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

Johnia Berry Act of 2007 becomes law

Governor Phil Bredesen signed a bill into law today 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.

We would like to say a sincere thank you to Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey, Representative Jason Mumpower, the supporting state senators and representatives, Governor Bredesen, and all of our family and friends who have been so very gracious with their time and support over the past two years. Without you, realizing this important law would've been impossible.

To learn more, read here.

Johnia Berry Act awaiting Governor's signature

DNA legislation that could be used one day to identify the killer of college student Johnia Berry passed unanimously in the Tennessee House on Wednesday and now awaits Gov. Phil Bredesen's signature.

"We expect he will sign it quickly," House GOP Leader Jason Mumpower of Bristol told House lawmakers of Bredesen's anticipated signing of the "Johnia Berry Act of 2007."

The bill calls for DNA samples to be taken from persons booked for "violent felonies" including murders, assaults, rapes and even robbery after Jan. 1.

Besides Mumpower, the bill had another powerful Northeast Tennessee Republican sponsor: Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey of Blountville.

Berry's parents, Joan and Mike Berry, were present on the House floor for the vote. The bill also designated the Knoxville office of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to be known as the "Johnia Berry Field Office."

Berry, formerly of Bristol, was an East Tennessee State University graduate who moved to Knoxville to enter a master's degree program at the University of Tennessee. On Dec. 6, 2004, someone entered her apartment and brutally stabbed her to death. Her killer is still at large.

To be caught, Berry's killer would have to get arrested for another violent crime after the bill becomes law.

"We do know he left a little bit of himself behind in the form of a DNA sample," Mumpower said of her killer. "We want to establish the first DNA database for people when they are arrested for certain violent felonies using a mouth swab. Upon conviction, that sample will be entered in a statewide DNA database. It will be the fingerprint of the future."

If the charge that was the basis for the sample being taken is dismissed or the defendant is acquitted, the TBI would destroy the sample and all other records, according to the bill.

Under legislation pushed by Ramsey and approved last year by the legislature, the TBI received six new positions to reduce an existing backlog in DNA analysis.

All 50 states currently require that convicted sex offenders provide a DNA sample, and states are increasingly expanding these policies to include all felons or many serious felony offenders, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

To date, 44 states require that all convicted felons provide a DNA sample to the state's database. Seven states, including Virginia, also now have laws authorizing DNA sampling of arrestees. DNA databases in all states today are connected to the National DNA Index System, which is run by the FBI for federal and state information sharing.

Under current Tennessee law, anyone convicted of a felony committed on or after July 1, 1998, must provide a DNA sample to authorities.

Ramsey told House lawmakers that the DNA bill was one of only a few bills he is sponsoring this year.

"A lot of times when we are down here we pass bills that don't really make a difference," he said. "This bill will make a difference. It will help convict people across the state and prove people's innocence across the state. It is truly landmark legislation."

State Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, also got to speak and told House members that Johnia Berry's middle name was "Hope."

"(Mike and Joan Berry) talked about how much she liked to help people. ... In this way, she continues to do that," Lundberg said.

Another House member who spoke was state Rep. Nathan Vaughn, D-Kingsport. He told lawmakers that "a new birth" happens after tragedies.

"This will make our state a whole lot safer for the Johnia Berrys of tomorrow," Vaughn said.

(Story Published 05/09/2007 by Hank Hayes of timesnews.net)

DNA Legislation passes House

The vote on the House floor in Nashville today was 98-0, all ayes for DNA legislation that will require a DNA sample from all persons arrested for violent crimes in the state of Tennessee.

State Representative Jason Mumpower sponsored the House bill that is now one step closer to becoming legislation. Governor Bredesen's signature is the final step in cementing this very important law.

Johnia's parents and one of her brothers were in Nashville to witness the unanimous vote.

Media Coverage

The Bristol Herald Courier covered Johnia's story today. Click here to read.

A story on the DNA legislation that can be found here.

The editor of the Bristol Herald Courier also wrote an article in the "Opinion" section of the paper.

DNA Legislation Passes the Senate

On Monday afternoon in Nashville, the Senate unanimously approved legislation that will require all persons arrested of violent crimes to submit DNA that will be checked against a DNA database. The legislation has been at the center of Joan and Mike Berry's crusade to bolster laws that will help solve cases like Johnia's.

Named "The Johnia Berry Act of 2007", the new law will take effect January 2008.

Knox News article

Memorial Walk at ETSU in Johnson City

In addition to the event scheduled in Knoxville to honor victims of violent crimes during National Crime Victims' Rights Week , we will also be holding a similar event in Johnson City on the campus of ETSU on Saturday, April 28 at 9am. The event will begin at the Center for Physical Activity and a memorial walk will follow. If you're unable to join us in Knoxville, please attend the event in Johnson City.

Click here for a map of the ETSU campus. The Center for Physical Activity is #75.