https://en.wikifur.com/w/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=2600%3A1003%3AB472%3A174D%3A24CD%3A9222%3AE212%3A224WikiFur - User contributions [en]2026-11-05T15:45:06ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.23.16//en.wikifur.com/wiki/LockJaw_Arts_murderLockJaw Arts murder2024-11-20T18:54:01Z<p>2600:1003:B472:174D:24CD:9222:E212:224: fixed misspelling of “april” in references</p>
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<div>[[File:Tonya R. Dillard Mugshot.png|right|thumb|Tonya R. Dillard mugshot]]<br />
[[File:Jacob Berkovitz Mugshot.png|right|thumb|Jacob Berkovitz mugshot]]<br />
The '''LockJaw Arts murder''' was a [[W:murder|murder]] which took place in [[W:Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas, Nevada]], USA, involving [[Tonya R. Dillard]] and [[Jacob T. Berkovitz]], two [[furries]] who collaborated together under the label '''LockJaw Arts'''.<ref>[https://twitter.com/lockjawarts "LockJawArts is run by @Blackcraftwitch and their partner Jax/Luna"] - profile on the LockJaw Arts page on [[Twitter]]. Retrieved March 30 2020.</ref><br />
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== LockJaw Arts ==<br />
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* '''Tonya R. Dillard''' - An [[artist]] and [[fursuit maker]] known in the [[furry fandom]] by several names, also known as '''Vincent Vex Dillard''' or just '''Vincent''' or '''Vex''', '''Vincent Voltage''', '''Voltage-X''', '''Volty''', '''LockJaw''',<ref name="tweet">[https://twitter.com/BlackCraftWitch/status/1133457538576371712 ''Name: Vincent/Vex/Volty/LockJaw(...)] post on [[Twitter]]. Dated May 29 2019. Retrieved March 29 2020.</ref> '''Biocidal''', '''SushiOtter''', and '''BlackCraftWitch'''.<br />
* '''Jacob T. Berkovitz''' - A [[furry fan]] also known in the fandom as '''Jax''' or '''Luna'''.<br />
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== The murder ==<br />
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According to police, in March 2020, Dillard and Berkovitz concocted a plan to post a dating ad on [[W:Craigslist|Craigslist]]<ref name="co">[https://www.crimeonline.com/2020/04/06/couple-lures-threesome-partner-with-craigslist-dating-ad-shoots-fatally-bludgeons-victim-with-dumbbells-report/ ''Couple uses Craigslist sex ad to lure victim, shoots & fatally bludgeons him with dumbbells: Report''] article on [https://www.crimeonline.com/ Crimeonline.com]. Retrieved April 6, 2020.</ref> to lure a person, rob and kill whoever answered,<ref name="ktnv">[https://www.ktnv.com/news/crime/pd-couple-arrested-after-body-found-in-las-vegas-home "Vegas PD: Man robbed, killed by couple after responding to dating ad"] article on [https://www.ktnv.com/ ktnv.com]. Dated March 28, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020.</ref> then take his car and go live in the woods.<br />
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'''Hector Mendez-Hernandez''' responded to the ad and picked up Dillard and Berkovitz on March 27. He then took them to his residence and once inside the home, Hector was robbed and then shot about 4 times, at least twice in the head, stabbed at least 25 times in the upper torso, and beaten with a [[W:dumbbell|dumbbell]], allegedly by Berkovitz, until his death in the bathroom.<ref name="rj">[https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/homicides/2-arrested-man-found-shot-to-death-in-northeast-valley-home-1993426/ "2 arrested, man found shot to death in northeast valley home"] article on [https://www.reviewjournal.com Review Journal]. Dated March 28, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020.</ref> At this time, Dillard was injured by the gunfire on his hand.<ref name="rj"/><br />
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A friend, '''Paige Ferguson''', claimed Dillard contacted her and revealed that he and Berkovitz had killed and skinned a [[dog]]. When the friend called out Dillard’s disturbing behavior, Dillard allegedly responded:{{q|If you think that is strange, I am sitting next to a dead body.<ref>[https://www.ktnv.com/news/crime/pd-couple-arrested-after-body-found-in-las-vegas-home ''Police report: Couple lured murder victim, wanted to escape to the woods''] article on ktnv.com. Retrieved April 6, 2020.</ref>}}<br />
Dillard then told her that they had committed the murder and sent a picture of the body,<ref>[https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/body-found-in-couples-home-man-and-woman-arrested/ "Tip leads to investigation, arrest of murder suspects"] article on [https://www.8newsnow.com/8 News Now]. Dated March 28, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020.</ref> indicating that they were planning to hide the body in [[W:California|California]].<ref name="rj"/> The friend contacted the [[W:Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department|Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department]], who investigated. Dillard and Berkowitz were seen leaving the house when authorities arrived at the scene and were taken into custody.<ref name="ktnv"/><br />
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The pair were charged with [https://www.shouselaw.com/murder.html murder with a deadly weapon], [https://www.shouselaw.com/nevada/conspiracy.html conspiracy to commit murder], [https://www.shouselaw.com/nevada/robbery.html robbery with a deadly weapon] and [https://www.shouselaw.com/nevada/conspiracy.html conspiracy to commit robbery].<ref name="rj"/><br />
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== References ==<br />
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== See also ==<br />
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* [[Fullerton triple homicide]]<br />
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[[category:Nevada]]<br />
[[category:2020 events]]</div>2600:1003:B472:174D:24CD:9222:E212:224