to Australia through a credit card purchase and his passport. He has since returned to Ohio where his parents live.

Investigators with the sheriff's office have scheduled a Monday 10 a.m. news conference in St. George to discuss the case. Smith said earlier he would seek reimbursement for the $20,000 search effort.

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E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com