A Bethany man has been ordered to stand trial in the year-old killing of his former partner, moving a closely watched case out of lower court and toward a possible district-court showdown. On Tuesday, a judge found probable cause against 32-year-old Alex Berry, who is charged with first-degree murder and violating a protective order in the death of 30-year-old Jonni Salazar.
Judge Bound For Trial; Next Hearing Scheduled
According to News 9, Tuesday’s preliminary hearing ended with the judge ruling there was enough evidence to bind Berry over for trial. Court records cited in coverage show Berry is scheduled to return to Oklahoma County court on Aug. 5 for a status hearing. With the case now out of the lower court, prosecutors are cleared to pursue a district-court jury trial.
Investigators Say The Killing Happened Last Summer
The Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office says Bethany police were called just after 8 a.m. on July 20, 2025, to the Western Oaks Apartment Complex, where officers found Salazar shot to death inside her vehicle. The DA’s account states that evidence and witness interviews led investigators to identify Berry as the suspect. He was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center on a $10 million bond. The release also notes that Salazar had filed emergency protective orders against Berry in the weeks leading up to her killing.
Standoff, Tracking Allegations And Scene Details
Local reports describe an hours-long standoff at the apartment complex after officers located Berry barricaded inside a unit, with a refrigerator reportedly pushed up against the door. KOCO reported that Berry admitted to placing an AirTag on Salazar’s car, and KSWO quoted OSBI officials who said dispatchers received a 911 call from Berry during the standoff. Witnesses and court documents, as cited in local coverage, said family members arrived at the scene asking whether Salazar was still alive.
What Prosecutors Say And Legal Next Steps
The Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office has called the case “a devastating reminder of the toll domestic violence continues to take on families in our community.” The office also emphasized that the charges are based on probable cause and that Berry, like all defendants, is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office release outlines the specific charges filed in the case. With Berry now bound over for trial, prosecutors are set to decide whether to move forward to a jury trial when he is back in court in August.
