“Attempt to Locate Order”: Former Police Captain Dies by Suicide After Killing Mother in Berea

After murdering his mother in Berea, a former police captain took his own life early on Sunday morning, which sparked a search that concluded near Interstate 75 in Whitley County, according to the authorities. The manhunt was conducted over many counties.

It was shortly before a Williamsburg police officer was able to get to the scene that Kevin Berry, who was 51 years old, was discovered dead inside his car on Interstate 75. According to the investigators, Berry had been the target of an extensive search following the murder of his mother, Margie Berry, who was 77 years old and lived at her residence on Leslie Drive in Madison County, Georgia, just after midnight on December 14.

Immediately after the murder, law enforcement agencies started their pursuit of Berry. They issued a “attempt to locate order” as police sought to trace his travels south along Interstate 75. Later on, the Madison County coroner verified that the homicide and Berry’s death were related. The coroner made the official connection between the murder and the suicide at around 1:30 p.m., not too long after the manhunt became more intense.

Berry was reportedly seen going through Whitley County and the Williamsburg region, with the intention of reaching Jellico, according to the authorities. While Berry proceeded to go southward on the freeway, authorities reportedly followed him, as reported by WBNO. The pursuit came to an end when Berry’s car met with an accident close to Williamsburg.

Brandon White, the Assistant Chief of Police for Williamsburg, said to WKYT that he saw Berry’s automobile move into the shoulder of the northbound lanes. White made this observation. The truck went on into a grassy area before rolling and colliding with a brick wall. This was done rather than stopping safely.

Following the collision, law enforcement personnel made an effort to contact Berry and convince him to get out of the truck. According to the police, they first refrained from entering the area while they evaluated the situation for potential threats to public safety. As the authorities reached the destroyed automobile at a later time, they found that Berry had passed away inside the vehicle. The authorities have stated that he committed suicide before his death.

As the inquiry progressed, there were considerable interruptions to public transportation across the area. As a result of the search and the ensuing incident, Interstate 75 was shut down in both directions around the 12.5-mile marker for several hours on Sunday. As a result of cars being rerouted onto roads in the surrounding area, traffic immediately became backed up.

As vehicles sought to find a way around the closure, they encountered congestion on both US 25 and Highway 26, as well as on Exits 15 and 11 along Interstate 75. After some time had passed, the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department reported that all lanes of Interstate 75 had been reopened and that traffic had returned to its typical level.

The circumstances behind the death of Margie Berry are still shrouded in mystery, and the authorities have not disclosed any information to the public on the possible factors that led to the deadly occurrence that occurred inside the residence located on Leslie Drive. It has not been disclosed by the authorities whether there were any other individuals present at the apartment at the time of the homicide.

According to LEX18, Kevin Berry had a prior position with the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, where he held the position of captain. The fact that he had a career in law enforcement contributed to the shock that was felt throughout several groups when the message of the murder and suicide spread. It has not been disclosed by the authorities how long Berry serves in that capacity or when he departs from the department.

Madison County, Whitley County, and the Williamsburg Police Department were among the law enforcement agencies that participated in the reaction. These agencies coordinated their activities throughout the search and the ensuing investigation.

As the authorities continue to finish paperwork and inform next of kin, they have said that the investigation into the crime is still ongoing. Officials have underlined that there is no continuing danger to the general public, and they are not looking for any other suspects at this time.

There are resources available to assist you or someone you know who is battling with thoughts of hurting themselves. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available in the United States and may be contacted by phoning or texting 988. They provide assistance that is free of charge and confidential around the clock.