Family face alleged killer after Jessica Cormier’s funeral

Hours after they attended the funeral of their 20-year-old daughter, the parents of Jessica Cormier went to court to face her accused killer.

Clarence Earl Berry, 59, was arraigned on a first-degree murder charge at Malden District Court yesterday. He pleaded not guilty and Judge Dominic Paratore ordered him held without bail.

A funeral service for Cormier, 20, was held at the Smith Funeral Home in Chelsea yesterday afternoon. Berry’s hearing was held about two hours later.

On Jan. 3, Cormier was found stabbed twice in the foyer of her Everett home by her mother who heard screaming and came down to see what happened, according to authorities and the Globe. One of the stab wounds pierced Cormier’s heart.

Berry is a formerly homeless man who is now staying at an apartment as part of transitional program, according to the Globe.

Authorities searched Berry’s apartment and seized evidence that later tested positive for human blood, according to authorities.

He was arrested Friday afternoon.

Prosecutors claim Berry and Cormier had an ongoing relationship but did not say specifically how they knew each other.

Berry is due back in court next month.