Colorado Man, Jeremiah Berry, Shoots, Dismembers and Feeds Father to Coyotes

Victim to Killer?

The whereabouts of Jack Berry, missing since February, may be solved. His son, Jeremiah Berry, has been charged with his fathers death. He said he shot him in the head, stabbed him 199 times, skinned him, cut him up and fed his flesh to the coyotes.

Why would a son turn so viciously on his father? Jeremiah Berry has said that he was a victim first. His father Jack Berry allegedly told Jeremiah that God told him that his son (Jeremiah) should get a sex change and become his wife. Jack Berry then raped Jeremiah.

In the affidavit Jeremiah said that Jack wanted to take him to the mountains and "make" him his girlfriend. Jack threatened to kill Jeremiah and his family.

In turn, Jeremiah Berry shot his father. He removed his head, hands and feet and stuck them in two buckets of cement. It took him 2 days to carry them out of the canyon. They were later found in a dog kennel called Dog Hotel. The torso is thought to be on the Ute Mountain Reservation.

Jeremiah Berry reportedly disposed of a pistol, ax and knives in the Animus River in Durango. Two bags of bones, blood swabs and a 55-gallon drum of contents were also found.

Rita Berry says her son isn't a criminal or serial killer. She said that her son has been "put on the spot" and that people may have a wrong impression from the investigation.

Berry told reporters that the investigation has been difficult on her family and close friends.

"It hurts our reputation," she told the newspaper. "It's not what people think it is."

Police investigators don't agree with Rita Berry. Yet the district attorney charged him with second degree murder, not first degree, which involves premeditation. 2nd degree murder can bring 8-24 years in prison. With aggravating circumstances, it can reach 48 years.

Jeremiah Berry is sitting in the Montezuma county detention center. His preliminary hearing is set for June 20th. Public defender, Pam Brown is Berry's attorney. She asked for and received a gag order from Judge Plewe.It's been mentioned that this case may well have to be moved in order for Jeremiah Berry to get a fair trial.