Sister Rebuilt Her Life After Her Toddler Son Was Murdered — Then Her New Boyfriend Killed Her in a Drug-Fueled Crash

An Australian woman who struggled to rebuild her life after her two-year-old son was murdered was killed years later in a devastating car crash involving a boyfriend who was driving under the influence of drugs.

Chandra Bodney says her younger sister, Kerry, endured years of grief after losing her only child, Robert, in December 2012. After battling addiction and receiving rehabilitation, Kerry had begun rebuilding her life when another tragedy struck in 2023.

Kerry, 31, died after her boyfriend, Jahleel Delaine Ahirau Berryman, drove a stolen car through a red light at nearly twice the speed limit while under the influence of drugs, according to The Sun. Berryman later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Toddler Son Beaten to Death by His Mother’s Ex

Kerry’s life changed forever when her son, Robert, was just two years old.

On December 30, 2012, Chandra received a devastating phone call informing her that Robert had died. Kerry had briefly left home to buy cigarettes and returned to find her little boy pale and unresponsive.

The toddler had suffered a fatal head injury and fractures to both arms.

Investigators determined that Kerry’s former partner, Wayne Murray Narkle, had attacked the child after becoming angry because he would not stop crying. Narkle admitted striking Robert twice around the head and shaking him three times.

He later pleaded guilty to murder in Western Australia’s Supreme Court and received a life sentence, with a minimum of 15 years in prison.

For Kerry, the loss of her only child was unbearable.

Grief Led to Addiction and Years of Struggle

Unable to cope with Robert’s death, Kerry turned to drugs and alcohol in an attempt to numb her pain. She withdrew from family members, avoided friends with children and struggled to maintain relationships.

Chandra became increasingly worried about her younger sister’s safety. She said Kerry had attempted to take her own life on more than one occasion, leaving the family fearing they might lose her, too.

For several years, Chandra tried to persuade Kerry to accept help. Eventually, she took her sister to hospital, where Kerry went on to spend 12 months in rehabilitation.

Slowly, Kerry began recovering. She regained weight, appeared healthier and started smiling again. With Chandra’s support, she secured a place of her own and began looking toward the future.

For the first time in years, her family believed she had a chance to move forward.

A New Relationship Ended in Another Tragedy

In 2022, Chandra moved to Adelaide with her two sons. Kerry appeared to be doing well, and the sisters remained close.

Kerry later began a relationship with Berryman, but concerns soon emerged. Chandra said her sister became suspicious that he was seeing someone else and encouraged her to leave the relationship.

Kerry eventually told Chandra that she wanted to move to Adelaide and start over with her sister and nephews.

But that fresh start never came.

About a week after Kerry expressed her plans, Chandra received a call from their aunt with the heartbreaking news that Kerry had died in a car crash.

Driver Was Under the Influence of Drugs

Kerry had been a passenger in a car driven by Berryman when he sped through a red light at nearly twice the legal speed limit.

According to the report, the other two passengers screamed at him to slow down before the collision. The crash threw Kerry from the vehicle, and she was found on a median strip approximately 15 meters away.

She was rushed to hospital but died from her injuries at the age of 31. The other passengers survived with injuries.

Berryman fled the scene. Investigators later established that the car had been stolen, he did not hold a driving licence, and he tested positive for drugs including cannabis and methamphetamine.

He was subsequently arrested and pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He received an 11-year prison sentence.

Sister Mourns Two Irreplaceable Losses

In a heartbreaking twist, the two men responsible for the deaths of Kerry and her young son are now reportedly serving time in the same prison.

For Chandra, however, no sentence can undo the losses her family has suffered.

She remembers how hard Kerry fought to recover after Robert’s murder, only to have her life cut short just as she was preparing for a new beginning.

Chandra continues to listen to her sister’s old voice messages and wears a necklace containing a lock of Kerry’s hair to feel close to her.

Despite years of pain, she holds on to the hope that her sister and nephew are together again.

Source: The Sun