CALVIN BERRY - The mysterious drowning of a beloved USPS mail carrier and family man in 2021

STUART, Fla. —
The family and friends of a man who police said died in an accidental drowning are calling for an additional investigation.

The family said the first investigation by the Port St. Lucie Police Department did not go far enough. Now, police department leaders said they are indeed moving forward with another review of the case.
Calvin Berry was a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service for more than 30 years. His mail carrier route was in Stuart, where his family and friends gathered on Saturday to call for another investigation into his death.
"No matter what mood you were in, when you were with Calvin you were happy and you were upbeat. He was just a joy and to not have him around, it’s a big void. It’s a big loss,” said Dornett Mullings, Berry's sister.

Berry was first reported missing on March 11, 2021. Police said they received a call that his body was found in a canal behind his home on March 13, 2021.

What really happened to beloved mail carrier CALVIN BERRY?

The family said the first investigation by the Port St. Lucie Police Department did not go far enough. Now, police department leaders said they are indeed moving forward with another review of the case.

www.crimewatchers.net

Port St. Lucie Police Department leaders said the medical examiner's office ruled Berry's death an accidental drowning complicated by the use of diphenhydramine, which is found in allergy medications.
Brenton Palmer, Berry's friend, said he is the person who found Berry's body.

"I do not feel (the Port St. Lucie Police Department) did a thorough job at all,” Palmer said, in reference to the police department's investigation into Berry's death. "I know Calvin is listening somewhere. We will find out what happened. We won’t give up, we will know what happened. Eventually, we will find out."

"We want some investigation," said Mullings. "We want answers and maybe the answers will lead us to nothing, but please investigate. There are too many unanswered questions. "We just want the answers. We are not saying charge someone for a homicide. We just want to know what happened."

Port St. Lucie police reviewing its investigation into death of mail carrier following complaints from family

The police department is conducting an internal review of its initial investigation into the death of 58-year-old Calvin Berry.

www.wpbf.com

 

[GrandmaBear]

That isn't what she said; she said, "I need to tell you that they have him on..." (at this point in the call, she tried to describe the med, and went to look for the bottle because she didn't remember the name and/or how to pronounce it)... "to help him sleep because he hasn't been sleeping that well". Shortly after, she said, "and he also takes some Benadryl, I don't know if he did that tonight."

Edit: The med (prescribed about two weeks prior) was Alprazolam.

So there was a drug besides the Benadryl that was new to him that he may not have been used to?

 

[Guess Who]

That isn't what she said; she said, "I need to tell you that they have him on..." (at this point in the call, she tried to describe the med, and went to look for the bottle because she didn't remember the name and/or how to pronounce it)... "to help him sleep because he hasn't been sleeping that well". Shortly after, she said, "and he also takes some Benadryl, I don't know if he did that tonight."

Edit: The med (prescribed about two weeks prior) was Alprazolam.

Alprazolam: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects - Drugs.com

Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety. Learn about side effects, interactions and indications.

www.drugs.com

​

Alprazolam side effects​

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to alprazolam: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Alprazolam can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication or alcohol. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.
Call your doctor at once if you have:

• weak or shallow breathing;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• a seizure;
• hallucinations, risk-taking behavior;
  increased energy, decreased need for sleep;
  racing thoughts, being agitated or talkative;
  double vision; or
  jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
  Drowsiness or dizziness may last longer in older adults. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury.
  Common alprazolam side effects may include:
• drowsiness; or
• feeling light-headed.

 

[Regina]

So there was a drug besides the Benadryl that was new to him that he may not have been used to?

Indeed, it was a med prescribed to help him sleep, but I think what complicates matters is that we don't know why he was unable to sleep in the first place.

 

[Guess Who]

Indeed, it was a med prescribed to help him sleep, but I think what complicates matters is that we don't know why he was unable to sleep in the first place.

if like me, it's just because you can't sleep with no underlying causes. I have been prescribed stuff for it, but don't like them because of the side effects.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I think we'd need to now why he couldn't sleep but also when he couldn't what did he do about it and how far would we go. Some people will take more than others because they can't take pain, are so desperate for any sleep, etc., need to numb (times of grief maybe), etc. and then others are more careful but only occasion may feel the need for a bit extra. Did he drink or mix anything and was his habit to ensure he go nowhere and stay in if he had taken something and couldn't sleep or would have have been so restless or out of it after taking something in desperation he took a walk, etc.?

I err towards being cautious with meds even natural ones. If I take Melatonin, I take one. I have on occasion taken two if I feel a real need to sleep and 2 is totally okay. I have on occasion taken nighttime cold tabs and again, I start with one, if necessary I may take too. I take them very, very rarely any more. My way is to know I've taken something and stay INSIDE without a doubt and just try to sleep but if I had someone here or others it might not be as easy. I deal with very little outside interference with sleep IF alone and no dramas currently because caused by others. I have never taken Benadryl.

Anyhow, I don't really have an opinion here yet and he may have been very cautious but I'm just saying there is a lot we don't know. All cases are like that in that some of the answers we just never get, even to the simpler questions.

Did he frequent this canal or walk near it? Did they recreate on it? Or is it somewhere NEVER went?

Haven't had a ton of time and maybe these answers exist elsewhere. I do agree the case needs to be investigated thoroughly no doubt.

Why was he just now on a new med and as said, why was he having trouble sleeping in the first place? Did he go in and seek help just recently? Was he told to try new med gradually until see how work for him...? Was it his long time doctor he saw? Hard these days to count on that.

Anyhow, I hope they take a good look into it this time and get some clearer answers.

 

[Guess Who]

I think we'd need to now why he couldn't sleep but also when he couldn't what did he do about it and how far would we go. Some people will take more than others because they can't take pain, are so desperate for any sleep, etc., need to numb (times of grief maybe), etc. and then others are more careful but only occasion may feel the need for a bit extra. Did he drink or mix anything and was his habit to ensure he go nowhere and stay in if he had taken something and couldn't sleep or would have have been so restless or out of it after taking something in desperation he took a walk, etc.?

I err towards being cautious with meds even natural ones. If I take Melatonin, I take one. I have on occasion taken two if I feel a real need to sleep and 2 is totally okay. I have on occasion taken nighttime cold tabs and again, I start with one, if necessary I may take too. I take them very, very rarely any more. My way is to know I've taken something and stay INSIDE without a doubt and just try to sleep but if I had someone here or others it might not be as easy. I deal with very little outside interference with sleep IF alone and no dramas currently because caused by others. I have never taken Benadryl.

Anyhow, I don't really have an opinion here yet and he may have been very cautious but I'm just saying there is a lot we don't know. All cases are like that in that some of the answers we just never get, even to the simpler questions.

Did he frequent this canal or walk near it? Did they recreate on it? Or is it somewhere NEVER went?

Haven't had a ton of time and maybe these answers exist elsewhere. I do agree the case needs to be investigated thoroughly no doubt.

Why was he just now on a new med and as said, why was he having trouble sleeping in the first place? Did he go in and seek help just recently? Was he told to try new med gradually until see how work for him...? Was it his long time doctor he saw? Hard these days to count on that.

Anyhow, I hope they take a good look into it this time and get some clearer answers.

and that's also why I say IF there was actually a lethal dose of benadryl in him, then it's most likely - due to the taste alone - that he took that many on his own. Were the levels of the Rx of therapeutic levels or were they high or non existent? Like I said, benadryl tastes awful and it has a weird numbing feel that would be hard to mask. I am not saying impossible, but for an adult to not question the taste AND feeling it would leave in anything crushed up to get to lethal doses doesn't make much sense to me. Most of the benadryl poisonings are either people purposefully taking too much, or given to a kid by caregiver or if given to an adult, one that has health issues. One or two - sure, but lethal to a healthy adult, I'm having a hard time with.

 

[Guess Who]

Living with a lack of sleep can make one do absolutely anything to get sleep and/or make terrible choices, even if you are a person that doesn't usually make bad choices. I would need far more info to be convinced of murder by benadryl in this case.

 

[GrandmaBear]

and that's also why I say IF there was actually a lethal dose of benadryl in him, then it's most likely - due to the taste alone - that he took that many on his own. Were the levels of the Rx of therapeutic levels or were they high or non existent? Like I said, benadryl tastes awful and it has a weird numbing feel that would be hard to mask. I am not saying impossible, but for an adult to not question the taste AND feeling it would leave in anything crushed up to get to lethal doses doesn't make much sense to me. Most of the benadryl poisonings are either people purposefully taking too much, or given to a kid by caregiver or if given to an adult, one that has health issues. One or two - sure, but lethal to a healthy adult, I'm having a hard time with.

I don't know enough about it but do know of a few cases it was used against the other person. I don't know if anything would mask it, I've never taken it. I do suppose it is possible one just took a dose or so and was sleepy, dazed and agreeable to suggestion or a walk... I don't know.

There is also the possibility tox hasn't caught all and yes, he had a 'scrip and benadryl possibly but did they test for any possible substance that perhaps could ahve also been used or mixed, etc. A poison even and not a drug? Antifreeze? Etc. What does a standard in depth tox and autopsy cover these days...? For those who get one that is...?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I-Team: What Happened to Calvin?

Three years ago, a well-known and beloved mailman on the Treasure Coast went missing.

m.cw34.com

I-Team: What Happened to Calvin?

But Calvin’s twin sister, Dornett Mullings, thinks investigators got it wrong, and left too many questions unanswered. She’s done her own digging, hired independent experts to review evidence, and launched an online petition calling on the police department to re-open the case.

“I suspect foul play,” Mullings told the I-Team. “But the only way we can find out is for a thorough, methodical, meticulous investigation. We have not had that.”

The autopsy lists Calvin’s cause of death as an accidental drowning, complicated by diphenhydramine, the drug found in Benadryl. A toxicology screening found 7.22 milligrams per liter of diphenhydramine in Calvin’s blood, many times higher than ordinary use.

Detectives determined Calvin must have “accidentally” ingested more than a dozen Benadryl pills, became disoriented, and then wandered into the canal behind his home and drowned.

At Mullings’ request, forensic pathologist Dr. Ronald K. Wright reviewed the autopsy and the police report.

As the former Medical Examiner for Broward and Miami Dade Counties, Dr. Wright estimates he has reviewed more than 12,000 cases, and based on his experience, he thinks this medical examiner got it wrong in Calvin’s case.

“The one thing this is not, is an accident,” Dr. Wright told the I-Team.

He believes it’s unlikely anyone could “accidentally” take as much Benadryl as Calvin had in his system – meaning he either intentionally took his own life, or someone else did.

And while Calvin’s body was found in the water, Dr. Wright tells the I-Team it’s possible – even likely – that he died before his body was dumped in the canal. That’s because a hallmark of drowning is the presence of liquid in a person’s sphenoid sinus, or the area behind the nose.

In Calvin’s case, the medical examiner reported in the autopsy: “There is no fluid in the sphenoid sinus.” And in the police report, summarizing the autopsy, it states: “There were no sure signs of drowning.”

Dr. Wright believes Calvin’s case should have been ruled differently: “It’s undetermined. That’s what I would have classified it as. This is a case where I don’t think anybody was that interested in looking into the questions.”

And there are many questions, when you take a deeper look at the evidence.

First: the source of the Benadryl. If police believe this is the medication that played an instrumental role in his death, why was there no mention of finding empty pill packets or receipts for Benadryl in the Berry home?

A second concern involves the recording of the 911 call made by Calvin’s wife. She told police that she was alone, but if you listen carefully, you can hear what may be whispers form someone else on the line. If it was someone else whispering, who was it? And why were they there? What were they saying?

Another puzzle: Calvin’s pacemaker transmitted data to a remote server, showing that his heart was shocked at 2:35 a.m. – a few hours after he went missing. That seems to indicate he was still alive at that time, and that his heart needed help to restore its normal rhythm. If he was alive, where was he, and why was his heart racing?

If Calvin really did wander into the canal behind his home after taking Benadryl inside, why do police reports state that blood hounds followed Calvin’s scent away from the canal, and down the street? An initial drone search of the water the night he went missing showed no signs of him in the water.

Calvin left his cell phone behind the night disappeared, but someone did use his phone. His call log shows an incoming call from an unidentified number at 2:54 a.m. The call was answered, and it lasted 54 seconds. Calvin’s wife told police she had “no knowledge” of the call, and “denied answering it,” according to the police report. Who was calling? Who answered it? And what was said?

Finally – and perhaps most alarming – are the concerning text messages two of Calvin’s adult children received after he was reported missing, before his body was found. An anonymous person sent messages saying, “I have Calvin He is sick.” The texts demanded a $7,000 ransom, and threatened to kill Calvin.

Port St. Lucie Police investigated these ransom texts and determined this was a “hoax” because the number appeared to originate from overseas. But how would someone overseas get the phone numbers for Calvin’s children? And could it have simply been someone local “spoofing” their number to disguise their origin? The police report doesn’t say.

“Nothing makes sense. Nothing is adding up,” Mullings said. “The dots are not connecting. And I’m asking questions. And I’m getting no answers.”

The I-Team reached out to the Port St. Lucie Police Department to ask questions about this case. A department spokesperson said there were “no detectives available.”