Police Are Searching for an Armed Veteran with ‘Extensive Training in Survival Tactics’ Accused of Trying to Kill His Wife

Craig Berry is a “retired special forces veteran and has extensive training in survival tactics”

Craig Berry.Credit : Stewart County Sheriff’s Office

NEED TO KNOW

Authorities in Tennessee are searching for a man who allegedly shot his wife
Craig Berry, a retired special forces veteran, was last seen near River Trace Road around 1:30 a.m. local time in Stewart County, Tenn., on May 1
Police have obtained a warrant for his arrest and intend to charge him with second-degree attempted murder

Police in Tennessee are searching for a man who allegedly shot his wife.

Craig Berry, a retired special forces veteran, was last seen near River Trace Road around 1:30 a.m. local time in Stewart County, Tenn. on May 1, ABC News reported.

The Stewart County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) said in a press release on Monday, May 4, that it had secured an additional warrant for second-degree attempted murder. Berry is a retired Special Forces veteran and “has extensive training in survival tactics”, per the SCSO.

“He is an excellent swimmer and diver, and is in good physical shape,” the press release added. “He is armed with at least one handgun and is believed to have taken extra ammunition.”

The SCSO also said that it used the K-9 unit to pinpoint his last location on River Trace Road.

“It is believed he does not possess a phone or any other means of communication at this time,” police continued. “According to a trail camera photo he was wearing some form of camouflage clothing.”

The sheriff’s office added that it is “not ruling out” the “possibility that he has received some outside assistance after the incident.”

The press release added that authorities believe he is no longer in the area and that the U.S. Marshals Service is now assisting with the manhunt.

Craig Berry.Stewart County Sheriff’s Office

“We will be conducting a very detailed search of the area from River Trace Road to Hwy 79 to parts of Hwy 232 this week involving multiple law enforcement agencies,” the press release concluded. The SCSO encouraged anyone to report suspicious activity.

Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are also assisting in the search, according to ABC News.

Craig Berry.

Berry’s wife is believed to be a local teacher, local outlet WZTV reported. Her identity has not been publicly released.

PEOPLE has reached out to the SCSO for further updates regarding this investigation.

Heartbreaking: After a 72-hour manhunt, family sources reveal Craig Berry’s wife said only one sentence to police before being taken to the hospital at 2:10 AM — a statement reportedly “never appeared in official reports,” and which may explain why Berry disappeared in less than 90 seconds after the shooting

In the dense woodlands of rural Stewart County, Tennessee, a massive manhunt stretching over 72 hours has gripped the community and drawn law enforcement from multiple agencies into one of the most challenging fugitive searches in recent state history. At the center is 44-year-old Craig Berry, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces veteran with elite survival training, accused of shooting his wife — a local teacher — during a domestic altercation in the early morning hours of May 1, 2026. As authorities continue to scour remote areas near River Trace Road and Old Paris Highway, family sources have come forward with a heartbreaking detail: Berry’s wife allegedly uttered just one sentence to responding officers before being rushed to the hospital at approximately 2:10 a.m. That statement, reportedly absent from all official public reports, may hold the key to understanding how Berry vanished into the woods in under 90 seconds.

The case has shocked neighbors in the quiet Dover area, where Berry and his wife lived in a residence along a stretch of road known for its isolation and proximity to thick forests and waterways. Berry’s military background — including extensive training in survival tactics, swimming, diving, and evasion — has made him a formidable fugitive, turning what might have been a routine domestic response into a prolonged, high-stakes operation involving local deputies, state authorities, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

The Incident: A Domestic Call Turns into a Disappearing Act

According to the Stewart County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a reported shooting around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, May 1, at a home near Old Paris Highway. By the time officers arrived, Craig Berry had already fled the scene, disappearing into the heavily wooded terrain surrounding the property. His wife, whose name has not been publicly released but who is confirmed as a teacher in the Stewart County Schools district, had sustained a gunshot wound.

Emergency responders transported her to a medical facility. Her condition has been described variably as stable in some reports, though full details remain limited for privacy reasons. She was reportedly able to exit the home and seek help following the shooting, demonstrating remarkable presence of mind despite her injuries.

Family sources speaking on condition of anonymity have shared a detail not contained in any law enforcement press releases or affidavits released so far. According to these accounts, when the first officers reached her, Berry’s wife made one brief, pointed statement before being loaded into an ambulance and taken to the hospital at around 2:10 a.m. The exact wording has not been independently verified by media outlets, but insiders suggest it was concise, potentially accusatory or explanatory in a way that illuminated the immediate dynamics of the altercation. Its absence from official reports has fueled speculation that investigators are withholding it to protect the integrity of the ongoing search and any future prosecution.

This single sentence, sources claim, may explain the speed and efficiency with which Berry disappeared. In less than 90 seconds after the shot — before deputies could secure the scene — he was gone, leveraging his Special Forces expertise to melt into the environment he apparently knew well. Trail camera images reportedly show him in camouflage clothing, and authorities have noted he was armed with at least one handgun and extra ammunition. He is believed not to have his phone, complicating tracking efforts.

Craig Berry: Profile of a Trained Survivor

Craig Berry, 44, served in the U.S. Army Special Forces, gaining skills that authorities describe as making him “armed and dangerous” and exceptionally difficult to apprehend. His training includes advanced survival techniques, evasion, and operations in rugged terrain — capabilities that have turned the rural Tennessee woodlands into a potential stronghold during the manhunt.

Sheriff’s Office updates indicate Berry was last seen near River Trace Road. K-9 units tracked him along that path, but the search has proven arduous due to the density of the woods, nearby waterways (where his swimming and diving skills could come into play), and the possibility of outside assistance. Officials have not ruled out that he may have received help from acquaintances.

As the manhunt entered its third and fourth days, authorities scaled back intensive woods searches somewhat while maintaining active operations, working with federal partners, and urging residents to check trail cameras and report any suspicious activity. Berry remains wanted on a warrant for second-degree attempted murder.

The Victim: A Local Teacher Fighting for Recovery

Berry’s wife is a respected educator in the Stewart County school system. Colleagues and community members have expressed shock and support, with the district confirming her employment while respecting her privacy during recovery. The fact that she was able to leave the home after being shot speaks to her resilience, though the full physical and emotional toll remains private.

Domestic altercations involving firearms are tragically common, but the combination of military training, remote location, and rapid flight has elevated this case. Family sources indicate underlying tensions in the marriage may have escalated that night, with the wife’s single sentence to police potentially providing context about the trigger — whether it was an argument over finances, personal issues, or something more acute. Its omission from public records is standard in active investigations to avoid compromising witness testimony or alerting the suspect.

The Manhunt: Multi-Agency Effort in Challenging Terrain

The Stewart County Sheriff’s Office has led the response, coordinating with Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents, local officers from surrounding counties, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Searches have focused on areas from River Trace Road to Highway 79 and parts of Highway 232. Drones, K-9 teams, and ground patrols have been deployed, but the veteran’s skills present unique obstacles.

Sheriff Frankie Gray has described the operation as potentially lengthy. Berry’s physical fitness, lack of communication devices (reducing electronic tracking), and knowledge of the land increase the risk to searchers and the public. Authorities have warned residents to remain vigilant and not approach any suspicious individuals.

After 72 hours, the absence of concrete sightings has led to theories: Has Berry hunkered down in a pre-planned location? Did he cross waterways to evade dogs? Or has he already received aid to move farther afield? The single sentence from his wife, per family sources, might contain clues about his intentions or planned escape route — information that could be the missing piece in narrowing the search.

Broader Context: Domestic Violence, Veterans, and Rural Crime

This case highlights ongoing challenges around domestic violence, particularly in households with firearms and individuals trained in high-stress environments. Veterans sometimes face difficulties transitioning to civilian life, with PTSD, relationship strains, or other issues playing roles — though no specific mental health details have been released about Berry.

Rural areas like Stewart County present enforcement difficulties: long response times, vast wooded expanses, and limited surveillance. The wife’s ability to drive or flee after being shot likely saved her life but also allowed Berry critical seconds to escape. The timing — deputies arriving to an empty scene — underscores how quickly situations can evolve.

Community response has included prayers for the victim’s full recovery and calls for stronger domestic violence prevention resources. Schools in the district have offered support to staff, acknowledging the emotional impact on colleagues who know the victim.

Legal Implications and What Comes Next

If apprehended, Berry faces serious charges. Second-degree attempted murder in Tennessee carries significant penalties, and his flight will likely be factored into any sentencing considerations. Prosecutors will rely on forensic evidence from the home, the victim’s medical records, ballistics, and any witness statements — potentially including that one sentence delivered at 2:10 a.m.

Defense strategies might explore self-defense claims, accident, or diminished capacity, though the rapid flight complicates such arguments. The victim’s testimony, if she is able to provide it, will be central. The unreported nature of her initial statement suggests it could be powerful evidence when formally introduced.

For now, the manhunt continues. Authorities stress that Berry should be considered armed and dangerous and that the public should not attempt contact. Tips can be directed to the Stewart County Sheriff’s Office or 911.

A Community on Edge, a Family in Pain

The heartbreak extends beyond the immediate family. Neighbors in this tight-knit rural area describe the couple in varying terms — some noting them as private, others recalling normal community interactions. The image of a trained soldier vanishing into the woods after violence against a beloved local teacher has left many uneasy, especially with children in nearby homes and schools.

As days turn into what could be a weeks-long search, the focus remains on two priorities: ensuring the victim’s healing and bringing Craig Berry into custody. Family sources hope that the details they have shared — particularly the wife’s one-sentence statement — will help resolve the case swiftly and prevent further danger.

This tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the hidden strains within families and the challenges law enforcement faces when confronting highly trained individuals in unforgiving terrain. In rural Tennessee, where self-reliance and vast open spaces define daily life, the disappearance of Craig Berry in under 90 seconds has become a stark illustration of vulnerability and resilience alike.

The investigation and manhunt remain active. Updates from the Stewart County Sheriff’s Office and developments regarding the victim’s condition and any formal release of additional statements will be closely monitored as this story continues to unfold.