Families walk, honor loved ones who fell victim to violent crimes

Family members and friends of victims of violent crime gathered Sunday to remember their loved ones at the third annual Victims' Remembrance Walk at Volunteer Landing Park.

Knox News Link

National Crime Victims' Rights Week

25 Years of Rebuilding Lives:
Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act
April 26–May 2, 2009

Each April since 1981, OVC (Office for Victims of Crime) has helped lead communities throughout the country in their observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW). Rallies, candlelight vigils, and a host of commemorative activities are held each year to promote victims' rights and to honor crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf.

To commemorate National Victim's Rights Week, there will be a gathering and walk at 2pm on Sunday, April 26th at Volunteer Landing Park. Please join us as we pay tribute to crime victims and recognize the devastating impact of violence on individuals, communities and our nation as a whole.

Please click on the following link to learn more about the NCVRW.

OVC - National Crime Victims' Rights Week Site

DNA Saves

"Every day innocent people needlessly become victims of violent crimes. Most of these are committed by repeat offenders. By passing state legislation that enables law enforcement to collect DNA from felony arrestees, at the same time as fingerprints, your state can catch criminals sooner. That means you can prevent most of these crimes, save more lives and provide more protection to the innocent."

On May 30, 2007, Governor Phil Bredesen signed a bill into Tennessee law that requires anyone arrested for a violent crime to give a DNA sample. Named "The Johnia Berry Act of 2007", the new law requires DNA samples to be taken from persons booked for violent felonies after January 1, 2008.

Mike and I feel that it is imperative for everyone to know how important it is for the safety of your loved ones to have DNA Laws in all states. To date, fifteen states across the nation have enacted DNA legislation that will help prevent violent crimes and potentially solve crimes that have gone cold. Please write to you state legislators to let them know how important it is to enact DNA laws in your state!

Please visit dnasaves.org to find out more about this crucial push to pass DNA legislation across the country.

Mike & Joan Berry
Lawrenceville, GA
770-823-7983
jberry5916@bellsouth.net

A heartfelt thank you!

We would like to thank everyone who donated toys and helped with this year's Toy Drive. Thanks to you hundred's of children will
have a brighter Christmas!

ETSU Buccaneers honors Johnia Berry

JOHNSON CITY (Nov. 17, 2008) – The holiday spirit is alive and well at ETSU, as the Buccaneer men’s basketball team and the entire ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will honor the memory of a former student and help bring joy to area children with a special toy drive during the Bucs’ game with Wingate Thursday night, Nov. 20 inside Memorial Center. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

All donations will go to children in the Johnson City area, and ETSU will proudly deliver the toys in Berry’s name.

“ETSU athletics is happy to help out such a great cause,” said Sara Hacker, ETSU’s athletic marketing and promotions coordinator. “To help children in need throughout the holidays is a great gift to give the community.”

Donations as part of the Johnia Berry Toy Drive can also be made at local Food City stores throughout the Christmas season.

Article link

2008 Johnia Berry Memorial Toy Drive

The 2008 Johnia Berry Memorial Toy Drive will begin November 3rd and run through December 5th. Our goal is to collect toys for underprivileged children in the Tri-Cities area. If you would like to help us in our cause, please drop off new, unwrapped toys at any Food City location in the Tri-Cities.

Thanks for helping us make the holidays a little brighter for local children.

Johnson City Press story link

Victims' Rights Walk

Volunteer Landing Park
Sunday, April 13, 2008
2:00pm

To commemorate National Crime Victims' Rights Week, there will be a 5k walk on Sunday, April 13 at Volunteer Landing Park. Please join us as we pay tribute to crime victims and recognize the devastating impact of violence on individuals, communities and our nation as a whole.

This year's theme, "Justice for Victims. Justice for All", emphasizes the importance of promoting and ensuring the rights of every victim of crime in our communities.

Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey will update the community on "The Johnia Berry Act of 2007" and TBI Director Mark Gwyn will have the new mobile crime lab on display. Survivors of crime and the families and friends of victims are invited to participate in the "Survivor Speak Out". Please bring pictures or other information for the memorial table display.

National Crime Victims' Rights Week runs from April 13 - 19.

Taylor Olson commits suicide

Taylor Olson, the man arrested for the murder of Johnia, hanged himself in jail on March 24, 2008. Olson's trial was set to take place on July 28 of this year.

Story links

Tri Cities

WATE

Volunteer TV

WBIR

Take Back the Night Event

Campus Advocates against Sexual Violence at East Tennessee University will host " Take Back the Night" 5K Road Race on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 8:30am on the campus of ETSU.

Take Back the Night is an internationally recognized program for the purpose of raising awareness to end domestic and sexual violence against women and children.

For more details, please visit etsu.edu/wrcetsu

LOCATION: Old College of Medicine Building
REGISTRATION: 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
RACE START TIME: 8:30 a.m.

For registration information, contact Kim Bushore-Maki or Kristen Dickens, ETSU Counseling Center, at 423-439-4841 or visit runtricities.org where the registration form is available for download.

Please join us during this event.

Taylor Olson trial delayed

Story links

WBIR
WATE
Knox News

April 13 - Johnia Hope Berry Memorial Walk

In honor of Johnia, we will be holding a memorial walk during National Crime Victims Rights Week at 2pm on April 13th at Volunteer Landing Park.

Please join us in remembering those who have been lost to violent crimes.

National Crime Victims Rights Week
April 13 - 19, 2008

Christmas Toy Drive: Update

Over the past month, toys were collected in East Tennessee for the Johnia Berry Memorial Toy Drive. Yesterday, those toys made their way to a number of local organizations in Knoxville and the Tri-Cities. We would like to thank everyone who made the toy drive possible and to those who donated toys, money and time. We'd also like to thank the number of organizations who offered space at their businesses for the collection bins.

So, thank you all for making the Johnia Berry Christmas Toy Drive a success!

Find out more about the toy drive by clicking on the links below:

WVLT
WJHL
Knox News

Christmas Toy Drive: Nov. 1 - Dec. 1

Since Johnia devoted her life to working with children, a number of people in the Knoxville and Tri-Cities communities have put together a toy drive in Johnia's memory to help needy children in the area have a more pleasant Christmas season. There are a number of local businesses that will be accepting toys that will be distributed to a number of children's organizations during the first week of December. If you're willing and able to contribute to this cause, please drop off new, unwrapped toys at any of the locations listed below.

Thanks for helping us make the holidays a little brighter for needy children.

Knoxville area:

Borders Books & Music
- 202 Morrell Road
- 11285 Parkside Drive

WATE TV-6
- 1306 North Broadway

Earth Fare
- 10903 Parkside Drive

Lunch Box
- 9050 Cross Park Drive
- 800 South Gay Street (First Tennessee Plaza)

Zales Jewelers
- West Town Mall location

Stir Fry Cafe
- 7240 Kingston Pike
- 110001 Parkside Drive

Rugrats Children Resale
- 6113 Chapman Hwy

Mag-Pies Bakery
- 112 South Central Street

Sassy’s Repeat Boutique
- 6105 Chapman Hwy

Farragut Christian Church
- 138 Admiral Road

Shelley’s House of Style
- 11044 Huglan Drive


Tri-Cities Area:

Food City
All Tri-Cities, Abingdon & Lebanon, VA locations

Target
2116 North Roan Street, Johnson City

Stir Fry Cafe
- 3020 Franklin Terrace Drive, Johnson City

ARREST MADE!

Taylor Olson, 22, has been arrested for the murder of Johnia Berry.

Olson's seven count indictment charges him with first-degree murder, attempted murder, murder in the commission of a theft, murder in the commission of a robbery, murder in the commission of a burglary and two counts of aggravated burglary.

Links to a few online articles are listed below:

WBIR

WATE

WVLT

Knox News

Media Coverage

WATE ran a story last night on the 11 o'clock news. In short, a local businessman wasn't satisfied with the way his tip was handled by the Knox County Sheriff's Office.

Click below to read the story.

WATE Link

Johnia's 24th Birthday has passed...

...but it is still her death that remains front and center in the minds of those in her family.

This past weekend, Joan and a number of family, friends and volunteers hit the streets to distribute information about Johnia's case. It's been nearly three years since Johnia was brutally murdered here in Knoxville. The question is - are we any closer today than then to solving the case?

With Tim Hutchison out of office, there's a new sheriff in town - Jimmy "JJ" Jones - and we'd all like to think that Johnia's case would take a positive turn. Maybe now we can get the cooperation that is so desperately needed to bring a resolution to Johnia's murder.

After all, Johnia was murdered and murdered in a brutal fashion. Johnia was stabbed multiple times. Multiple!

Regardless of what any of us out there think, there are a couple of constants:

Johnia's killer is still on the streets.

Johnia's killer remains a free man.

And what about the killer?

Maybe he's in Knoxville. Maybe somewhere else.

Johnia's brother thinks the killer's still in the area. Chief Bobby Waggoner isn't quite so sure.

And yet, nearly three years after her killer walked away free, Johnia's family and friends remain diligent in spreading the word in the most crowded venues.

When it's all said and done, there's another constant:

Johnia's family will not rest until the killer is brought to justice. And if that means passing out fliers until the end of time, so be it. If it means something else entirely, well, then that's what it means.

Johnia's Birthday

Today would have been Johnia's 24th birthday. We'd like to thank everyone who has offered their support and prayers over the past 33 months.

Happy birthday, Johnia.

August 25 Event

Family and friends of Johnia will be gathering on Saturday, August 25 to distribute information in effort to generate leads. There will be a group on site throughout the day to hand out fliers and magnets to those who'd like to help distribute them across the area. As August 26 is Johnia's birthday, we'll also be honoring her memory.

If you have some spare time and are willing to help out, please join us.

Saturday, August 25
on the lawn at Church Street United Methodist Church
900 Henley Street
Knoxville, TN 37902

From 10am - 4pm

If you'd like a copy of the event flier to print and post, please choose one of the options below.

Printable Flier PDF
Printable Flier JPG

Petition Knox County Sheriff's Department

An online petition has been started once again to ask that the Knox County Sheriff's Department allow outside resources to help with Johnia's case. The TBI has offered assistance in aiding with the investigation, but they must be invited by the sheriff, or the Knox County DA.

Also, media outlets like AMW and 48 Hours have also shown great interest in covering Johnia's case. National coverage could seriously help in finding the killer, especially if he is no longer in Tennessee. But, as with the TBI, the producers of these shows require the cooperation of the sheriff's department, but they have received none.

If you have a minute, please check the link below to go to the petition. And, as always, thank you for your continued support.

Update: The last day to sign the petition was August 5th. Thanks to everyone who signed it.

Blogger Posts

We would like to thank everyone for their comments on Find Johnia Berry's Killer. You no longer have to register to post a comment. The error has been corrected.

Thanks for your prayers,
Michael Berry