“It wasn’t like it was on the TV — you cut them once and they die.”
ONE OF THE BEVER BROTHERS
The Bever brothers had one goal. Notoriety. And to get that, they wanted to kill dozens of people. Their own family was just the beginning of what they’d intended.
the killers
Robert Bever was just eighteen and his brother, Michael, only sixteen when they attacked their family. According to the neighbors, the family kept to themselves, homeschooling the children and keeping them rather isolated.[1]Associated Press. “Tulsa Suburb Struggles to Cope with Horrors Found in Home; Victims ID’d.” Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2015, Los Angeles Times, … Continue reading Later, both boys accused their deceased father of being both verbally and physically abusive toward all the children, something one of surviving siblings corroborated.[2]Salinger, Tobias. “Oklahoma Teen ‘Laughed’ While Describing Killing Five Family Members as Part of Brothers’ Gruesome Mass Murder Plan.” Daily News, 23 Feb. 2016, Daily News, … Continue reading It has also been reported that both parents frequently lectured their children with hate-filled words about those they hated and also talked of a biblical Apocalypse that they believed would be a retribution against everything they hated.[3]Overall, Michael, and Samantha Vincent. “Robert Bever Breaks down in Tears on Witness Stand in Younger Brother’s Murder Trial, Says They Acted Together but ‘in (their) Own … Continue reading
the crime
The crimes took place on a summer night in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. On July 22, 2015, the Bever brothers retrieved the knives they’d hidden and proceeded to attack the other seven members of their family.
Their thirteen-year-old sister Crystal was their first victim. Michael lured her to a bedroom, telling her he wanted to show her something on a computer there. Robert, the older brother, slashed her throat from behind. When she fought back, he stabbed her in the arms and abdomen. When their mother, April, heard the noise, she came upstairs, and Robert stabbed her repeatedly. During this time, Crystal managed to crawl away as she tried to protect her younger siblings.
When they were done with their mother, they moved from room to room. Their father was next. Then they stabbed their younger brother, Christopher, who was only seven. After Christopher came their five-year-old sister, Victoria, stabbing her in her neck, back, chest, and arm. Finally, they attacked their twelve-year-old brother, Daniel, stabbing him in the back, chest, and shoulder. When they were finished with him, Robert went back to Crystal and tried to suffocate her. He also intended on decapitating his two-year-old sister, Autumn. But it was at that moment that the police banged on the front door.
The brothers escaped by running out the back door, but police quickly found them, using a K9. When they were found, they were both covered in mud and gore. Police have said that neither brother appeared emotionally distraught in anyway. If anything, they appeared arrogant.[/fn]Hawkins, Erik. “Teen Brothers Wanted To Become Famous Killers — And They Started By Butchering Their Family.” Oxygen Crime News, 17 Nov. 2019, Oxygen, https://www.oxygen.com/killer-siblings/crime-news/robert-michael-bevers-stab-family-broken-arrow-crystal.[/fn]
The elder Bever brother has stated that he and his younger brother planned the attack for some time. He also stated that they had planned to dismember their family members and to store them in bins in order to hide them in the attic. They also intended to then go on a shooting spree across the country to kill ten random people at each of multiple locations. They wanted to create a body count of dozens of people. They told police that they wanted a Wikipedia page and media coverage that would rival that of the Columbine shootings and the Aurora movie theater killings.[4]Graham, Regina F., and Alexandra Klausner. “The Smirking 19-Year-Old ‘Who Wanted to Be America’s next Big Serial Killer’: Older Brother ‘Laughed after Killing His Parents and Three Siblings … Continue reading
According to the brothers, they began to plan the murders a month earlier after Robert discovered that he could by weapons and ammo online. This led to the brothers choosing the date of the killings specifically. Robert was expecting a shipment of ammunition the next day, and he didn’t want his parents to see it. A few hours after they were caught, Robert told police that he realized that his plan was flawed, that 1000 rounds of ammo each were too heavy to carry during their planned shooting spree. [5]Overall, Michael, and Samantha Vincent. “Robert Bever Breaks down in Tears on Witness Stand in Younger Brother’s Murder Trial, Says They Acted Together but ‘in (their) Own … Continue reading
During the investigation, police also found a cache of gear, including other weapons, burner phones, gloves, masks, and Kevlar sleeves.[6]Salinger, Tobias. “Oklahoma Teen ‘Laughed’ While Describing Killing Five Family Members as Part of Brothers’ Gruesome Mass Murder Plan.” Daily News, 23 Feb. 2016, Daily News, … Continue reading
the victims
killed:
- David Bever (father, 52): at least 28 stab wounds to the torso, face, neck, arm, and hand
- April Bever (mother, 44): more than 48 stab wounds to the head, hands, arms, neck, and torso
- Daniel Bever (brother, 12): 21 stab wounds to the chest, shoulder, and back
- Christopher Bever (brother, 7): 21 stab wounds to the back, chest, lower leg, and shoulder
- Victoria Bever (sister, 5): 23 stab wounds to the upper arm, back, chest, and neck
injured:
- Crystal Bever (sister, 13): slit throat, stab wounds to the arms and stomach
unharmed:
- Autumn Bever (sister, 2)
the trials
Michael Bever’s defense team petitioned to have him tried as a juvenile, but a judge denied the request, although the prosecution was also prohibited from seeking the death penalty for him, due to his age.[7]Salinger, Tobias. “Oklahoma Teen ‘Laughed’ While Describing Killing Five Family Members as Part of Brothers’ Gruesome Mass Murder Plan.” Daily News, 23 Feb. 2016, Daily News, … Continue reading
During Michael Bever’s trial, the defense blamed the majority, if not all, of the killings on Robert Bever. Robert, whose trial had already ended, also took the blame, testifying that he committed all of the violent acts himself, never seeing his younger brother attack anyone.[8]Overall, Michael, and Samantha Vincent. “Robert Bever Breaks down in Tears on Witness Stand in Younger Brother’s Murder Trial, Says They Acted Together but ‘in (their) Own … Continue reading
the punishment
In 2016, Robert Beaver was convicted of five counts of first-degree murder and one count of assault and battery with a deadly weapon, sentenced to five life terms without parole and a life sentence with the possibility of parole. However, in 2019, he attacked prison staff, resulting in more charges and convictions. In 2020, he was convicted of two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and another count of posessing a weapon in a penal institution, sentenced to three more life sentences.[9]Schlotthauer, Kelsy. “Broken Arrow Family Killer Robert Bever Gets Additional Life Sentences for Attempted Attack on Prison Staff.” Tulsa World, 25 Dec. 2020, Tulsa World, … Continue reading
In 2018, Michael Bever was convicted of five counts of first-degree murder and one count of assault with the intent to kill. He received five life sentences, as well as a 28-year sentence.
the aftermath
Since going to prison, the older Bever, Robert, has been diagnosed with a variety of mental health issues. Among them are the presence of psychotic tendencies and severe mental depression. He told the jury that he had never seen a mental health professional nor a doctor prior to his arrest.[10]Overall, Michael, and Samantha Vincent. “Robert Bever Breaks down in Tears on Witness Stand in Younger Brother’s Murder Trial, Says They Acted Together but ‘in (their) Own … Continue reading Some doctors also believe that he has borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, and autism.[11]“Notes from the Courtroom as Robert Bever Takes Stand in Brother’s Murder Trial.” 2 News Oklahoma, 4 May 2018, 2 News Oklahoma, … Continue reading
A forensic psychologist also examined Michael Bever, testing him and discovering that his overal IQ was 83, below the normal range of 85-115. While not technically in the range of cognitive deficiency, she did say his reasoning and swiftness of thinking were not very good, although he did have strong verbal skills. She testified that his level of mental deficiency could be attributed to childhood trauma or abuse, something he was born with, or even a brain infection that was undiagnosed at the time.
[12]“Psychologist Reviews Michael Bever’s IQ In Murder Trial.” News on 6, 11 May 2018, News on 6, … Continue reading
interesting to note
A fire on March 18, 2017 destroyed the Bever home where the crimes were committed. The two-story home had been vacant since that night. No determination has been made as to the cause of the fire. Since then, the house has been razed, the land used to create a memorial garden.[13]“Bever Homicides: A Timeline of Events from the Murders in 2015 to the Brothers’ Convictions.” Tulsa World, 27 Apr. 2021, Tulsa World, … Continue reading
opinions
There are those that feel like the abuse suffered at the hands of their father drove the brothers to commit the horrific crimes they did. The abuse, the isolation, the skewed ideology… all of these combined can warp the thinking of children who’ve known nothing else. There is no question that Robert had a slew of mental issues, and Michael had cognitive issues. But how much of what they did can be attributed to these things? There is also the reality that Michael was a juvenile, with a juvenile’s not-yet-fully-developed brain. Robert wasn’t much older. How much did that have to do with it.
I think it’s fair to suggest that all of these things, while not an excuse, do provide some explanations for their behavior.
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