'Don't kill me:' Neighbor reported argument between Jerica Banks, Arzel Ivery after funeral, complaint says

MEMPHIS -- FOX6 News on Monday, Feb. 17 obtained a criminal complaint charging Arzel Ivery Sr. with aggravated battery (substantial risk of great bodily harm) -- accused of intentionally causing bodily harm to Jerica Banks. Banks and her two children, Camaria Banks, 4, and Zaniya Ivery, 5 were found dead Sunday, Feb. 16 near 47th Street and Burleigh Street.

On Feb. 9, Milwaukee police took a missing report for Jerica Banks, who had not been seen since Feb. 8. The criminal complaint said she had not used her phone or Facebook account since then and had not been seen by family. A check of shelters, hospitals, and jails did not locate Banks or her two children.

The person who filed the report noted there was a funeral Feb. 7 for Banks' 21-month-old son, Arzel Ivery Jr., who died following complications with asthma, according to the medical examiner's report. The complaint said there was a gathering after the funeral, and Banks was driven home because she had been drinking. The person who drove her home said the last time she saw Banks or the children was late Feb. 7 or early Feb. 8. The driver said she watched Banks enter the apartment building and drove off. She said before Banks exited, Banks reminded the driver to pick her up the next day so Banks could get her vehicle. She didn't get a call from Banks the next day, on Feb. 8, but thought she was just grieving and wanted to be left alone.

On Feb. 9, she went to check on Banks at home and couldn't find her.

The complaint said police went to the home twice to try to find Banks and the children, but they were not located.

A search of the home revealed a missing comforter on a bed, and a napkin with what appeared to be two small droplets of blood on it, along with a large hole on the wall, consistent with something hitting it, like someone's head.

A neighbor who shared a concrete wall with Banks said she was asleep when she was woken by the sound of three to four large thumping sounds through the shared wall, as if someone was slamming a person's head on the wall. She then heard a woman screaming, "No, no, I didn't even do anything." She then heard a door slam. Later, she heard the female and male again, with the female screaming, "Don't kill me."

The neighbor's roommate said she was woken up by the neighbor who said a male "was beating the hell out of a girl" -- the neighbor on the phone with 911.

The roommate said she saw Banks running through the parking lot to another building, not wearing shoes, bleeding from the mouth, the complaint said. She saw the male who lives with Banks drag her back to the apartment as Banks screamed, "No, no, please don't kill me."

The neighbors told FOX6 the two young girls were crying outside their apartment.

The complaint said Ivery Sr. told investigators there was an argument after the funeral because "Banks blamed (Arzel) for the death of their son." He said Banks told him she couldn't even look at him because he reminded her of their son.
He said Banks was "making a scene" and he had to "coach" her back into the apartment when she went outside.

He said he didn't know where Banks or the children were, telling investigators he was out of state but would come back Friday, Feb. 21 to be interviewed by police.

Ivery Sr.'s father was the person who contacted Memphis police and said he had information about his son. The complaint said he indicated Ivery Sr. arrived in Memphis after the funeral, which he thought was unusual. Ivery Sr.'s father told investigators Ivery Sr. told him he had killed his child's mother and the children.

Arzel Ivery made his initial appearance in Memphis court on Monday morning, Feb. 17 -- waiving extradition to Wisconsin after his arrest at his family's Shelby County home -- brought in on a warrant as a fugitive of justice. He crossed his arms and asked a few questions, including, "Do I have an option to have for you guys to deal with me?" Court officials answered that because this is a Wisconsin case, Tennesee as no authority.

Go Fund Me for funeral expenses

A GoFundMe account has been established for Banks and her daughters -- for the purpose of funeral expenses. CLICK HERE if you would like to consider a donation.

Statement from Milwaukee police

Statement from Alderman Khalif Rainey

Statement from Alderman Tony Zielinski