Woman, 18, arrested in death of man whose body was found in burning car

An 18-year-old North Lauderdale woman has been arrested in the death of a man who was found in a burning car last week.

Rougiena Deriveire was arrested Saturday on a charge of first-degree murder. Authorities have not disclosed what her relationship was to Darren Butler, 27.

Butler’s body was found in the early morning hours Nov. 14 in a car he had bought a month ago. The car was in flames at Bicentennial Park, 6100 Kimberly Blvd, North Lauderdale.

“When the flames were extinguished by North Lauderdale Fire Rescue, the 27-year-old’s body was discovered in the car,” said Joy Oglesby, a spokeswoman for the Broward Sheriff ’s Office.

Neighbors reported hearing gun shots before the 5 a.m. discovery of Butler’s body but deputies have not disclosed how Butler was killed or whether he was shot.

“At this time, the detectives aren’t releasing any other information about this case,” Oglesby said Monday evening after announcing Deriveire’s arrest.

Butler’s mother, Sheila Rutledge-Inman, of Fort Lauderdale, told the Sun Sentinel last week that her son had obstacles to overcome but was an affectionate, loving man.

Her son went from serving time in a Michigan prison for receiving and concealing a stolen car and attempted assault of a prison employee, she said, to leaving Detroit in 2013 to be closer to family.

He came to Fort Lauderdale, landed a job as a dishwasher and just three months ago had become a father to a baby girl, Rutledge-Inman said.

Investigators urge anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Kevin Forsberg at 954-421-4200. Anonymous tips can be made to Broward Crimestoppers at 954-493-8477 or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.