A 23-year-old is charged with killing his pregnant sister at his Lakeville home and dismembering her body.
Jack Joseph Ball faces two counts of second-degree murder for Thursday’s deaths of 30-year-old Bethany Ann Israel and her unborn child, who was four months along, the charges say.
Ball was arrested late Thursday in Rosemount, about five miles northeast of the homicide scene, and had a self-inflicted knife wound across his throat. He’s been at Region’s Hospital since.
Ball appeared in Dakota County District Court through video conferencing from Regions. Judge Bryce Ehrman set bail at $2 million without conditions, or $1 million with conditions. After Ball is medically cleared, he will be booked into the Dakota County Jail.
According to the criminal complaint and Lakeville police:
Israel’s mother called 911 just after 11 p.m. and reported that she believed her daughter had been killed inside a home in the 17000 block of Encina Path.
When officers arrived, the mother said Israel went to the home around 6 p.m. that night to have dinner with her brother, who was identified as Ball.
She said family had not heard from Israel and were concerned and so she drove to the home to check on her. She said when she arrived, Ball “tore out of the house.” She went inside, saw a large amount of blood and called 911.
Officers entered the home and saw a pool of blood on the kitchen floor and blood under the sink and on cabinets. They saw a saw, hatchet and large knives, all of which were covered in blood.
They saw a knife on the living room floor near the staircase that led to the second level. “In continuing their search, they located several dismembered body parts believed to be those of (Israel),” the complaint says.
Israel’s mother told police that she believed Ball may have gone to a cemetery in Rosemount because relatives were buried there. Rosemount and Apple Valley police officers searched for Ball.
Police received a 911 call from a Rosemount homeowner who reported that a male was seen on their front door Ring camera placing what appeared to be a body part on the front step. Officers arrived and confirmed it was a body part, believed to be that of Israel.
Officers found Ball near a shed in the backyard of the home where his car was parked. He had blood on his head, shirt, arms, legs and pants, and a knife wound across his throat.
Despite the injury, the complaint notes, “(Ball) was able to communicate with officers and accurately told them the date, time and name of the current president.”
Police searched the area and found several dismembered body parts they believed to be those of Israel.
Lakeville police investigators learned from Israel’s family that she was pregnant with her first child.
At the crime scene, investigators found journals and other handwritten paperwork belonging to Ball. Ball wrote that he was angry his sister was pregnant and “no longer innocent.”
An autopsy by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office showed she died from complex homicidal violence, and that she was between 17 and 18 weeks pregnant.
“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 Attorney Kathy Keena said in a Tuesday statement. “My office will work hard to ensure the victims receive justice and will provide the necessary support for the victims’ family.”
Ball’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 10.
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