Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (trfnews.i234.me)—On May 23, 2024, at approximately 6 p.m., Bethany Ann Israel, aged 30, visited her brother, Jack Joseph Ball, aged 23, at his residence in Lakeville, Minnesota, for dinner. After several hours without communication, family members became concerned. Around 11 p.m., their mother went to Ball’s home to check on Israel. Upon arrival, she observed Ball leaving the house quickly. Inside, she discovered a significant amount of blood and immediately contacted emergency services.
Lakeville police responded to the scene and found blood-covered tools, large knives, and dismembered body parts inside the home.
Shortly thereafter, a resident in Rosemount reported to 911 that a man was seen on their home security camera placing what appeared to be a body part on their front step. Police conducted a search and located Ball in the backyard of a neighboring home. He had sustained a self-inflicted neck injury and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of Israel’s death to be complex homicidal violence. They also confirmed she was between 17 and 18 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
A Dakota County grand jury indicted Ball on two counts of premeditated first-degree murder and two counts of intentional second-degree murder in the deaths of Israel and her unborn child. If convicted of premeditated first-degree murder, Ball faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. He remains in custody at the Dakota County Jail. His next court hearing is scheduled for January 10, 2025, in Hastings.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me