One last fight.

I don’t want any judgement or negativity because this is my life, my dogs were killed and died in my arms, this is my fight.

I filed a police report in Mokena yesterday.

Yeah, I flew into Chicago for the day, drove down to Mokena, filed a police report, and flew home. It was a long day but hey, who am I to question God’s plan for me?

I had a realization last week and I know with my full heart that this is God’s plan and he has been planting these things along the way to take me on this path.

Last week, a woman reached out to me and disclosed that she had also been a victim of Mathew Berry. Her story is almost the same as mine: Mat told her his dad was FBI and watching her every move, that he had ties to the mafia, and so much more. She also witnessed Mat abuse his dog on several occasions. Okay, God, I see you. So I emailed the prosecutor and police I had worked with in Arlington Heights and Midlothian about this. And then I had a realization. Now, judge me if you want, but I’m spiritual and I believe I’m very in-tune with God’s plan. Last year, when the police told me they weren’t pressing charges, it devastated me and brought me to my lowest point (think: me sitting in my car, sobbing, wanting with every cell in my body to be dead). But even then, I had this feeling that Mat wouldn’t be charged from Midlothian or Arlington Heights. I always felt this third extension, this unknown, but I didn’t know what a third source could be. And now I do. Thank you, God.

The thought came to me on Christmas Day. Mokena. I asked my mom, “What county is Mokena in?” She googled it. “Will County,” she replied. And that was it. Will County. Mat messed up. The day he killed Kirby, he brought us into two counties. Now, Cook County isn’t prosecuting any crime (thanks, Kim Foxx). Literally, not even prosecuting murders. So it’s no surprise that they didn’t prosecute my case and blamed me as “not a credible witness” because the case was going to be hard and as the prosecutor told me, she only brings cases that she knows for sure she’s going to win. Ha. Anyway… Will County. Another chance, another opportunity. So I started doing my research. Will County’s State‘s Attorney fought hard to change the animal cruelty laws in Illinois to make them more serious crimes. And it worked. He created a team of three prosecutors that specifically work with animal cruelty. And then this: I found an article about this team of prosecutors in Will County. They won an award from the ALDF in 2020 for their work in fighting animal cruelty. Do you remember the ALDF? The nonprofit organization that has taken on my case, assigned a chief attorney to my case, and really been my champions? Yeah, they awarded these prosecutors for their work against animal cruelty. God, I see your signs and I’m trusting you as I follow on your path and in your will for me.

So yes, I filed a police report in Mokena yesterday. The officer was shocked that Midlothian had never contacted Mokena PD. He was shocked that the vets that saw Kirby that day never called the police about the clear signs of abuse. But he wasn’t shocked at me for “staying.” And I am SO very aware of how crazy my story is. It is. It comes off as absolutely nuts. But it’s my story and it’s what happened to me and my dogs.

So I flew into Chicago and filed a police report in Mokena. I have nothing to lose. As my attorney said, the worst they can say is no, and I’ve been through that before. But if you don’t try, the answer will always be no.

You might think I’m crazy for doing this, and that’s your own prerogative. My dogs died in my arms. The man who did it is walking free. That’s not ok with me and if/since I have the power to fight that, I am. Because it’s the right thing to do. It is the right thing to fight for justice for my babies. An evil man committed unspeakable crimes against me and my dogs, and it is RIGHT to fight that he be held accountable for that.

I’m leaning into God with this, whatever may happen. Let go and let God. This is his path. There’s a reason he opened this door for me. And I’m trusting in Him. Whatever happens, I’m fighting because it is the right thing to do.

(And PS – the statute of limitations is 2 years so I have until this summer for any charges to be brought against Mat for what he did to my dogs)

Anyway, I’m giving this up to God. Whatever his plan is for me, I’m leaning into it. “For I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”