2nd Person Charged In Wright County Man's Death

BUFFALO, Minn. (WCCO) -- A second person has been charged with murder in the disappearance of a 25-year-old Wright County man.

Gwen Butcher was taken into custody Tuesday night and booked into the Wright County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with Christopher Rossing's disappearance. Butcher is the girlfriend of Robert Nuttall, who was charged with second-degree murder back in January.

The incident happened last August, when Rossing vanished after a night of drinking with Nuttall at Trouble's Bar in Howard Lake. According to court documents, there had been an argument between Nuttall and his girlfriend, Gwen Butcher. Nuttall was going to walk home to Hutchinson, heading west along Highway 12, with Rossing walking alongside. Surveillance video taken from the nearby Sinclair gas station shows the two men walking along the highway, interacting with a SUV around 1:26 a.m. That's the last appearance anyone has reported of Rossing.

Last fall in rural Hutchinson, in the fields across the road from where Nuttall and Butcher lived, burned bone fragments were found.

Butcher's bail has been set at $150,000 at a court hearing Wednesday morning. The judge set a conditional bail, which means Butcher cannot have any contact with Nuttall, Rossing's family or possess any weapons.  Alcohol and drug use is also prohibited.

Family and friends of Rossing said they are disappointed in Wednesday's bail decision. They showed up in numbers to learn about the latest development in the case. Since Rossing's disappearance and death, they said they have stuck together and stood strong, waiting for justice.

Before Wednesday's court proceeding, they prayed for continued strength as the case moves forward. Rossing's sister said her brother was a shining light in her life and she misses him more than words can say.

"Always happy he was. He would give his short off his back to you, a perfect stranger. He was the biggest heart and soul you would ever meet," she said. "It's really unfortunate that he was robbed of his life and our family at such a young age.

Butcher's family was also In court and they declined to comment.  Butcher's next court appearance has been set for March 23.