Authorities in Minnesota have charged a 23-year-old man, Jack Joseph Ball of Lakeville, with two counts of murder following the tragic killing of his 30-year-old sister, Bethany Ann Israel, who was approximately 17-18 weeks pregnant.
Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena described the allegations as deeply disturbing and horrific, emphasizing the severity of the case.
According to a criminal complaint, concerns arose among family members when Israel failed to return home after dining with Ball on the evening of May 23. Upon visiting Ball’s residence, a relative observed him hastily departing the scene. Inside the house, the family member discovered a significant amount of blood and promptly contacted the Lakeville Police Department.
Upon police arrival around 11 p.m., officers found disturbing evidence, including bloody knives, a saw, a hatchet, and dismembered body parts believed to be Israel’s.
Following a tip that Ball might be at a cemetery in Rosemount, police received a 911 call from a resident reporting a suspicious individual on their security camera. Subsequently, officers located Ball with a self-inflicted neck injury in a neighboring backyard and took him into custody.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Israel’s death resulted from “complex homicidal violence.”
During the investigation, authorities uncovered journals and written materials belonging to Ball at the crime scene, shedding light on his disturbing mindset.
Ball appeared in Dakota County District Court, where bail was set at $2 million without conditions and $1 million with conditions. Once medically cleared, he will be transferred to Dakota County Jail, with his next court appearance scheduled for June 10 at 1:30 p.m.
