Lakeville Man Pleads Guilty in Pregnant Sister’s Murder
The victim, Bethany Israel, in an undated photo.
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A 24-year-old Lakeville man pled guilty this week to two first-degree murder counts in the killing of his sister and her unborn child.
According to court documents, defense attorneys will argue a mental illness defense at a later hearing.
Jack Joseph Ball entered guilty pleas to first-degree premeditated murder and first-degree murder of an unborn child for the May 23, 2024, deaths of 30-year-old Bethany Ann Israel and her unborn child.
Under the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to dismiss two remaining second-degree murder counts tied to the case.
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Initial charges were filed after the deadly attack inside a Lakeville home where Israel had gone that evening to have dinner with her brother. Family members became concerned when they were unable to reach her, and her mother later went to the home to check in. According to the criminal complaint, she saw Ball leaving the residence and discovered large amounts of blood inside the residence before calling 911.
Police searching the home found blood throughout the kitchen and other areas, along with multiple weapons. Investigators later located dismembered remains believed to be Israel’s inside the residence. As officers searched for Ball, police received a 911 call from a Rosemount homeowner who reported a man captured on a doorbell camera leaving what appeared to be a body part on the front step. Officers responding to that home located human remains and found Ball’s vehicle parked nearby.
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Ball was located near a shed and taken into custody. Officers reported he was covered in blood and had what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound to his neck. Additional human remains were later recovered in the area, the court documents say.
Investigators learned Israel was pregnant with her first child. An autopsy later confirmed she was between 17 and 18 weeks pregnant at the time of her death. The medical examiner ruled her death was a homicide caused by complex violence and found the unborn child also died as a result of the attack.
PREVIOUSLY: Lakeville Man Indicted for Murder of Pregnant Sister
Court records say investigators recovered journals and handwritten writings belonging to Ball from inside the home. In those writings, Ball expressed anger over the pregnancy and wrote that his sister was “no longer innocent.”
Ball was initially charged with second-degree murder and second-degree murder of an unborn child. A Dakota County grand jury later indicted him on four counts of murder, including two first-degree premeditated murder charges that carry a mandatory life sentence.
If the defense successfully proves Ball is criminally responsible due to mental illness, the court will order civil commitment proceedings. If the defense does not prevail, Ball will be sentenced to life in prison under Minnesota law.
Ball has remained in custody since his arrest.
