'Hungry' doctor sees starved girl's mom

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The author of a book called "Be Hungry" said he visited the mother of a girl who starved to death in jail last week.

Dr. Andrew Chung admits that he is friends with Ebony Berry, 38, who was charged last week with murder and child cruelty by deprivation in connection to the starvation death of her daughter Markea Blakley-Berry.

Chung said he had conversed with Berry in the past, but did not know Berry had a daughter until contacted by 24 Hour News 8 about her death. While freely admitting that he teaches that hunger is "wonderful," he said he does not encourage or recommend starvation.

"She's stressed out," Chung said of his visit with Berry. "She really is clueless about things."

The visit with Berry was via closed-circuit video monitor at a Cobb County, Georgia jail facility. Chung said Berry was happy he came to see her.

"Initially, she was frazzled, then later on she said she was glad," Chung said. "The main thing was to ask her how she's doing."

Chung said he did not ask Berry about the crimes she is charged with, but she began to talk about them on her own. He would not disclose details about what she said because he doesn't believe it would help.

"The only thing that can straighten this out ... that they hear from Ms. Berry herself," he said. "She's an ordinary, single mom who's stressed out."

Chung also wanted to dispel any talks that he and Berry were part of a hunger 'cult' or group. He said he simply teaches his message to anyone he can.

"We wish that everyone would truthfully say they're wonderfully hungry," he said.

He said he has not been contacted by law enforcement in relation to this case.