I filed a police report last week

I’m 100% sure my abuser is violating my order of protection…again.

Let’s rewind: You know I’m active on social media – Tik Tok, especially. It’s been amazing to share my story and help so many while educating about domestic abuse and animal abuse. I’ve also been in the news plenty of times. My abuser, who he is and what his face looks like, is no longer a secret. It’s out there.

I found out last month that Mathew Berry has been charged with three felonies, six counts total (!!), for torturing and killing my dog Kirby on June 23, 2020. On Monday, August 1, Mathew Berry pleaded “not guilty” and the case is currently set for trial.

Rewinding again – On Thursday, July 21, I was flying home from Mexico. I was at the airport in Austin, TX in line to board my flight after a three hour delay. I checked my Tik Tok right before I boarded the plane. And my heart dropped. An account called “mathew_berry_is_innocent” had commented 20+ times on my videos. It’s Mat, I will promise you that. The profile picture of the account is a lame clipart image of the balance scale of justice with the words “Justice for Mathew Berry” laid over the image. BARF. Justice for Kirby and Daisy, always and forever. Anyway, this account had left 20+ comments on my videos. Comments calling me a liar, saying I have no case, and so much more. It caused me to have a panic attack. Imagine – sitting on the airplane (which gives me enough anxiety as is), freaking out that your abuser is making contact with you again for the first time in two years. I cried on the plane. And I’ll admit that. I have PTSD and these things still impact me. I was afraid for my life and safety. I deleted all the comments because I won’t allow that on my page. But it scared me.

Oh, but before I deleted the comments, I took a screenshot of the bio. It read exactly this: “Horrible dog parent Sarah Manos framing me for the deaths of her dogs”

Sorry, framing who? Framing “ME”? Ok Mat. Whoops, you slipped up there. So I took a screenshot of that too.

The next morning, Mat was back at it commenting on my Tik Tok videos. And this time, I took screenshots of the comments. Score 1 for Survivor Sarah.

I processed things. I’m a badass, boss bitch, and I’m saying that as fact. I’m so powerful, like ridiculously empowered. And Mathew Berry has no power over me anymore. I’m the powerful one, and he’s afraid of me. That I also realized.

So I realized:

1. I can file a police report. This is clearly a violation of the order of protection. He already pleaded guilty to two violations of my order of protection before and was convicted on it. A third violation definitely will not look good for him.
2. I have an attorney. Not just one, but two. I could get a third if I needed. But with his bio, “horrible dog parent Sarah Manos,” I could sue him for defamation of character.

So I did – I contacted the Arlington Heights police sergeant I had worked with. I emailed her that Thursday night, and Friday morning, she called me. What an amazing experience (and a year ago, I wouldn’t have expected that).

She called me and was first of all very excited to hear Will County has charged him with three felonies. Finally. We talked it over and she gave me a couple ideas – first, contact Will County and see if Mathew contacting me is a violation of his bond. Then, I could absolutely file a police report. She cautioned me about that because I’d have to file where I live, and Mat would then know where I live.

So, I contacted the Will County prosecutor. It turns out it’s not a violation of his bond, but that’s fine.

Anyway, cut to August 1 – Mat has arraignment and pleads not guilty. I updated my followers on Tik Tok, and Mat quickly began commenting on that video. 30+ comments, actually. Yes, I read them and deleted them right away. I got my screenshots and deleted the comments. MB threatened Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow in one of his comments. Screenshot. Anyway, I decided to file a police report. Mat has no power over me anymore and I’ll spend my life thriving in empowerment. I filed a police report and sent the officer the 40+ screenshots I took of comments Mat made.

Later that week, an advocate from Will County contacted me to see if I had any questions about the court process now. I told her about the police report I filed and why. She took down the police report number and said she would give it to the prosecutor handling the case for the animal cruelty felonies. Comments such as “this certainly won’t look good for him” were made.

So, let’s talk about what Mat was saying to me. He was commenting that I’m a liar. That his attorney has every statement I’ve ever made. That in one video I say I didn’t see what Mat did to Daisy but then later in that video I said I did see it. Mat commented that I’m going to perjure myself on the stand. He commented that, did I realize I have to testify under OATH? and added how hilarious that will be to watch. Apparently he thinks cross examination will be hilarious as well. He asked if I’m going to show up to pre-trial. He said there’s a reason Cook County didn’t take the case, because I’m a liar. And so on and so forth.

(Oh, I asked the Will County victim advocate if I have to go to pre-trial like Mat said, and she said no.)

So I’ve been processing what Mat said. And I realized something – truer than anything I’ve ever known. Mathew Berry is scared. He’s terrified, actually. Because he knows his end is near. And his control is spiraling away from his very, very quickly.

James Glasgow, the Will County prosecutor, went on the news segment I was featured on and discussed my case. James Glasgow wrote the law on animal torture in Illinois in 1999. He wouldn’t charge Mathew Berry with animal torture if he didn’t know the case to be solid. And he absolutely would not be going on the news and talking about it if he had a single doubt.

My mom said something that was a huge realization to me. She said that if Mat’s attorney thought their side of the case was a slam dunk, Mat wouldn’t be commenting to me and trying to intimidate me. Mat’s scared. And then I realized – the only, ONLY chance he has, would be to somehow try to prove me as a non-credible witness. And quite frankly, that’s going to be impossible. I am a credible witness, despite what corrupt Cook County said. I have shared my story time and time and time again, and every time, people tell me how articulate I am and that without a doubt they know I am telling the truth (obviously). Mat has gone two years without contacting me, but he’s scared enough to risk violating the order of protection to try and intimidate me (also, think “Witness Intimidation” as another talking point at trial, right?). Our case is solid and we are going to win.

Mathew Berry also had ANOTHER warrant out for him last week, to the tune of $20,000. Apparently he skipped court a few times for the violation of my order of protection in 2020 and the Judge had enough of it, so he ordered a warrant for MB. MB must have caught wind of that because he showed up to court in person this past week.

So, I filed a police report and we’ll see what happens. Even if nothing happened, it’s important that this is documented.

I was talking about that with my therapist this week, and she 100% validated me filing the police report, which is also important. She mentioned that as a victim of DV and survivor, I have to document everything. Because when it comes down to it, people would question it if I didn’t. They would say, “Well if it was so bad, why didn’t you file a report about it?” Keep a paper trail. Document everything. We have to, as survivors. And that’s a conversation for another day.

ANYWAY, that’s what’s happening for now. Lots of other things going on – some AMAZING projects that I can’t WAIT to share 🙂 School starts this week and that’ll be amazing and keep me plenty busy. I’m also not sure how long I’ll be a teacher for. I’d like to go into advocacy against domestic and animal abuse full-time within the next few years. Teaching is amazing and I love my students always, but God gave me this power and strength and voice for a reason, and he’s calling me onto this path.

Keep praying for me, now and always as we go through this with court and what it takes to be a survivor of domestic abuse. It’s been two years and Mathew is again contacting me, trying to intimidate me. I’m strong and I’ve got this, but I’ll leave you with this:

We’ve got this. ❤