19 replies to this topic

[Lori Davis]

http://www.wthitv.co...te_122920071751

Update on missing Terre Haute man
Last Edited: Monday, 29 Dec 2008, 7:09 PM EST
Created On: Monday, 29 Dec 2008, 5:51 PM EST
Jessica Hayes



TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Jack Berry Junior went missing on December 16th.

Not a word has been heard from him since.

The Terre Haute Police Department says they found his car abandoned a few days later, but Berry still hasn't been found.

Police along with K-9 units searched a portion of the Wabash River, but turned up nothing.

Tonya Acord is the mother of Berry's six-year-old son.

She is desperate for information on her little boy's father.

"He's got a very close relationship with his son," said Acord. "He processes it in his mind sometimes, "Well maybe my dad went on vacation and forgot his cell phone.""

The Terre Haute Police Department told News 10 they're continuing to work on this case.

"We have an investigator assigned to it," said detective Kevin Maves. "He's been in close contact with the victim's family. If anyone has seen him or has any information about it, we'd certainly like to know about it."

Until there is a break in the case, Acord says she and her family are not going to give up their search.

Berry goes by the nick-name "JB."

He's 33-years-old, 5'10" and weighs about 155 pounds.

He has brown hair and brown eyes.

Until something is known, Acord says she's answering her little boy's questions about his father the best she can.

"He's just lost," said Acord. "I don't know what to tell him. You know, what do you tell him?"

If you have any information on Jack Berry Junior's whereabouts, please call Crime Stoppers at 812-238-STOP.

[Jenn]

http://www.wthitv.co...lp_122120081709

Family asks for help in locating their missing son

Last Edited: Sunday, 21 Dec 2008, 6:40 PM EST
Created On: Sunday, 21 Dec 2008, 5:10 PM EST

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Jack Berry Jr. went missing on December 16.

Police say his car was found a few days later in North Terre Haute, but the search for Berry continues.

On Saturday, crews searched parts of the Wabash River near the spot where Berry was last seen, but nothing turned up.

Berry goes by the nickname "JB."

He's 5'10" tall and weighs about 155 pounds.

He has brown hair and brown eyes.

His family is asking anyone with information to please come forward.

"If anyone has any information, we'd sure like to hear from them and let the police know what's going on," said the missing man's father, Jack Berry Sr.

If you have any information on his whereabouts, you're asked to call Crime Stoppers at 812-238-STOP.

[Jenn]

http://www.tribstar...._365234311.html

December 30, 2008 11:43 pm   

Hunt continues for Terre Haute man missing since Dec. 16

TERRE HAUTE — Friends, family and police continue the search for a man missing since Dec. 16.

“We just want to find him,” said Chrissy John, sister of Jack Berry Jr.

Berry’s father, Jack Sr., said Tuesday the last time his son was seen was near Fifth and Elizabeth avenues in White Oak Place subdivision just after noon Dec. 16.

The last call registered on his cell phone account was at 12:11 p.m. that day, he said.

“No idea,” he said when asked about possible whereabouts. “We just can’t find him.”

Capt. Kevin Mayes and Detective Mike Mikuly of the Terre Haute Police Department said investigators are still looking.

“We’re following up anything that comes in,” Mikuly said, noting that his desk phone number is (812) 244-2273 and is available for those with information.

Police have been investigating for 10 days.

The senior Berry described his son as age 32, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, between 150 and 160 pounds and with short brown hair and brown eyes.

Over seven days, 15 police officers, 20 friends and additional friends of the family helped search the river bottoms and woods near the White Oak area, which is near U.S. 41 and Fort Harrison Road, as well as Park Avenue where Berry has lived for the past nine years.

The Terre Haute North Vigo High School graduate liked doing bicycle tricks and playing paintball and had no known enemies, his sister said. “Everybody liked him.” The missing man had recently taken over the family’s painting business.

Berry said any motive for hurting his son is unknown.

“Everything we can come up with is just speculation,” he said.

On the day his son disappeared, he was on the way to a friend’s house to retrieve some firearms.

According to Berry, his son had been on probation last year and was not allowed to keep the firearms in his house, so he gave them to a friend to hold until his term was finished.

But accounts are conflicting as to what actually happened to the firearms, with some saying the friend sold them to a pawn shop and others claiming he gave them to neighbors.

“He messed around with some bad guys,” Berry acknowledged, noting police are following up on all leads.

For now, Berry encourages people with information on his son’s whereabouts to report it to police.

“We hope he’s just disappeared …,” his father said.

“But we’re preparing for the worst,” John finished.

[Jenn]

http://www.tribstar....eyword=topstory

Published: January 05, 2009 11:01 pm 

Search continues for Terre Haute man missing nearly 3 weeks

TERRE HAUTE — Police still have no information on the whereabouts of a missing Terre Haute man who has been gone now for about three weeks.

Jack Berry Jr., 32, was last seen near Fifth and Elizabeth avenues in White Oak Place subdivision just after noon Dec. 16, according to the man’s father, Jack Berry Sr.

Terre Haute Police Chief John Plasse said Monday, “Unfortunately, there is nothing new. We are still actively investigating.”

Plasse added that Berry has been entered into state and national computer systems so that if he is stopped or if someone runs a check on him, it will alert local authorities.

Berry is described as a white male, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, between 150 and 160 pounds, with short brown hair and brown eyes.

Police ask that anyone with information about Berry call the Terre Haute Police Department at (812) 238-1661 or Crimestoppers at (812) 238-STOP.

[Jenn]

http://www.wwlp.com/...200917392150988

Search continues for missing man
Terre Haute man missing since December 16

Last Edited: Wednesday, 07 Jan 2009, 9:00 AM EST
Created On: Wednesday, 07 Jan 2009, 8:59 AM EST

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Jack Berry Junior went missing on December 16. Berry Junior's father said his son had gone to retrieve firearms from a friend's house. There's no word as to the location of the firearms or the friend who had them.

Police found Berry's car abandoned days after he went missing.

Police and K-9 units searched part of the Wabash River, but Berry has not been found. The Terre Haute Police Department said they're continuing to investigate.

If you have any information on Berry's whereabouts, call Crime Stoppers at 812-238-STOP

[Jenn]

http://www.clipsyndi...terre_haute_man

Search continues for missing Terre Haute man

WTHI CBS 10 Terre Haute
Jan. 06, 2009. 06:03 PM EST

Video at link.

Police continue their search for Jack Berry Junior, a Terre Haute man missing since December 16.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.wthitv.co..._berry_20090306
Arrest made in Jack Berry Jr. case
Police say Berry was murdered
Updated: Friday, 06 Mar 2009, 6:18 PM EST
Published : Friday, 06 Mar 2009, 3:23 PM EST
News Staff

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Police announced a break in the case of a missing Terre Haute man.

Jack Berry Jr. went missing in December.

Now, police are saying Berry was murdered and they have made an arrest in the case.

Brent England, 23, of Terre Haute was arrested at his father's home in Marshall, Ill. Friday morning. He will be charged with Berry's murder.

Police searched for Berry last December after his abandoned vehicle was found by the Wabash River.  They found evidence in England's vehicle that led to the arrest.

"Blood evidence was also found in the trunk of his vehicle. That blood has been confirmed to be the DNA, that of Jack Berry Jr.," Sean Keen of the Terre Haute Police Department said.

He is currently being held in the Clark Co Illinois Jail, waiting for extradition back to Vigo County.

Berry's family told News 10 Berry was on his way to get guns from a friend's house when he disappeared. His car was found abandoned a few days later.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.tribstar...._065155623.html

BREAKING: Police make arrest in Jack Berry Jr. missing person case
Published: March 06, 2009 03:56 pm           
Staff Report
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — Authorities have arrested a former Terre Haute man and charged him with murder in the case of Jack Berry Jr., who has been missing since mid-December.

Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt has filed a murder charge against Brent England, 23, formerly of Terre Haute. Authorities arrested England today at his father’s home in West Union, Ill., without incident, Terre Haute police said at a midafternoon news conference.

Berry, 32, had been missing since Dec. 16 when he was last seen after noon near Fifth and Elizabeth avenues in the White Oak Place subdivision in Terre Haute.

Police have not found a body in the case, but have found Berry’s blood in the trunk of England’s car and at his home, police said.

Authorities will not comment on a possible motive or weapon in the case, saying the investigation is continuing. However, Modesitt said that he was comfortable authorities had gathered enough evidence to formally charge England with the homicide of Berry.

In addition to the Terre Haute Police Department, Illinois State Police and the Clark County Sheriff’s Department took part in arresting England today, said assistant Terre Haute police chief Shawn Keen.

[Lori Davis]

http://mywabashvalle...text/?cid=53271
Missing Person Case Turns Into Murder Arrest
Reported by: Katie Shane
Friday, Mar 6, 2009 @06:02pm EST

A three month missing person case ends in an arrest.

Terre Haute resident Jack Berry Junior has been missing since December, now a man is being charged with his murder.

Friday morning Terre Haute Police traveled to Clark County Illinois where they arrested Brent England at his father's home.

Police believed England was behind the disappearance of Berry last year.

Blood samples were collected last month from England's home and vehicle, they matched Berry's DNA.

Detectives say there is a point when the case changed from a missing person case to a murder investigation.

"Suspicion takes over and evidence that is compiling and the stories don't match," said Detective Mike Mikuly. "Like we have said this is an ongoing investigation and there is a lot that we can not release at this time but there is a point where evidence is met and we had enough to charge him with murder and at that point and i believe only at that point could we say it is not a missing person, this person is deceased."

England is being held in the Clark County Jail awaiting extradition.

[Jenn]

http://www.tmcnet.co.../10/4044685.htm

[March 10, 2009] 

Murder suspect says he let Jack Berry Jr. into his home: England appears in court, saw Berry before he disappeared

Mar 10, 2009 (The Tribune-Star - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A man accused of murder in the missing-persons case of Jack Berry Jr. admits to letting Berry inside his house on the last day Berry was seen.

Brent P. England, 23, appeared in Vigo Court Superior Division 6 on Monday, where he has been charged with murder.

Berry and England were best friends who rode bikes and played video games together, said Berry's sister, Chrissy John.

Berry's mother, Connie Berry, reported her son missing Dec. 18, and cell phone records show that Jack Berry, a frequent cell-phone user, has not used his mobile phone since Dec. 16.

About noon that day, Berry drove to England's former residence on White Oak Lane, southwest of U.S. 41 and Fort Harrison Road. Berry wanted to retrieve two handguns that England was holding for him, prosecutors believe.

England told police he let Berry inside, and told his friend that he had pawned the guns at a Terre Haute pawn shop, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed with the court. England made arrangements to pay Berry for the guns, he told police, before walking Berry outside the residence and watching him drive away.

England consented to a search of his residence and car, according to the affidavit, and what police found led to his arrest.

In the garage, investigators found blood splattered on a box, court papers say. They also reported finding substantial amounts of blood in the trunk of England's car on duct tape, bandage wrap, the trunk's seal and "pooled" in the bottom.

State Police compared DNA extracted from the blood with DNA taken from Berry's toothbrush, and prosecutors learned the results Thursday.

"For [State Police] to call over here and tell us it's a match means that absent [Berry having] an identical twin, it's a match to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty," said Deputy Prosecutor Rob Roberts.

Berry's body has not been found.

Judge Michael Lewis set England's trial date for Aug. 31. Joe Etling appeared as the defendant's attorney. England will be detained in the Vigo County jail without bail.

England did not respond to reporters' questions outside the courtroom.

Nearby, in an adjoining hallway, Jack Berry Sr. introduced himself to Prosecutor Terry Modesitt. As he realized he was meeting the man who will prosecute his son's alleged killer, Berry's face twisted with pain and he struggled to speak.

"Are you going to prosecute this yourself?" Berry asked, as they shook hands. Modesitt assured him if the case is tried, he will try it himself. Most criminal trials in Vigo County are tried by deputy prosecutors.

John, the victim's sister, also attended court proceedings. Later, she described the weight of seeing England again as "nerve-wracking." She said the family's biggest hope was that England would direct authorities to her brother's remains.

"I was kind of hoping today that seeing us, he would open up and let us know," she said. "We know it's hard on his family and friends, same as us. We just need closure."

John D. Wright can be reached at (812) 231-4255 or john.wright@tribstar.com.

[Jenn]

http://www.wthitv.co...er_200907231548

England's trial set in Berry Jr. murder
Police still have not found Jack Berry Jr.'s body
Updated: Thursday, 23 Jul 2009, 4:09 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 23 Jul 2009, 3:49 PM EDT

Amanda Jarrett
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The man police said killed a Terre Haute man is expected to head to trial next month.

Twenty-three-year-old Brent England faces a murder charge after police found DNA belonging to Jack Berry Jr. in England's car.

In December, police searched parts of the Wabash River for Berry's body just days after he went missing. Police still have not found Berry's body.

England's trial is scheduled for Aug. 31.

[Jenn]

http://www.wthitv.co...ck_200908311406

England's trial pushed back

Updated: Monday, 31 Aug 2009, 2:07 PM EDT Published : Monday, 31 Aug 2009, 2:07 PM EDT

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A Terre Haute murder trial slated to start Monday has been postponed.

The trial of 23-year-old Brent England has been pushed back to Sept. 10.

England was arrested for the murder of Jack Berry Jr., after police found DNA belonging to Berry in England's car.

In December, police searched parts of the Wabash River for Berry just days after he went missing.

Police still have not found Berry's body.

[Jenn]

http://www.tribstar...._253225341.html

Published: September 10, 2009 10:53 pm   

Trial date set for man accused of killing best friend

By Lisa Trigg The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — A February trial date has been set in the murder case against a man accused of killing his best friend.

Brent P. England appeared via video in Vigo Superior Court Division 6 on Thursday where he has been charged with murder in the disappearance of Jack Berry Jr.

Judge Michael Lewis set a new trial date of Feb. 22 in the case. A previous trial date of Aug. 31 was vacated due to court congestion.

England was arrested in March after a lengthy police investigation.

Berry’s mother, Connie Berry, reported her son missing Dec. 18, 2008, and cell phone records show that Jack Berry, a frequent cell-phone user, has not used his mobile phone since Dec. 16. His body has not been found.

England told investigators he let Berry inside his home on the last day Berry was seen. England consented to a police search of his residence and car, and investigators found blood splattered on a box, court documents say. Investigators also reported finding substantial amounts of blood in the trunk of England’s car on duct tape, on bandage wrap, on the trunk’s seal, and “pooled” in the bottom of the trunk. State police compared DNA extracted from the blood with DNA taken from Berry’s toothbrush. Test results determined the blood matches Berry’s DNA, police reported.

Wednesday’s hearing to set the trial date was brief. Defense attorney Joe Etling was present as Judge Lewis set the pre-trial conference on Jan. 21. The Feb. 22 trial date is a first-place setting, meaning it has top priority to be tried on that date.

[Jenn]

Charley Project Profile for Jack: http://www.charleypr...rry_jackie.html

[Jenn]

http://tribstar.com/...t-England-trial

Family, friends of ‘JB’ Berry testify in Brent England trial
Defense lawyer says there’s no evidence defendant killed man

By Lisa Trigg The Tribune Star Tue Feb 23, 2010, 11:53 PM EST

TERRE HAUTE — As the first day of testimony began Tuesday in the trial of a Terre Haute man accused of killing his best friend, jurors heard from family and friends of Jackie Lee “JB” Berry Jr. that they haven’t seen or heard from their loved one since Dec. 16, 2008.

Berry’s body has never been found, and neither has a murder weapon.

But Chief Deputy Prosecutor Rob Roberts told a jury that circumstantial evidence will prove that Brent P. England is responsible for Berry’s death.

And defense attorney Joseph Etling told the jury that no evidence will be presented to prove that Berry is dead, or that England killed him.

In the opening day of testimony in Vigo Superior Court 6, the jury heard from Berry’s mother, sister, friends and people who lived in England’s former neighborhood near the Wabash River.

Friends Sara Magill and Matt Fox both testified that they knew that Berry, or “JB,” was trying to contact England to retrieve two handguns that JB had asked his friend to store during JB’s probation.

Magill testified that she drove JB to England’s duplex the night before he disappeared in an effort to get the guns. She said she dropped her friend off back at his home on Park Avenue later that night after he failed to find England at home. Magill said JB called her the next day to say he was headed back to England’s home on the morning of Dec. 16. Magill said she became worried about her friend when he failed to call her back later that day as he had promised.

Magill said she also tried to contact England when JB did not return her calls, and she was finally successful a couple days later in contacting England via text messages.

The jury saw photos taken by Terre Haute Police investigators of three text messages on Magill’s cell phone. In one of the messages to Magill allegedly sent by England in response to her question about JB’s whereabouts, the text said: “Last i talked to him was two days ago, i haven’t heard from him since then.”

Another message from Magill, “Did you talk to him [JB] at all on Tuesday?” received the reply from England’s phone: “Yeah, in the morning before I went to work, last he told me he was heading home.”

Magill testified that other messages from England concerning the guns had been erased from her phone.

Berry’s mother Connie Berry, who also said she called her son “JB,” testified that at one time her son had given her some guns to keep for him while he was on probation and not allowed to possess firearms. She said she later returned two handguns to him, even though his probation had not yet ended.

JB’s half-sister Chrissy John, whose husband is a K-9 officer with the Terre Haute Police Department, testified that she found a handgun under a pillow on a couch at JB’s home after his disappearance. She said she notified her husband of the gun, and he passed on the information so that an on-duty police officer could respond to the scene to safely take away the handgun.

Defense attorney Etling asked Connie Berry if she told police her son could be suicidal when it became apparent he was missing.

“I don’t remember saying it,” Berry said.

She also responded affirmatively to Etling’s question as to whether JB had been threatened by someone. The person she named was not England, but another person who was a former friend of JB’s.

Etling also asked Chrissy John if she had found any messages on her brother’s computer. She replied she had found a photo showing a caller ID number on a telephone, and the person’s name on that caller ID matched the number of the former friend who had allegedly threatened her brother.

Roberts also questioned people who resided near England about a white Ford van found in their neighborhood near Fifth and Elizabeth streets. That van turned out to be Berry’s, and one person testified she had seen someone walk away from the van in a direction that would take him to England’s duplex.

Police located JB’s van a few days after his reported disappearance.

Etling pointed out, however, that the location of the van was also near the residence of one of JB’s half-sisters, who resides on North Fifth Street.

Testimony in the trial will continue today, and the trial is expected to wrap up next week.

[Jenn]

http://www.wthitv.co...nd-murder-trial

Testimonies over in Brent England trial

Updated: Tuesday, 02 Mar 2010, 6:21 PM EST Published : Tuesday, 02 Mar 2010, 3:55 PM EST  * Jessica Hayes

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The Brent England murder trial wrapped up Tuesday with England taking the stand in his own defense, the final witness to testify.

Prosecutors questioned England about his interaction with Jack Berry on December 16, 2008, the last day Berry was seen.

England said Berry came to his house between 11 a.m. and noon that day, irritated that England sold two of his guns.

England said Berry left after about an hour and that was the last time he saw Berry.

Previously, police and state experts testified that Berry's blood was found in England's car and garage when they were searched four days later.

England was charged with murder in March 2009.

Closing arguments are scheduled for Wednesday morning.

[Jenn]

http://tribstar.com/...ound-not-guilty

Brent England found not guilty
Deputy prosecutor says lack of a body hurt chances

Lisa Trigg The Tribune-Star The Tribune Star Wed Mar 03, 2010, 10:00 PM EST

TERRE HAUTE — Brent P. England left the Vigo County Courthouse a free man Wednesday afternoon after spending almost a year behind bars in the Vigo County jail.

A 12-member jury rejected the prosecution’s claim that England killed his friend Jackie Lee “JB” Berry Jr. on Dec. 16, 2008, at a duplex on White Oak Lane on Terre Haute’s northwest side.

Berry’s body has never been found, and neither has a murder weapon. England was arrested March 6, 2009 at his parents’ home in West Union, Ill., and was charged with murder in Berry’s disappearance.

Family members and friends of both Berry and England waited anxiously during about four hours of jury deliberation, and the jury returned to a packed courtroom monitored by more than 20 uniformed and plainclothes police officers.

An outburst of emotion came from the Berry family when Judge Michael Lewis read the verdict.

“The devil’s gonna get you all,” uttered a man in the back of the courtroom in the direction of the England family.

“The Lord will take care of him come judgment day,” was the quiet statement of Connie Berry, mother of JB, as she got up to leave the courtroom.

“We’re pleased with the verdict,” defense attorney Joseph Etling said after the courtroom was nearly empty, “and we appreciate how attentive the jurors were in this case. They took their role very seriously, and that is a credit to the entire system.”

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Rob Roberts, who presented much of the evidence in the case with the assistance of Deputy Prosecutor Chou-il Lee, expressed disappointment at the jury’s verdict.

“We knew when the charges were filed without a body being found that it was a hard case,” Roberts told the news media. He spoke for Prosecutor Terry Modesitt, who was not in the county at the time the verdict was returned. Modesitt had been present for closing arguments Wednesday morning, but did not handle any of the case before the jury.

The absence of a body to prove that Berry was murdered was a big obstacle to overcome, Roberts admitted during the press conference, but he emphasized he felt the circumstantial evidence was strong in the case.

“One of the things we had to address in jury selection was, could we find people who didn’t need a body to convict?” he said. The prosecution team felt it was the right time to move forward with the case in an effort to give the Berry family closure, he said, and in an effort to see justice was done for the missing man.

“At this point in time, we know we still have an unsolved homicide or missing-person case,” Roberts said.

He also responded to assertions that the exclusion of testimony from the state’s expert witness on blood spatter hindered the prosecution’s case.

“We didn’t have the spatter expert until shortly before the trial, so that didn’t change the strength of the case we thought we had,” Roberts said. Prior to the trial, the judge ruled in favor of a defense motion against that expert witness’s testimony on the grounds that the prosecution did not meet deadlines for sharing the expert’s information with the defense team.

Roberts commended the efforts of area law enforcement for the hours dedicated to the investigation. He also thanked the Berry family for its patience during the investigation and trial.

Jack Berry Sr. represented his family in a news conference, and said his family was disappointed by the jury’s decision.

“My reaction is, the jury don’t know what the heck is going on,” Berry said. “I guess life will have to go on. I thought the evidence was overwhelming, myself.”

Berry said he did not know what the next step for his family will be. He said he was hoping for some closure Wednesday, but the absence of his son prevents that.

“I was worried we wouldn’t get closure even if he was found guilty,” he said.

As to what happened to his son, who has not contacted family members or friends since the day he went missing, Berry said he still feels England is responsible for his son’s disappearance.

“I really believe in my heart that he had some help disposing of him,” the father said.

Berry also responded to assertions by the defense team that JB was not a good father to his young son, who lives in Clinton with the boy’s mother.

“JB was an excellent father from the time he found out he [his son] was really his until the time he left,” Berry said. “He even changed diapers when he had him. That’s something I’d never thought he’d do.”

As for his grandson, Berry said he will leave it up to the boy’s mother to tell him that the jury had found England not-guilty of murder.

“It would be hard for me to tell him anything like that,” Berry said.

After six days of testimony, Roberts and Etling both gave their closing arguments to the jury Wednesday morning.

Roberts said that as investigators pursued their missing-person case, they followed the evidence to England. They knew that Berry was going to England’s home on the day he disappeared, that his van was found a few days later a couple of blocks from England’s home, and that Berry’s blood was found in the trunk of England’s car and on a box in England’s garage.

Etling countered that the investigation was anything but thorough, and that numerous leads implicating other people in JB Berry’s disappearance were not followed up on by investigators.

The jury returned to the courtroom with their verdict about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

England was released from police custody at the Vigo County jail and left the county accompanied by his family. The England family declined comment when contacted later in the day.

[Deborah]

NamUs Profile

 

https://www.findthem.../cases/10421/3/

[Deborah]

JB has not been located.

 

 

Terre Haute Police Department
(812) 244-2273

[Deborah]

JB is still missing.

 

https://www.facebook...ingJackBerryJr/