Her family last saw Katelyn Berry on December 21. As she was an adult and lived independently of her family, no one was alarmed when they did not hear from her for a few days. However, when the family called and received no response or return calls or texts, they became alarmed. On December 31, 2021, Ms. Berry, a report was formally filed with the police department, and Katelynn was officially classified as a missing person. This was one of the worst days for the family, but they appreciated the immediate response by the police department and the local community.
The Initial Police Investigation
Once Katelyn Berry was reported missing by her family, the police immediately began their search. They immediately went to her apartment, and what they found there left more questions than answers. They noticed that Ms. Berry's purse and cell phone were still at the residence and that her jacket was still there. The only thing they could tell was missing was her snow boots. They immediately searched her phone records and saw that the last incoming calls were made around December 29, 2021. They also found that the cell phone pinged on towers near her apartment, which made sense since that is where the phone was located.
The Community's Response
As soon as the community heard that Ms. Katelynn Berry was missing, they immediately rallied around the family in ways they would forever be thankful for. The community provided the family with support and hope. The community also worked with law enforcement and search crews by volunteering their time to search for Katelynn. Search efforts took place, despite temperatures being at or around zero degrees and snow and ice on the ground. Sidney, Montana, is near the Montana and North Dakota border, and residents from both areas stepped up to really help with the search and provide comfort and support to the family.
Finding Katelynn
On January 20, 2022, it was announced that searchers had found a body near Katelynn's apartment. The search was immediately called off for her at that point in time. The body was subsequently later identified as being Katelyn Berry. While it was devastating for her family, the family took comfort in knowing that they had found their daughter and would no longer have to live without knowing where she was or what had happened. An autopsy report later revealed that Ms. Berry died from hypothermia and that the cause of death was accidental. No foul play was suspected or noted.
Keeping Katelynn's Legacy Alive
While the search for Katelynn Berry did not go the way the family had hoped, they are thankful that they are now committed to moving forward. In doing so, they want to ensure that Katelynn Berry's legacy and memory are kept alive. This is why they announced in March that they were creating a nonprofit organization, Katelynn's Voice Foundation. The foundation is designed to give young adults dealing with mental health issues, just like Ms. Berry, and addiction recovery, their lives get back on track. The foundation offers many services, but one of the things that the organization is focused on is providing scholarships for both undergraduate students and high school students in the Minnesota, Montana, and North Dakota areas who may be dealing with mental health or addiction recovery.
