Sister Of Tony Winner Norbert Leo Butz Killed In Possible Hate Crime

The lesbian sister of Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz (left) was stabbed to death in her Seattle-area home on Sunday. Police are investigating the murder as a possible hate crime.

Teresa Butz, 39, was stabbed along with her partner, a 36-year-old woman who was released Monday from Harborview Medical Center. The attacker, who entered through an open window, remains at large. The couple "were just about to get married," said neighbor Christine Cherif. Seattle police through most of Monday continued to call the attack random, but officials Monday night said it's too early to rule out a hate crime and that the sexual-minority task force has taken an interest in the case. Interim Police Chief John Diaz said the 3 a.m. attack at the house in the 700 block of South Rose Street was the most brutal crime he and his officers have seen in some time and vowed to put every available resource into catching the man.

Norbert Butz, who won the 2006 Tony for Best Actor in a Musical, was in Seattle at the time of the murder, rehearsing the Broadway-bound musical version of Catch Me If You Can. The opening of the show has been postponed.