Warrant issued for musician accused of no-show performances

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT/Gray News) — A musician from Nebraska is wanted after failing to show up at several events where he had already been paid to perform. In each case, he sent a cancellation text at the last minute.

Daniel Butler is accused of stringing along multiple event organizers, including the mother of a bride.

“She wanted to dance on her wedding night, and she did not get to dance. We didn’t have a first dance with her dad,” said Robin Heller, the bride’s mother.

Heller said she gave Butler an $800 down payment in June and more money later. But minutes before the wedding, he sent a text that he and his band had been in an accident and had to cancel.

In his text, Butler also promised to give Heller a full refund within 24 hours.

At first Heller was concerned, but then she became suspicious when she found out Butler had booked other performances for the same night.

“The three people he booked for Saturday, Aug. 29, he sent the same text to each of us, and that’s why they were able to show it was fraud, because he couldn’t possibly be in three places at one time,” Heller said.

Heller said not only did she prepay Butler to play at her daughter’s wedding, but she spent $500 to build a stage for his performance.

“He really disappointed a lot of people, and then left the people scrambling to find other solutions,” Heller said.

Arrest warrant filed

Heller filed a report with Omaha police. And in Buffalo County, an arrest warrant has been filed for Butler after an event organizer who paid him $1,000 got stood up.

“I was really worried that something had happened to them, that they were injured in the accident. Then I found out that they had booked three different venues that night. I got a little angrier than concerned,” said event organizer Shannon Bombeck.

A former member of Butler’s band said the band broke up months ago, long before Butler sent the text message about an alleged accident, and that Butler now books events on his own.

Musician responds

Butler responded to WOWT with a lengthy text, saying he is filled with shame and regret and never intended to hurt anyone. He said he is living out of his car but working long hours to pay back the event organizers.

Bombeck also got a text from Butler, who apologized for lying about why he did not show up.