I had heard about the family that had been killed in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. It’s hard not to sound condescending when I say this but I didn’t read much about it at the time because it’s not the kind of story I typically write about. While I felt horrible for the family I thought this story could be handled by better bloggers than me. Then a new detail in the story was made public that made me feel compelled to write about it.
For those who may not have heard the Bever family was almost entirely wiped out by two of their own. 18-year-old Robert Bever and 16-year-old Michael Bever allegedly stabbed and killed almost everyone in their immediate family. The fatalities were their father, 52-year-old David Bever, their mother, 44-year-old April Bever, brothers Daniel, 12 and Christopher 7, and their sister, 5-year-old Victoria. Daniel’s death was especially tragic as he was able to call 911 to tell police that his brothers were killing his family before he died. Surviving the attack was 13-year-old Crystal, who had been stabbed, and 2-year-old Autumn who was unharmed.
Recently the alleged motive for the killings have been made public. According to reports the brothers wanted to be more famous than the Columbine killers and that the murder of their family was only the beginning part of their plan. Police even said that Robert Bever confessed but showed no remorse. Micheal Bevers has been charged as an adult. As far as the elder brother is concerned Oklahoma does have the death penalty and have executed someone as recent as this past January.
I thought about not doing this story because I didn’t want to give them the fame they were looking for but you can’t talk about family annihilators without talking about the family itself and the Tumblr fangirl brigade already have their shrines dedicated to the brothers. I’d be shocked if these two cowardly assclowns weren’t columbiners on Tumblr. They certainly were cowards like their scumbag heroes, Harris and Klebold. Unfortunately they’re not the first mutants to kill their family. In 2005 Richard Edgar Henderson Jr. of Bradenton, Florida, bludgeoned his family to death with a pipe. He had been arrested in 2001 for plotting an attack against his high school.
Speaking of Tumblr I wonder what excuse will be given for this mass murder. It will probably be the blanket ‘mental illness’ excuse which again further stigmatizes people with true mental illness. Or maybe we’ll hear how they were bullied by their family including a 5-year-old girl. What will probably happen is that when it comes down to it they’ll start blaming each other.
Here’s the thing about ‘fame’, outside of a handful of maladjusted individuals on whatever website the special snowflakes of the world congregate, you two will be forgotten once your sentenced. After the hoopla and ballyhoo fades to most of the world you’ll just be a number assigned by the Department of Corrections.
UPDATE 10/6/2015: The attorney for the younger brother is challenging the constitutionality of his client being charged as an adult. In the juvenile crime stories I’ve posted in the past this tactic has been tried but to my recollection ahs never been successful.
UPDATE 10/12/2015: Earlier today a judge ruled that Micheal Bever will be tried as an adult. Bever’s attorney says he will appeal the decision all the way to the Supreme Court.
UPDATE 1/23/2016: The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has upheld the previous judge’s ruling that the younger Bever brother can be tried as an adult.
UPDATE 7/22/2016: Earlier this month Robert Bever tried to follow in the footsteps of the Columbine cowards by trying to kill himself in his cell. He was unsuccessful.
Real Crime with Trench Reynolds 