Local News
Four arrested in escape of inmate
Danie M. Huffman
wdreporter2@yahoo.com
After Justin Lavon Berry, a Parker County Jail inmate, escaped and was recaptured from jail in mid June, investigators have been working on a case where four people helped him.
The four were arrested this week after officials learned they were involved during his run from justice.
Berry was captured in Kaufman County June 16. He was transported two days later to a state jail facility to begin serving an existing two-year sentence for a probation revocation, and is also being held on the escape charge, pending trial.
Myranda Lynn Amberson, 20, of Bokchito, Okla., was arrested in connection with Berry’s escape effort.
Sheriff’s Lt. Mark Arnett said the pair have children together and the events were not planned.
“We believe it was a spur-of-the-moment thing,” said Sheriff’s Investigator Mark Arnett. “He has family in Kaufman County, where we eventually caught up with him.”
Amberson was arrested in Denton County, where the pair are from, and apparently met up with Berry shortly after his escape.
The pair went to an area motel where they spent the night then traveled to Scurry, Texas, where she is alleged to have gathered money to assist in furthering Berry’s escape.
Amberson was charged with hindering apprehension and was released on a $4,000 bond.
Christopher Ross Henderson, 21, of Little Elm, was also arrested for transporting the pair to the Denton Motel. He was said to have paid for the room before giving them a ride the following day to Kaufman County.
Henderson was charged with hindering apprehension and was released on a $1,500 bond.
Cindy Yaws-Berry, 41, of Scurry, was arrested in Denton County on a misdemeanor charge of giving a false report to police. The allegations against her state she “failed to make truthful disclosures” to investigators regarding her “communications and knowledge” of the suspect and Amberson during the investigation. She was released on a $500 bond.
Teresa Day Dewberry, 51, of Kaufman, is accused of providing Berry and Amberson transportation from her home to a family member’s house.
“He calls [Dewberry] his aunt, but we actually haven’t found a relation connection,” Arnett said.
Dewberry was charged with hindering apprehension and was released from the Kaufman County Jail on $5,000 bail.
Arnett added investigators identified and question a Weatherford man who authorities believe gave Berry a ride to Denton the morning after his escape.
Arnett said Berry showed up at the man’s home, but investigators do not believe he was aware that Berry was an escaped inmate at the time. Officials said they do not expect to charge the man concerning the case.
“He was classified as an escapee for 42 hours almost to the minute,” Arnett said. “They were running the whole time. They basically ate, slept and ran while trying to figure out their next move. But we put so much heat on them that he wasn’t going to stay a fugitive for long.”
Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said the hindering apprehension cases are expected to be referred to the Denton and Kaufman County grand juries as soon as possible.
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