A special forces veteran accused of shooting his wife in Tennessee has been found dead after a dayslong manhunt, authorities confirmed.
Craig Berry, 53, allegedly got into an argument with his wife early Friday morning at their home in Dover before shooting her and fleeing into the woods, according to law enforcement. The Stewart County Sheriff’s Office, alongside state and federal officials, spent nearly a week searching for Berry, who was wanted for attempted second-degree murder and other charges. The sheriff’s office announced Wednesday afternoon that its SWAT team and agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation discovered Berry’s body.
“Initial indications show he died due a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.
The U.S. Marshals Service, which assisted in the search, confirmed to The Independent that Berry was dead and “no longer a threat to the public.” Berry was armed with at least one handgun and was believed to have extra ammunition when he fled, authorities previously stated. Stewart County Sheriff Frankie Gray said Tuesday that Berry’s wife overcame her “life-threatening” injuries and was released from the hospital, as reported by NBC News.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit cited by CNN, Berry’s wife said her husband beat and tried to strangle her during a physical argument. She ran to her car, and Berry shot at her neck, the affidavit said. Despite the injury, she drove away, authorities said. Berry attempted to chase her in his truck but crashed it, the affidavit noted. The Marshals Service had offered a $5,000 reward for Berry’s capture, while the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation offered an additional $2,500 for information leading to his arrest. Berry faced charges of attempted murder, domestic assault, aggravated assault, and leaving the scene of an accident, according to court documents.
During the search, Berry was spotted on a trail camera wearing camouflage clothing. Authorities noted his extensive training in survival tactics. “He is an excellent swimmer and diver, and is in good physical shape,” the sheriff’s office said Monday on Facebook. Search teams were also challenged by steep hills, deep ravines, heavy rainfall, and pests such as snakes and ticks, Sheriff Gray told CNN.
The Marshals Service told The Independent it was “proud to have assisted in the search for this violent criminal with our federal, state, and local partners.”
