A 23-year-old Lakeville man has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder in connection to the May 23 death of his sister, Bethany Ann Israel, 30, of Bloomington, and her unborn child, according to a release from Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena.
Jack Joseph Ball was taken into custody when he was found hiding in the backyard of a residence northwest of County Road 42 and Chippendale Avenue in Rosemount after a family member discovered a large amount of blood at a residence in the 17000 block of Encina Path in Lakeville, and Lakeville police issued an alert for a vehicle Ball was seen driving.
The family member went to the Lakeville residence when the family was concerned about Israel after she hadn’t returned home after having dinner with Ball in Lakeville, according to the County Attorney’s Office.
Upon arriving at the residence, the family member saw Ball quickly leaving the residence, which is southwest of the corner of Pilot Knob Road and 170th Street.
When Lakeville police arrived on scene at about 11 p.m., they found bloody knives and evidence of Israel’s killing.
After Rosemount police received a call from a resident whose security camera showed a man leave what appeared to be a body part on their front step, officers searched the area and located Ball at about 11:50 p.m.
Ball had an injury to his neck that looked to be self-inflicted and was transported to a local hospital, the County Attorney’s Office said.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Israel’s cause of death as a result of complex homicidal violence and confirmed Israel 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,” Keena said in a press release. “My office will work hard to ensure the victims receive justice and will provide the necessary support for the victims’ family.”
Ball appeared in Dakota County District Court on Tuesday through video conferencing from the hospital. Bail was set in the amount of $2 million without conditions ($1 million with conditions) by Judge Bryce Ehrman.
After Ball is medically cleared, he will be transferred to the Dakota County Jail.
His next court appearance is scheduled for June 10 in Hastings.
Keena thanked the Lakeville Police Department for its thorough investigation as well as the assisting agencies including the Apple Valley Police Department, Rosemount Police Department, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
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