Tracy Brown Bering was a former cellmate and friend of Jodi Arias, who was convicted of murdering her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander in 2008. Tracy and Jodi shared a cell at Estrella Jail in Phoenix, Arizona, for five months in 2010. Tracy was one of Jodi’s staunchest supporters, until she realized that Jodi was a manipulative liar. Tracy even got Jodi’s name tattooed on her leg, because Jodi told her she was planning to kill herself.
Tracy married Donovan Bering, another former cellmate and friend of Jodi, in 2018. Donovan was also a victim of Jodi’s deception, as Jodi used her to make phone calls and send letters to the media and the court. Donovan was also battling cancer, which added to Tracy’s stress and depression.
How did Tracy Brown Bering die?
Tracy Brown Bering died by suicide in December 2022, after a long struggle with depression. Her mother, Yolanda Ducharme, announced her death on Facebook, saying that depression took her away and that she couldn’t fix her. Tracy’s sister, Crystal Rider, claimed that Donovan was partly responsible for Tracy’s death, as she knew that Tracy was going to overdose on pills after a fight with her. Rider also accused Donovan of threatening their mother and lying to the family for years.
Tracy’s death was not widely reported, until it was mentioned at the end of a Lifetime movie, Bad Behind Bars: Jodi Arias, which aired in January 2023. The movie featured Tracy’s interviews and recordings of her conversations with Jodi. Many viewers were shocked and saddened by the news of Tracy’s death, and expressed their condolences and sympathy online.
What is Tracy Brown Bering’s legacy?
Tracy Brown Bering’s legacy is a tragic and cautionary tale of how a person can be deceived and manipulated by a sociopath like Jodi Arias. Tracy was a kind and compassionate person, who wanted to help Jodi and believed in her innocence. She was also a talented singer, who used to sing to Jodi every night in jail. She had a tattoo of a bird and a musical note, which symbolized her love for music and Jodi.
However, Tracy also suffered from mental health issues, which made her vulnerable to Jodi’s influence. She eventually realized that Jodi was using her and lying to her, and felt betrayed and hurt. She tried to move on with her life, but faced many challenges and difficulties. She married Donovan, who was also a victim of Jodi, but their relationship was not healthy or happy. Tracy ended her life in despair, leaving behind a grieving family and friends.
Tracy Brown Bering’s story is a reminder of the importance of seeking help and support for mental health problems, and of being wary of people who may have ulterior motives and hidden agendas. Tracy Brown Bering deserves to be remembered as a human being, who had hopes and dreams, and who was caught in a web of lies and manipulation.