Jack Joseph Ball, a 24-year-old from Lakeville, Minnesota, pleaded guilty to two counts of premeditated first-degree murder—for killing his 30-year-old pregnant sister, Bethany Ann Israel, and her unborn child. The incident occurred in May 2024 after Israel visited Ball’s home for dinner; family concerns led their mother to discover blood and call 911, revealing dismembered remains and bloody tools like saws, hatchets, and knives.
Case Details
Prosecutors detailed Ball’s anger toward his sister’s pregnancy, viewing her as “no longer innocent,” based on journals found at the scene. Police recovered body parts at his home and a neighbor’s property in Rosemount after security footage captured Ball discarding remains; he was arrested nearby with a self-inflicted neck wound. A Dakota County grand jury indicted him in January 2025 on additional second-degree charges, which were dropped in the plea deal.
Legal Proceedings
Ball asserted a mental illness defense, claiming inability to understand his actions under Minnesota law, with a court trial set for May 21, 2026, to evaluate it. Prosecutors recommend life without parole, the mandatory sentence if his defense fails. Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena called the case “deeply disturbing,” pledging support for Israel’s family, described on GoFundMe as a kind expectant mother.
