A Minnesota judge ruled on Tuesday that a man accused of killing and dismembering his pregnant sister in May is fit to stand trial.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, 30-year-old Bethany Israel as found dead in her home on May 23 after her mother reported finding blood in her home after she’d had dinner with her brother.
Joseph Ball, 23, reportedly wrote in journals that he was angry at his sister because she was pregnant and “no longer innocent.” Israel had gone over to Ball’s home for dinner hours before her cops found her severed body parts at the residence, according to CBS News.
Authorities got involved after Ball and Israel’s mother had not heard from Israel and went to the Hastings home. CBS News reported that Ball fled as his mother discovered copious amounts of blood inside the house.
In addition to Israel’s severed body parts, responding police officers allegedly discovered a bloody saw and large knives at the residence. Cops were reportedly called to another home where a resident claimed their doorbell camera filmed Ball dropping a body part on their front porch.
Reports indicated that Israel was about four months pregnant at the time of the incident. CBS News reported that police found Ball near the crime scene, in a vehicle with a self-inflicted stab wound to his neck. More of Israel’s remains were found in the vicinity.
Ball’s attorneys plan to argue that Ball is not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. A court hearing is scheduled for December 12.
[Feature Photo: Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation]
