Man charged after killing and dismembering pregnant sister
A man is now facing charges after killing and dismembering his sister while she was pregnant.
CBS News reported that Jack Joseph Ball, 23, is facing two counts of second-degree murder in connection to the death of Bethany Israel, 30, and her unborn child. Second-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled that Israel's death was caused as a result of "complex homicidal violence." Israel was confirmed to be between 17 and 18 weeks pregnant.
According to the criminal complaint, police said Ball allegedly wrote in his journals that he was not happy that his sister was expecting a child as she was "no longer innocent.”
Ball's bail is set at $2 million (P117 million) without conditions and $1 million (P58.6 million) with conditions.
After getting his medical clearance, Ball will be transferred to Dakota County Jail.
His next court appearance is on June 10, according to CBS News.
As stated in the document, Israel's relatives were "deeply concerned" when she didn't return home after having dinner with Ball in Lakeville, Minnesota. A family member then drove to Ball's place, during which he quickly left the scene. Upon entering Ball's home, they saw a "significant amount of blood" and called the police.
Authorities found "bloody knives and several dismembered body parts" there, believing they were Israel's.
They put out an alert for Ball's vehicle, which was located in the city of Rosemount.
A resident told the police that they saw a man placing "what appeared to be a body part" on their front step via security camera. The police then found Ball in the backyard of a neighboring home.
According to the complaint, Ball was suffering from a wound on his neck, which appeared to be self-inflicted.
"The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing and horrific—words can't describe what our law enforcement partners encountered during the investigation," Dakota County Atty. Kathy Keena said. "My office will work hard to ensure the victims receive justice and will provide the necessary support for the victims' family."
