Details...

I haven't posted lately, but I wanted to let everyone know that I will be adding details of Johnia's stay in Knoxville shortly. A few folks have mentioned that these facts might help.

So, details will be added soon.

In the meantime, I wanted to add a few things...

I'm in the process of moving to a place just a few miles from where Johnia was murdered, so there are lots of packed and partially packed boxes in my apartment. I happened to find a number of pictures from Johnia's childhood and could barely stand to look at them. The fact that someone stabbed my sister to death weighs heavily on my heart and soul, even more today than a year ago, but the only hope that my family and I have is that the responsible person will be brought to justice. And, believe me, we will continue doing everything in our power to see this that this happens.

This is one of the photographs I found in my apartment. It was taken when Johnia was 6 years old.

Blogs Solving Murders

Catherine Donaldson-Evans of Fox News looks at the way police are investigating murders using the blogs of murder victims and suspects.

Meanwhile, blogs are also being used by citizens in grassroots efforts to solve murders. Besides JohniaBerry.org, I know of two other murder blogs - Who Killed Theresa? and The Brian Gillis Story. Both sites are on the blogroll here at JohniaBerry.org. If you know of others, post them in comments.

TN Legislature Considers Bill Inspired by Johnia's Murder

From Tricities.com:

Closer to home, an unsolved murder has two local lawmakers looking at legislation that would expand the state’s DNA database. Bristol native Johnia Berry, 21, was stabbed to death more than a year ago in Knoxville and no arrests have been made.

State Sen. Ron Ramsey and state Rep. Steve Godsey, both Republicans from Blountville, said they would like to change the law to allow law enforcement to take DNA samples from anyone who is arrested. If that person is later convicted, their DNA would be stored in the database. If not convicted, their DNA would be destroyed.

Both said expanding the state’s DNA database could help solve future crimes such as Berry’s death.

"It’s clearly a fact that a lot of the perpetrators of these crimes have done it before and were arrested for other things and charged with a lesser crime and they didn’t have any DNA to compare," Godsey said.

Although other states have similar laws, Ramsey said it would be tough to find a balance between a person’s civil liberties and law enforcement.

"There’s a civil liberties issue here," he said. "Where do you get to that line when you’re taking DNA from people who have not been convicted yet?"

Johnia Berry (1983 - 2004)

This site was created because Johnia Berry was stabbed to death on December 6, 2004 in her apartment in Knoxville. To date, there have been no arrests and we want nothing more for the person responsible for this crime to be captured and brought to justice. There is a $60,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of her killer.

If you happen to have any information about Johnia's murder, please call 865-215-2243 or email confidential@johniaberry.org or homicide@knoxsheriff.org

Please click here for the Reward Flier, print it and post it anywhere you think it might help: convenience stores, apartments, bars, truck stops, et cetera.

WATE: "Family hands out new flyers in Johnia Berry murder case"

WATE has an update on Johnia Berry's murder.

More About the Plan A CD Found in Johnia's Apartment

Ellen Malarnee's MetroPulse article about Jonhia mentioned that a three-song promo CD by local (Knoxville) band Plan A was found at the crime scene. The CD didn't belong to Johnia or her roommate. An anonymous commentor had more information:

Plan A CD had not been out very long at all prior to Dec. 2004. They just finished recording it June 2004 and had a release in Nov 2004. Not very many CD from them could have been in circulation I would think.

Plan A was interviewed June 2005 but not even told that it was in connection to Johnia Berry's murder, just a murder. You can find this information on their website.

I found Plan A's Web site and this entry, dated June 9, more than four month's before Ellen Mallarnee's article revealed the connection between Johnia Berry's murder and the Plan A CD.

Picture if you will an unsuspecting Grant Houser sitting alone on the third floor of Patrick Sullivan’s (Knoxville) several hours before our show a few weeks ago. Then two detectives approach…

“You in the band?”
“I’m in a band,” Grant replies.
“Plan A?”
“Yes.”

More questions follow before the reasoning behind the questions is presented. A Plan A CD had been found at the scene of a homicide! A photo from the scene provided proof. Then more questions. That’s right, your favorite bass player was being Law and Order-ed.

Happy that the officers weren’t there to investigate his collection of panties or the rumors of wild sex with underage fans in the back of our van, Grant was more than glad to cooperate. Some details must remain obscured, of course. That being said, it is safe to say this is definitely the most bizarre pre-show routine to date.

Though the story is strange, it is not to be taken lightly. As we do express our regret to the family of the deceased (whomever he/she may be), we would like to take this moment to encourage you all to stop killing each other, for God’s sake.