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

 

[Kimster]

Red herring.

If you take it frequently, you have no issues with walking around. It doesn't incompacitate you in any way if you only take one. It just makes you sleepy feeling. Probably not the brightest idea to go around the water afterwards, but it wouldn't have much to do with anything if something did happen to him then. It wouldn't have affected him any more than one beer would have.

I take Tylenol p.m. when I really need to get some sleep. It doesn’t affect me to the point where I won’t wake up if something strange is going on! And I wouldn’t have any problem walking down to the river. And like you said, one beer affects me more than a Tylenol p.m.!

 

[Kimster]

That article that I found mentioned that they were gonna look further into the situation. Have you heard anything since @Pinky ?

 

[Pinky]

That article that I found mentioned that they were gonna look further into the situation. Have you heard anything since @Pinky ?

Yes I spoke with the Chief twice. First he said they will allow a forensic toxicologist to look into the Benadryl levels because our private forensic toxicologist said the levels were lethal and he could not have walked to the canal with such high levels. I even spoke with J&J who makes Benadryl and they said the only thing you can do with such high levels is crash on your couch. My 2nd communication with the Chief is that he does not have probable cause to obtain a subpoena to move forward. Case is inactive/closed. The case was only a missing person case. The Detective lied, covered up the evidence and also committed fraud. Mind boggling!

 

[Kimster]

Yes I spoke with the Chief twice. First he said they will allow a forensic toxicologist to look into the Benadryl levels because our private forensic toxicologist said the levels were lethal and he could not have walked to the canal with such high levels. I even spoke with J&J who makes Benadryl and they said the only thing you can do with such high levels is crash on your couch. My 2nd communication with the Chief is that he does not have probable cause to obtain a subpoena to move forward. Case is inactive/closed. The case was only a missing person case. The Detective lied, covered up the evidence and also committed fraud. Mind boggling!

What a mixed message! Did he say they weren't going to pursue having a forensic toxicologist look into it, then? I'm concerned it that phase wasn't buttoned up.

 

[Guess Who]

Yes I spoke with the Chief twice. First he said they will allow a forensic toxicologist to look into the Benadryl levels because our private forensic toxicologist said the levels were lethal and he could not have walked to the canal with such high levels. I even spoke with J&J who makes Benadryl and they said the only thing you can do with such high levels is crash on your couch. My 2nd communication with the Chief is that he does not have probable cause to obtain a subpoena to move forward. Case is inactive/closed. The case was only a missing person case. The Detective lied, covered up the evidence and also committed fraud. Mind boggling!

ahhhh, I thought I had read somewhere that his benadryl levels were only therapeutic levels. High levels is totally different.

 

[Pinky]

Thanks, I didn't see much detail about what happened or was said so that helps.

More people take Benadryl to sleep than I ever knew, I seem to run into it all the time these days, I guess it isn't uncommon. I've never done that but I have taken Tylenol Cold/PM etc. to help sleep out of desperation when I needed sleep badly. Same idea and I would say also we likely think it safer than taking something worse as it is OTC. However, that also makes it pretty easy to give someone, etc.

The thing is I would never go outside or near water etc. after taking it, you take it to sleep if that was the purpose, not to then go wander around and because you took it, you know better than to do so. Right?

So what is it you think happened and how did his body come to be there?

And I guess I have to also ask then is there a motive here meaning was it a bad marriage, on the brink of divorce, etc.? I haven't read anything elsewhere so I know nothing about this case/death.

Worked with the USPS for 30yrs, huge pension. Motive - Money . Marriage was shaky for years. Relationship with daughters also strained. He was a Decon in his Church with high expectations for his daughters but they have no ambition nor self worth. Unfortunately they were very disrespectful even more as adults.

There are alot of medications you wouldnt even suspect have drowsiness warnings. The label "May cause drowsiness. Until you know how this medication effects you, Do not operate heavy machinery". I have over 10 marked that way. I know what to take when and when not to. I just don't see this man ignoring warnings either and he knew how he felt taking it. He sounds like he had it all together and wouldn't be careless at all.

Yes he was totally in control. He was poisoned for greedy reasons and the police department has been covering up this homicide.

 

[Pinky]

What a mixed message! Did he say they weren't going to pursue having a forensic toxicologist look into it, then? I'm concerned it that phase wasn't buttoned up.

No, they only discussed with the same ME who signed the report. The lead Detective manipulated the ME department to provide a cause to her benefit. Calvin had a defibrillator and we heard the Detective reading the result on audio stating that his heart last pinged 24hours later than he supposedly drowned.

 

[GrandmaBear]

So he had toxic levels of Benadryl.... Which could be of his own volition or someone else "slipped" it to him...?

If someone did slip it to him they then had to get him to the canal or count on him going into it and dying/drowning there and not being saved/surviving OR they ensured he drowned...?

Is there any connection between the detective and wife/kids?

Do we have any info on how the day went, what was going on, who was home, did all have dinner together, etc., etc.,? Do we have any info on how often Benadryl was bought and used in the family etc.?

Is there more info on the canal? Was it something people swam in, was it gross and no one would, etc. How far was it? Etc., etc.?

 

[Guess Who]

So he had toxic levels of Benadryl.... Which could be of his own volition or someone else "slipped" it to him...?

If someone did slip it to him they then had to get him to the canal or count on him going into it and dying/drowning there and not being saved/surviving OR they ensured he drowned...?

Is there any connection between the detective and wife/kids?

Do we have any info on how the day went, what was going on, who was home, did all have dinner together, etc., etc.,? Do we have any info on how often Benadryl was bought and used in the family etc.?

Is there more info on the canal? Was it something people swam in, was it gross and no one would, etc. How far was it? Etc., etc.?

the only thing is that benadryl tastes positively horrid and it has a numbing effect, so how would they hide it in anything? Not saying it couldn't happen like that or didn't because we all know where there's a will, there's a way. I'm just curious to the "how" part of it knowing how horrid it is.

 

[Pinky]

So he had toxic levels of Benadryl.... Which could be of his own volition or someone else "slipped" it to him...?

If someone did slip it to him they then had to get him to the canal or count on him going into it and dying/drowning there and not being saved/surviving OR they ensured he drowned...?

Is there any connection between the detective and wife/kids?

Do we have any info on how the day went, what was going on, who was home, did all have dinner together, etc., etc.,? Do we have any info on how often Benadryl was bought and used in the family etc.?

Is there more info on the canal? Was it something people swam in, was it gross and no one would, etc. How far was it? Etc., etc.?

the only thing is that benadryl tastes positively horrid and it has a numbing effect, so how would they hide it in anything? Not saying it couldn't happen like that or didn't because we all know where there's a will, there's a way. I'm just curious to the "how" part of it knowing how horrid it is.

 

[Pinky]

He worked all day delivering mail with no problems. Got home at 6:30pm. Was on the phone talking to a cousin and mentioned he was going home to have another discussion with his wife about downsizing. Also one of his daughters sent a whatsapp message to her half brother (different mother) earlier that day that was unusual for her to send since she did not live at home and she never had a good relationship with her father. This was the first time Dementia mentioned.

 

[Pinky]

I gave him tropical fruit juices each month, he freezes them and take one in his cooler each day. I think she poured Benadryl in his juice over time. His coworkers mentioned that he was not himself during the last 2 weeks. I saw him Feb. 14 and he was perfectly fine. This is when he collected the juices.

 

[GrandmaBear]

the only thing is that benadryl tastes positively horrid and it has a numbing effect, so how would they hide it in anything? Not saying it couldn't happen like that or didn't because we all know where there's a will, there's a way. I'm just curious to the "how" part of it knowing how horrid it is.

I have never had it and know little about it. I know my mom has it and has taken it on occasion to sleep I think. The other place it stands out to me is the two gay women foster parents where they gave it to the kids and the one mom and then put the car into the ocean killing the entire family although I don't believe all bodies were found. Abuse case.

Is Benadryl liquid or tablet or either? Again, no idea.

 

[Pinky]

I don't know the effecte

I have never had it and know little about it. I know my mom has it and has taken it on occasion to sleep I think. The other place it stands out to me is the two gay women foster parents where they gave it to the kids and the one mom and then put the car into the ocean killing the entire family although I don't believe all bodies were found. Abuse case.

Is Benadryl liquid or tablet or either? Again, no idea.

One moment, please...

 

[Pinky]

There are a few cases, here is a similar case with same levels.

One moment, please...

‘She Was Living A Double Life,’ Friend Says Of Mom Charged In Benadryl Poisoning Death Of Husband | Oxygen Official Site

Those who knew an Idaho woman accused of poisoning her husband with Benadryl say that their friend was — unbeknownst to them — living a double life.

www.oxygen.com

If link doesn't work Google Lori Isenberg. I am in touch with Larry Isenberg's son.

There was also another in Florida where husband poisoned wife and 3 children with Benadryl.

 

[Guess Who]

I have never had it and know little about it. I know my mom has it and has taken it on occasion to sleep I think. The other place it stands out to me is the two gay women foster parents where they gave it to the kids and the one mom and then put the car into the ocean killing the entire family although I don't believe all bodies were found. Abuse case.

Is Benadryl liquid or tablet or either? Again, no idea.

it comes in both forms and both positively horrid. The pill form is ok if you don't let it sit on your tongue too long but if you do, you sure wish you wouldn't have. My kids refused to take the liquid form and I couldn't find a way to mask it that they wouldn't know between the taste and the weird numb type feeling it makes on your tongue. Crushing the pills is even worse.

 

[Guess Who]

I don't know the effecte

One moment, please...

I sure would love to know how they masked that flavor after years of trying to get my kids to take one small dose for legit allergies. I could only imagine how horrible anything would taste to get to a lethal amount. Seems like there would be so many easier ways.

 

[Pinky]

it comes in both forms and both positively horrid. The pill form is ok if you don't let it sit on your tongue too long but if you do, you sure wish you wouldn't have. My kids refused to take the liquid form and I couldn't find a way to mask it that they wouldn't know between the taste and the weird numb type feeling it makes on your tongue. Crushing the pills is even worse.

This is why a forensic toxicologist was needed but without a criminal investigation from the beginning the Chief did not want to be bothered to stir things up and of course he had to defend the detective and the blue wall of silence.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I do not like it when deaths are put down to suicides or accidents with little investigation.

Common ones seem to be possible poisoning, overdoses/drugs, drownings, car accidents, adults that go "missing" all just ignored or given those "excuses" quite often by LE to close it and not investigate too much further...

The autistic ones really bother me. While I get that autistic children are attracted to water, etc., I do not like the assumption that such were accidents right out of the gate in some cases which seems to happen a LOT... To me it is like the SIDS thing of old too... And poisonings... WAY TOO many murders probably slid through as accidents...

The very fact they are often not investigated is going to lend to murderers using these methods, laying the ground work for such a story, etc.

There were a few a year ago or so ago I don't buy supposedly suicides of women... Husbands gave stories of mental illness, unstable, etc., alcohol, etc. To me that puts up an even bigger flag... That is what ALL say or so it seems...

There have also been a ton of autistic ones in the last year or two... And some most definitely were murder... The one woman someone came and saved her son from drowning and so she had to do it again... There were others. Braylen... A few unsolved and still missing as well that most certainly appear to be foul play...

So I don't know what happened in this case here of Calvin, but good for you for putting it out there and making waves about it. Boy do I get it. In fact I may be doing the same on a different kind of case or two very shortly and quite publicly if necessary.

All cases deserve a thorough look and investigation.

 

[Regina]

His wife calmly mentioned "he takes Benadryl to sleep" to the 911 operator because she knew it would show up in the toxicology report.

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.