Jessica Berg

Jessica Berg

Victim sought restraining order day before slaying

April 10, 2010

By Daniel Human, Kokomo Tribune staff writer

Kokomo — One of the women found dead Friday in a Courtland Avenue home placed a restraining order the day before against the man who police arrested in connection with the triple homicide investigation.

Lt. Don Whitehead, a spokesman for the Kokomo Police Department, confirmed this afternoon he was aware of the restraining order, but he had no further details.

According to online court records, Jessica Berg, 28, Gas City, filed on Thursday a petition for an order of protection against Jeremy M. Blanchard, 30, Gas City.

Berg, along with her mother, Rebecca Berg, 57, and David McPike, 62, were found dead Friday morning in McPike’s home in the 1500 block of Courtland Avenue.

Kokomo police sent out a nationwide announcement that the department was looking for Blanchard as a “person of interest” in the investigation. Kentucky State Police arrested him in London, Ky., later that night.

Whitehead would not comment on Blanchard’s association with any of the victims.

The Howard County coroner was conducting an autopsy of the victims this afternoon. Results likely won’t be available until early Sunday, Whitehead said.

Also see posts for Rebecca Berg and David McPike.

David McPike

David McPike

Victims Identified In Kokomo Triple Slaying

Police Release New Information In Killings

POSTED: 1:47 pm EDT April 10, 2010

KOKOMO, Ind. -- The identities of three people who were found slain in a Kokomo home on Friday morning were released on Saturday as police provided some additional details of the investigation.

The bodies of David McPike, 62, of Kokomo, Rebecca Berg, 57, and Jessica Berg, 28, both of Gas City, were found in a home in the 1500 block of South Courtland Avenue.Kokomo police Lt. Don Whitehead said Rebecca and Jessica were in Kokomo to attend a family member’s funeral and had spent the night in McPike’s home.

The bodies were found by someone who came to pick the three victims up for the funeral, police said. Jeremy Blanchard, 30, of Gas City, who police called a person of interest in the case, was taken into custody in London, Ky., on Friday night.

Police did not release information about how the victims died, but an autopsy was being conducted on Saturday, with results expected on Sunday. The bodies were found in different rooms of the home.

Blanchard was held on warrants for a probation violation and intimidation, but he was not arrested in connection with the slayings. According to Indiana Department of Correction records, Blanchard served four years in prison for a battery conviction in 1996, and was sentenced to 16 years in prison for several counts of attempted burglary and burglary in 2000. He was released in September 2009.

Neighbors told 6News that McPike had lived in the home for quite some time, and had recently retired."(He was a) super nice guy. Something you wouldn't expect to happen to him," said neighbor Lee Newcome.

Blanchard was the ex-boyfriend of Jessica Berg, officials said. A restraining order had been filed against him on Thursday in Grant County. Police asked anyone with information about the case to call Kokomo police at 765-456-7017 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.


Also see posts for Jessica Berg and Rebecca Berg.

Rebecca Berg

Three Bodies Found Inside Kokomo Home

A person of interest in connection with a triple homicide in Kokomo was picked up late Friday in Kentucky.

Heather MacWilliams, Fox59.com

4:17 PM EDT, April 9, 2010

KOKOMO, IN - UPDATE: 30 year-old Jeremy Blanchard of Gas City, Indiana was picked up late Friday in London, Kentucky.

Police in Kokomo are investigating a triple homicide at 1523 South Courtland Street.

A family member found the bodies of a man and two women early Friday morning. The family member was on the way to a funeral and had arrived at the home to pick up the three victims.

Kokomo Police Saturday identified the victims as 62-year-old David McPike, 57-year-old Rebecca Berg, and 28-year-old Jessica Berg.

Rebecca Berg and her daughter Jessica had come to Kokomo from Gas City to attend a family member's funeral and were spending the night at Mr. McPike's residence on Thursday.

Obituary:

April 14, 2010

Rebecca S. Berg

Aug. 28, 1952 - April 9, 2010

— Rebecca S. Berg, 57, Gas City, died on Friday, April 9, 2010, in Kokomo. Ms. Berg was born in Kokomo on Aug. 28, 1952, to the late Wilfred Eric and Charline (Mills) Harvey.

She was a 1970 graduate of Haworth High School and received a completion certificate from business school. Ms. Berg lived in Grant County for the past 30 years and worked in the radiology department for Marion General Hospital. She was passionate about exercise and loved dogs, especially her golden retriever, Truman. In her leisure time, she enjoyed spending time with her fiance, David McPike.

She is survived by son, Eric P. (Mary Condes) Berg, West Lafayette; grandson, Alexander J. Fritch; and brother, Randy Lee (Tia) Harvey, Fort Wayne.

In addition to her parents, Ms. Berg was preceded in death by her daughter, Jessica A. Berg, and her fiance, David McPike.

Services are 3 p.m. Saturday at Owen-Weilert-Duncan Funeral Home, Gas City Chapel, 200 N. 7th St., with Pastor Bill Campbell officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Gas City.

Friends may leave online condolences for the family at www.owenweilertduncan.com.

Also see posts for Jessica Berg and David McPike.