Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2013 Murders

A 31-year-old San Angelo man was sentenced to life without parole on Tuesday after pleading guilty to capital murder in Judge Ben Woodward’s court. Brian Jones Berry, convicted of killing his estranged wife and her brother, also pled guilty to the attempted murder of his then sister-in-law on July 28, 2013.

According to a press release from the District Attorney’s office, Berry and his estranged wife, Keri Block Berry, were going through divorce proceedings at the time of the murder. On July 28, 2013, Berry arrived at Keri Berry’s residence with their two children for a child-custody exchange when a dispute ensued.

As the argument heated, Berry fatally shot Keri Berry and her brother, Brandon Block, and as she attempted to flee, Berry fired two rounds at Block’s wife Susan. Susan Block was seriously injured by the two gunshot wounds, but managed to dial 911, to no avail. When the emergency call failed, Block dialed a friend and was later transported to the hospital. She survived the shooting, the release states.

By the time emergency personnel arrived, Brian Berry had fled the scene with the children and was later apprehended in Andrews County after several hours of flight. 

On July 23, 2013, Berry pled guilty to the capital murder of Keri Block Berry and Brandon Block and the attempted murder of Susan Block. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the capital murder conviction, as well as the maximum 20 years for attempted murder. 

WIth regards to the case, the District Attorney provided the following statement in the release:

Today, the defendant accepted criminal responsibility for the capital murder of Brandon Block and Keri Block Berry and the attempted murder of Susan Block, wherein he fled the scene and left Susan Block to die.  Susan Block, however, survived and valiantly engaged emergency medical services and law enforcement.  Susan Block’s heroic efforts saved not only her own life, but also led to the safe recovery of Keri Block Berry’s children and the apprehension of Brian Berry.  The defendant’s irrational and heinous violence cost his own children their mother and father and took Brandon Block from his own young son.  The lives of Brian Berry’s own children, his nephew, Susan Block, Keri and Brandon Block’s parents, and many other loved ones, will never be the same.  While no sentence will undo the damage and destruction caused by the defendant, knowing the defendant will spend the rest of his life in the penitentiary without the possibility of parole brings some measure of justice and closure to the survivors, family, loved ones, and to our community as a whole.  The finality of the conviction and very limited ability to appeal brings this part of the tragedy to a conclusion and may enable the survivors to begin to heal.

The case was investigated by the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office, led by Lt. Ron Sanders, and Texas Rangers, led by Ranger Nick Hanna.  The investigators conducted a complete and thorough investigation that enabled successful prosecution.  I applaud their efforts and thank them for their cooperation with our office through the course of the investigation.