Drone Dispute Almost Turns Deadly for Florida Man

A neighborhood issue nearly cost a Florida man his life, according to a September 2026 arrest affidavit on the Lake County Clerk of Courts website. That’s because David Butka stands accused of trying to hire a hitman to kill his neighbor. 

The document alleges that Butka tried to hire another inmate, John Patterson, for $5,000. Patterson says that Butka offered him the money upfront, giving the funds to the inmate’s wife via a credit card. The $5,000 appears to have been a down payment for the murder, with more money coming after the deed had been done.

However, the inmate reached out to law enforcement instead of moving forward with the killing. So what was at the center of the murder-for-hire plot? According to the affidavit, the neighbor was a witness in a case against Butka.

A separate affidavit dated July 22, 2026, says that Butka was accused of harassing one of his neighbors, flying a drone by his house and throwing a rock at his car, a crime he pleaded no contest to. Here’s what we know.

A Drone Was at the Center of an Ongoing Issue

The July affidavit shows that the 69-year-old was accused of throwing a rock at his neighbor’s red truck as he drove by the property. The neighbor told the officer who took the report that he had seen the drone flying around the neighborhood prior to heading out with his girlfriend. This wasn’t the first time the drone had been an issue between the neighbors, according to WESH.

Once the victim left the house, he told the officer that he saw Butka standing on the side of the road. The victim said Butka cocked his fist back as if he was about to throw something, and the neighbor instinctively flinched as he heard something hit the side of his car.

But he told the officer he was too scared for his personal safety to stop at the moment, so he continued on his way, calling the police when he felt it was safe. The officer noticed the dents on the side of the truck before going to speak with Butka, who accused the neighbor of speeding.

The 69-Year-Old Tried to Have His Neighbor Killed From Jail.

It sounds like Butka stewed on the situation after being arrested and sent to Lake County Jail, which is where the arrest affidavit says he originally approached Patterson, telling the inmate that he had $1.3 million in the bank and would give him the $5,000 if he killed the witness in the case. According to the affidavit, the neighbor was actually a witness in two previous cases involving Butka. 

Butka meanwhile denies the plot and says that the money that was exchanged (Patterson’s wife put $300 on his account using funds that are said to be from the 69-year-old) was actually supposed to be used for the man to hire a new attorney. 

However, Patterson reported everything that Butka allegedly offered him, even producing notes about the murder-for-hire plot. Unfortunately for Butka, all of this went down right before he was set to be released, potentially turning his short stint in jail into a much longer prison sentence if convicted. That’s because he’s now facing more significant charges, including first-degree murder (solicitation) charges.