Ludwina Butt was recaptured last week after going on the run in early May. In October 2021, Butt is accused of using a hammer to murder her mother at her home in Richmond. She beat her mother over the head while her mother was asleep. Later Butt set her mother’s body on fire while she sat in a chair inside of the home. After committing the murder, Butt fled the state of California to begin a $480 million check fraud scam in Idaho. Check fraud money collected by Butt is believed to be the reason she was able to start this life on the run from the law. Butt defrauded $480 million of federal money in Idaho in April by cashing in checks at multiple check-cashing stores. The story quickly drew the attention of the public when they realized that the check cashing victims were not Butt, who was brought into the scam by her husband. Police are attempting to locate Butt’s accomplice as they are in the process of apprehending her; there has been no word on a possible accomplice in this crime.
Royal Idaho Bank investigated the scam when it became suspicious. In April, a bank employee found a problem with 1 check cashed at a municipal check-cashing outfit. It was revealed that there had been no work done by Ms. Butt to earn this check. After further investigation, the bank contacted the authorities. It was later revealed that Ms. Butt used these funds to pay for physical therapy sessions for her hand.
When the story of Butt’s check cashing drew a lot of attention it prompted U.S. Treasury officials to demand proof that the checks cashed were legitimate. The bank could not provide proof that the work was legitimate as Ms. Butt would provide her own social security card and fake pay stubs. Two days after Waddington attempted to alert authorities that Ms. Butt may have scammed them, Butt and her husband were in Boise, Idaho to cash another check for $10,000 using the same tactics. While Butt cashed the check, Matt Waddington was outside of the vehicle where his accomplice’s mother was asleep; investigators believe this was a possible murder threat. Butt’s final cashing of checks was in early May in Idaho when Butt cashed several checks after selling her lottery tickets which she would then use to cash more checks.
Linda Reynolds was waiting for Butt and her husband at the Yellowstone Car Wash. Reynolds noticed a story about the Butts’ vehicle. She recorded the vehicle information. She served this woman in her non-opinion Oblong van. Linda Reynolds approached Waddington but instead of responding to Reynolds, Matt Waddington drove away from her slowly. The next day Linda Reynolds confronted the couple after Waddington attempted to drive on her lawn and Butt threatened Reynolds by following her into her home while holding a hammer and yelling that she’d kill her. The Idaho State Police were notified of this virus on May 2; this prompted an immediate all-points bulletin and Butt was apprehended.
