Increased reward, new flyer in Johnia Berry murder

Increased reward, new flyer in Johnia Berry murder

October 3, 2006

By ERICA ESTEP
6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Joan Berry returned to Knoxville Tuesday with new flyers announcing an increased reward in the unsolved murder of her daughter, Johnia Berry.

6 News walked with Joan as she walked through parking lots in West Knoxville, putting flyers on the windows of vehicles and handing them to anyone who would listen. The reward is up to $70,000.

The flyer says, "Help us find this killer! This suspect is wanted for the murder of 21-year-old Johnia Berry on December 6, 2004."

Berry tells 6 News, "I can't sleep at night. What really upsets me when I try to go to sleep at night is knowing how terrible the last few minutes of Johnia's life must have been. If the person is still in Knox County, I think every young woman should be in fear of her life."

People stopped Berry in the parking lot of the Turkey Creek shopping center, giving her hugs and words of support.

Joan says, "It's really sad for me to have to do this. It's not something that you want to do, to have to put a picture of your child that was murdered here. But it's just hoping that someone else will maybe recognize the composite and call the sheriff's department with a lead. That's about all we can hope for now."

Joan Berry appeared on the Montel Williams show last week, hoping to generate new information in the case.

You can provide tips on the Johnia Berry case anonymously by calling (865)-215-2243 or go to the Berry family web site, http://www.johniaberry.org/.