Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety

Man held to answer in Berkeley murder, carjacking case

A 20-year-old man accused of murder with special circumstances was ordered Wednesday morning by an Alameda County Superior Court judge to face nearly all of the charges filed against him as the case moves ahead to trial.

Judge Rhonda Burgess dismissed one count and one special circumstance related to rape allegations, and said the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to support those charges.

Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety

Authorities: Man admitted to killing, tried to bargain with God, in secret recording by Berkeley police

After her death, a tree outside the Berkeley Zen Center, across the street from where she was fatally stabbed, became a memorial to Nancy McClellan. Photo: Emilie Raguso After her death, a tree outside the Berkeley Zen Center, across the street from where she was fatally stabbed, became a memorial to Nancy McClellan. Photo: Emilie Raguso Left alone in […]

Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety

Witnesses to fatal Berkeley attack did not see killer’s face

A 2011 photograph of Kamau Berlin. Source: Kamau Berlin/Facebook An Alameda County Superior Court judge is expected to decide this week whether the case against a former Berkeley Technology Academy student charged with murder and other serious crimes will continue on to trial. Kamau Berlin, then 18, was arrested Sept. 19, 2014, after a brief police chase […]

Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety

Teen now faces murder, attempted rape and robbery charges in McClellan killing in South Berkeley

A 2011 photograph of Kamau Berlin. Source: Facebook The Alameda County district attorney’s office on Friday charged 18-year-old Kamau Berlin with murder in the stabbing death of 72-year-old Nancy McClellan in South Berkeley in September. Berlin — a B-Tech student — also has been charged with attempted rape, attempted robbery and attempted carjacking, as well as elder abuse resulting […]

Posted inCrime

Woman killed in South Berkeley remembered as artist, humorist, lover of plants and pets

On Nancy McClellan: “You never knew what she was going to say, which made it pretty interesting.” Photo: David Gallagher On Nancy McClellan: “You never knew what she was going to say, which made it pretty interesting.” Photo: David Gallagher On Russell Street a tree is blooming. Tibetan prayer flags are strung across its branches in […]

Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety

Emeryville woman dies weeks after Berkeley stabbing

Nancy Jo McClellan. Photo: Courtesy of McClellan family and friends/BPD A 72-year-old woman who was stabbed in South Berkeley in September has died after nearly three weeks in medical care, according to authorities. Nancy Jo McClellan of Emeryville died Wednesday at approximately 2:30 a.m., said Berkeley Police Capt. Andrew Greenwood. McClellan remained in the ICU […]

Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety

18-year-old arrested in stabbing of 72-year-old woman

Image: Google Maps A teenager from Richmond was arrested after a stabbing in Berkeley on Friday afternoon that left a 72-year-old woman in critical condition. The woman remained in a local hospital for treatment as of Monday, according to a police statement released just after 2 p.m. Friday, police arrested 18-year-old Kamau Berlin near the scene of the […]