Carbonear to sell Trent Butt land by tender

Man murdered his daughter, Quinn, on property five years ago

The Town of Carbonear will soon start the process of selling the piece of land where five-year-old Quinn Butt was murdered.

During its regular meeting on Tuesday, the town council voted to get the land appraised before selling the property.

“The motion is resolved to proceed to the tender process for the disposal of the land at 12 Hayden Heights,” said Carbonear Deputy Mayor Chris O’grady, who chairs the town’s finance committee.

Now a vacant lot on Hayden Heights, the land was the site of an extremely traumatic moment in the town’s history.

Five years ago, Quinn’s body was found inside the burning home that belonged to her father, Trent Butt. He was later convicted for firstdegree murder in the death of his daughter and, in 2019, was sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole for 25 years.

CIBC later donated the land to the municipality. The town has sat on the land ever since and has decided it is time to do something with the property.

DECISION NOT UNANIMOUS

While the motion to start the appraisal was passed by council, it was not unanimous. Coun. Danielle Doyle was the sole member of council to vote against the motion.

During the discussion period, she questioned where the money from any future sale would go and how it would be used.

Doyle stated Tuesday, as she had in previous meetings, that any money from the sale should be earmarked for projects that benefit the children in the community.

“That event was very traumatic and I think something good should come from something bad,” she said.

Doyle said there is a precedent of that happening in Carbonear. She noted a previous sale of equipment that the council ensured was going to be used for recreational purposes.

“Why can’t we ensure that for this?” she said. “Why can’t we just say it will be dedicated to recreation?”

It may be too early to know how any of that money will be spent by the town or even if the current council will have to say over that, but O’grady indicated that could be discussed later.

“What the committee decided was to put it forward, and that can be a conversation that is had when the land sells,” he said.