Killing of Dave Berieum in Florida in 1953

Incident

Case summary

Dave Berieum (1910 - 1953), a farm laborer and veteran, died in custody in Leon County, Florida. Berieum was arrested on a moonshining charge by state and federal beverage officers W. G. McMullen and J. C. Gerrell. The officers said they had subdued Berieum because he resisted arrest. They took Berieum to the hospital for treatment of head wounds but would neither deny nor confirm that Berieum received the injuries during the arrest. Berieum died in a hospital three days later.

Victim(s):

Dave Berieum


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Jim Gerrell

W. G. McMullen

Perpetrator group type: [ ]

Date of incident: 1953-12-23
Location: Liberty County, Florida
Location type: unknown - rural
Allegation against victim: moonshining; resisting arrest

Coroner process
Coroner/inquest: yes
Finding of no legal responsibility: yes

Criminal process
Arrest: [ ]
Charge/indictment/information: [ ]
Grand jury: [ ]
Trial: [ ]
Conviction: [ ]
Sentence: [ ]

DOJ case ID:

144-17-78


Document(s):
death certificates
federal agency records
military documents - closed
news articles - closed
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