WHITLEY COUNTY, Ky. — Authorities say the suspect in a Berea homicide was found dead in a vehicle along I-75 in Whitley County Sunday afternoon following an attempt to pull him over.
The Madison County Coroner confirmed that 77-year-old Margie Berry was found deceased inside her home on Leslie Drive in Berea Saturday night. Her cause of death has not yet been released. Authorities identified the suspect as Kevin Berry, who Berea Police confirmed was Margie Berry’s son.
According to Williamsburg Assistant Chief of Police Brandon White, Kentucky State Police requested officers to watch for a vehicle tied to the Berea homicide around 10 a.m. Sunday. The car was reported traveling from Tennessee into Kentucky. White spotted the vehicle heading north on I-75 in Williamsburg and began following it.
The vehicle initially attempted to pull over, prompting White to activate his lights and sirens. The car continued into a grassy area before rolling into a rock wall, coming to a stop. Officers gave several commands to the driver but received no response and observed no movement inside the vehicle. A drone was eventually used to safely assess the situation.
The Whitley County Coroner confirmed that Kevin Berry was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head just after noon. I-75 in Whitley County was closed in both directions for roughly an hour and a half while officers ensured there was no public threat.
Authorities also confirmed that Kevin Berry was a former deputy with the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, who left the agency in 2020 to pursue another career path.
This remains a developing story, and officials have not released further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the Berea homicide or the suspect’s actions leading up to his death.