Gov. Bredesen joins Berry family to sign DNA law in Knoxville

Gov. Bredesen joins Berry family to sign DNA law in Knoxville

June 22, 2006

By TIM MILLER
6 News Anchor/Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Gov. Bredesen joined the family of Johnia Berry in Knoxville Thursday to sign the state's recently passed DNA legislation. It's one of three crime bills he signed.

The DNA law creates six new positions in the TBI to do DNA analysis in criminal investigations.

Joan and Mike Berry petitioned the governor to help solve the state's backlog for DNA testing. They believe that backlog is hurting the investigation into the murder of Joan's daughter, Johnia Berry, at her West Knox County apartment in 2004.

The Berrys also hope Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison will open up the case to the TBI. But so far, that hasn't happened.

When 6 News asked the governor about it, he said, "I hate to get in the middle of something that's going on prosecutorially but the TBI is certainly an organization that is willing to help and often is called in, in these cases."

"I don't believe the suspect is here," says Johnia's stepfather, Mike Berry. "I believe he has left the area and I think the TBI needs to be brought in to review the case from top to bottom and see where we go from here."

State Sen. Tim Burchett, a Knoxville Republican, told 6 News the TBI absolutely should be involved in the Berry murder case.

The crime happened in Burchett's legislative district and he says he has talked to the governor about the TBI's possible role.

The Berry family has also asked Knox County District Attorney General Randy Nichols to get the TBI to look into the unsolved case.

And the Food City grocery store chain is also pitching in to help solve the Berry case.  

Food City President and CEO Steve Smith says the store will put four-foot signs on the chain's tractor trailers along with reward information.

Food City currently owns 50 trucks that travel the interstates and has 30 new trucks coming in.

The family hopes maybe this will generate some new leads.

The other two bills the governor signed increase the statute of limitations for sexual offenses against children to 25 years after the child reaches 18 and authorize the state to seize personal property used in the commission of sexual offenses against a child.