2010-10-10 Michael Paul Buse

October 10, 2010 Daisy Strout and Michael Paul Buse

On October 10,2010 at about 4:20 a.m., Amarillo police found Daisy Strout's body in the parking lot of the Chisolm Building at 1220 S. Georgia Street,

Witnesses had told police the two were seen at a bar on Sixth Avenue hours before the body was discovered. Investigators later found marks on Daisy Strout’s clothing that were similar to the Chevrolet’s tire treads.

After interviews with police, Buse was arrested and charged with murder.

Buse was booked into the Potter County Detention Center and released on a $500,000 bond the following day.

March 30, 2011 Grand jury indicts Buse for murder

A Potter County grand jury handed up a murder indictment against Michael Paul Buse, 44, for causing the Oct. 10 death of Daisy Ruth Strout, 26.^[1]

Investigators said Buse ran over Strout with a Chevrolet Avalanche. The couple was arguing in the Avalanche before Strout exited the pickup and was run over

An autopsy revealed that Strout's upper body was crushed, police said. 

If convicted, Buse faces up to life in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Buse takes plea agreement

Judge Ana Estevez sentenced Buse in 251st District Court to 10 years of probation and also ordered him to spend a total of 120 days in jail, including a day to be served each year for the next nine years on the anniversary of Daisy Strout’s death.

The plea agreement dropped Buse's murder charge down to manslaughter, a second-degree felony

District Attorney Randall Sims said that plea agreement was reached with the full support of the victim’s family. The issue of leaving the couple’s child without a parent also factored into the decision.