DOVER, TN — Craig Berry, a 53-year-old retired Army Special Forces veteran accused of shooting his wife during a domestic dispute, was found dead Wednesday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, ending a six-day manhunt across northwest Tennessee.
The Stewart County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Berry’s death after tactical units and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents discovered his body in a wooded area several miles from his home. The discovery concluded an intensive search that drew federal resources and national attention due to Berry’s military training and survival expertise. Berry had been wanted on charges of attempted second-degree murder, domestic assault, aggravated assault and leaving the scene of an accident since the May 1 shooting.
The manhunt began around 1:30 a.m. on May 1 when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Berry’s home on Old Paris Landing Road in Dover. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Berry beat his wife and attempted to strangle her during an argument that began around 11:30 p.m. on April 30. When she managed to reach her car to escape, Berry shot her in the neck as she drove away. “She ran to her car, and that’s when Berry shot at her neck,” the affidavit stated. Despite being wounded, she continued driving to seek help while Berry pursued her in his truck until he crashed the vehicle.
Investigators recovered 11 shell casings from the scene, according to Stewart County Sheriff Frankie Gray. Berry’s wife survived the shooting and was hospitalized with what Gray described as “life-threatening” injuries before being released Tuesday. After the failed pursuit, Berry returned to his home to gather additional ammunition before fleeing into the surrounding woods, authorities said. Trail cameras later captured footage of Berry, wearing dark camouflage clothing, entering the forested area Thursday night. The U.S. Marshals Service had offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to Berry’s capture, while the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation offered an additional $2,500 reward.
Berry served as an infantryman and special forces medical sergeant in the Army from 1992 to 2016, deploying to Iraq four times before leaving as a sergeant first class. His military background complicated the search effort, as authorities noted he had “extensive training in survival tactics” and was an “excellent swimmer and diver” in good physical condition. The manhunt covered challenging terrain including steep hills, deep ravines and dense forest, while search teams contended with heavy rainfall, snakes and ticks. Officials had been prepared to expand their search by 30 miles to include the sprawling Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, which encompasses more than 170,000 acres of undeveloped forest.
Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the search, including the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service and local deputies. The operation utilized helicopters, K-9 units, heat detection aircraft and systematic grid searches across the heavily forested region. However, Gray told investigators that Berry likely died shortly after fleeing on May 1, based on the body’s decomposition when found. Heat detection planes that searched the immediate area the following day would not have detected him once his body temperature dropped, Gray explained. Berry was discovered approximately a quarter-mile from his in-laws’ residence, though Gray said there was no indication Berry intended to harm them.
Berry was found with a single weapon and ammunition supply, and preliminary investigation suggests he died from a gunshot wound to the head, Gray said. “Initial indications show he died due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” the sheriff’s office announced in a Facebook post. During the manhunt, Berry had contacted his parents, who cooperated with investigators, according to Gray. The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed Berry was “deceased and no longer a threat to the public” in a statement Wednesday. Berry’s body will be sent to the medical examiner for an official determination of the cause of death.
The case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces when pursuing suspects with advanced military training in remote terrain. Gray had not speculated publicly about the motive for the shooting, though he noted a possible “financial situation” as a contributing factor to problems between the couple. No indication exists that anyone assisted Berry while he was on the run, according to investigators. The Marshals Service said it was “proud to have assisted in the search for this violent criminal with our federal, state, and local partners.” Berry’s wife is expected to make a full recovery from her injuries.
