TX - Terri 'Missy' Bevers, 45, killed in church/suspect in SWAT gear, Midlothian, 18 Apr 2016 #45

[Lorenathered]

The reason I felt the need to make the distinction is because we are talking about early 2016. I could be wrong but I don't believe TB flash drives were readily available during that time but external hard drives were. They could have used the wrong terminology but the device used is very relevant to how much footage they obtained.

 

[SteveS]

SP had to know the movements MB would make that morning.

It's certainly possible the perp had some feel for that. But not necessarily. (a) If perp was a burglar, they had no idea MB was even going to be there (just an encounter, wrong place wrong time), and (b) if perp was there for a murder, they could have been waiting for her to arrive at CCOC but not necessarily any particular spot inside - just a simple plan to lurk inside the building and look for the chance to confront and shoot at close range.

One other thing. Given the fact that the class rarely met inside, it's hard to think MB would have even had a strictly-sequenced path she always took inside, for perp to somehow learn in advance.

 

[SteveS]

The reason I felt the need to make the distinction is because we are talking about early 2016. I could be wrong but I don't believe TB flash drives were readily available during that time but external hard drives were. They could have used the wrong terminology but the device used is very relevant to how much footage they obtained.

Maybe so. My first interaction was 2017 or 2018, in which I supplied significant footage on a flash drive with no issue. (As I recall, the size needed was way smaller than I expected, because it was after-dark video.) But technology limits do change over time.

In any event, I probably shouldn't have even mentioned it. LE got some extended video on some sort of storage device from SWFA, which they were able to view in detail. That's all that really matters. Hopefully they were able to learn something from it.

 

[Jethro4WS]

I do think that decelerating on the highway to turn right into the church would be visible on SWFA cams, right?

With the trees where they are in the view it is probably less likely, but we don't have a way to be certain.

 

[Gumshoe Stories]

The reason I felt the need to make the distinction is because we are talking about early 2016. I could be wrong but I don't believe TB flash drives were readily available during that time but external hard drives were. They could have used the wrong terminology but the device used is very relevant to how much footage they obtained.

Exactly. The amount of footage was enormous. Police wanted 8 hours of footage from every exterior camera, of which there were I believe 17 cameras. And most if not all of those 17 cameras were HD.

 

[Inthedetails]

If SP was a burglar and was experienced enough to case joints, park under a light, etc....why kill MB? Why not just leave? The outfit prevented identification. Missy was tough, but I doubt she initiated a fight or wanted one. Why attack and kill a woman who happened to enter the huge building - when SP could just leave? Murder doesn't seem like what an experienced burglar would be willing to do.

jmo

 

[Mistree]

I do think that decelerating on the highway to turn right into the church would be visible on SWFA cams, right?

I was speaking of when they were exiting the church parking lot to turn onto the highway.

 

[Razz]

It's certainly possible the perp had some feel for that. But not necessarily. (a) If perp was a burglar, they had no idea MB was even going to be there (just an encounter, wrong place wrong time), and (b) if perp was there for a murder, they could have been waiting for her to arrive at CCOC but not necessarily any particular spot inside - just a simple plan to lurk inside the building and look for the chance to confront and shoot at close range.

One other thing. Given the fact that the class rarely met inside, it's hard to think MB would have even had a strictly-sequenced path she always took inside, for perp to somehow learn in advance.

That is exactly my point. SP knew where to catch her unprepared and knew exactly where she would be setting up that rainy morning because that is where her class met in the past
on rainy mornings. This was no burglary gone wrong. Someone wanted her dead and with the use of a gun, and catching her unprepared, it was easy. Beating her afterward was "frosting on the cake" for this monster.

 

[moslym3]

That is exactly my point. SP knew where to catch her unprepared and knew exactly where she would be setting up that rainy morning because that is where her class met in the past
on rainy mornings. This was no burglary gone wrong. Someone wanted her dead and with the use of a gun, and catching her unprepared, it was easy. Beating her afterward was "frosting on the cake" for this monster.

Just as a counter-point -- it's possible that MB caught SP unprepared. If SP was wearing a helmet that might have muffled some sounds, and they had their back turned while smashing something with a hammer, i could see MB coming up behind him to ask him what the heck he was doing -- because from the back, he may have looked like a real police officer to MB. She may have startled him mid-hammer strike which could cause him to strike her and draw his weapon and fire in the chaos or potential fighting defense from MB that ensued.
All my opinions.

 

[Gumshoe Stories]

If SP was a burglar and was experienced enough to case joints, park under a light, etc....why kill MB? Why not just leave? The outfit prevented identification. Missy was tough, but I doubt she initiated a fight or wanted one. Why attack and kill a woman who happened to enter the huge building - when SP could just leave? Murder doesn't seem like what an experienced burglar would be willing to do.

jmo

This line of thinking comes up over and over again. And the answer I give goes like this. Why does a person EVER murder another person? To us as law-abiding citizens, we don’t believe a person should ever take the life of another unless it’s self-defense.

But the fact is, murders happen during the course of the commission of other crimes in which murder was not the intent. So much so an entire category of criminal offense has been created for it - “felony murder”.

We all wish that the suspect had run the other way when they saw or heard Missy coming. But we don’t know how it started to go down. We don’t know if the two of them saw each other down the long hallway, or if they literally ran into each other coming around a corner. We also don’t know if the fit and powerful Missy tried to prevent the suspect from leaving. We only know the end result was that the suspect killed Missy. But most certainly the fact that the suspect killed Missy does NOT constitute proof that the suspect came there with the INTENT to kill Missy.

 

[Itsapuzzle]

Random ... the guy in the car appears to have dark hair and a VERY neat haircut, short back and sides.

 

[SteveS]

That is exactly my point. SP knew where to catch her unprepared and knew exactly where she would be setting up that rainy morning because that is where her class met in the past on rainy mornings. This was no burglary gone wrong. Someone wanted her dead and with the use of a gun, and catching her unprepared, it was easy. Beating her afterward was "frosting on the cake" for this monster.

Respectfully, what I said was NOT the point you made before, nor what you said in this post either. Just the opposite, in fact. In case you missed it --
1 Did MB even have a regular, well-known place where her class met on rainy mornings? Rainy days aren't common, and the class had only been meeting for a few months.
2 We have no idea what perp knew - perp may have known nothing (including MB herself) in advance.
3 This could have been nothing more than a burglary gone wrong.
4 We don't know that perp wanted her dead. Shooting her could have been a spur of the moment response.
5 The idea of MB being beaten after being killed? Some guessed that she had been beaten to death, before we found out she died by being shot. But was she beaten at all?

 

[Gumshoe Stories]

Respectfully, what I said was NOT the point you made before, nor what you said in this post either. Just the opposite, in fact. In case you missed it --
1 Did MB even have a regular, well-known place where her class met on rainy mornings? Rainy days aren't common, and the class had only been meeting for a few months.
2 We have no idea what perp knew - perp may have known nothing (including MB herself) in .
3 This could have been nothing more than a burglary gone wrong.
4 We don't know that perp wanted her dead. Shooting her could have been a spur of the moment response.
5 The idea of MB being beaten after being killed? Some guessed that she had been beaten to death, before we found out she died by being shot. But was she beaten at all?

Steve’s points are well made here. I’ll add that rumors of what was done to Missy are overblown. Her funeral was very nearly open-casket, so that should tell you something about some of the crazier theories out there about her eyes being gouged out, the killer performing surgery to remove a bullet, etc.

As for the rainy morning - I’ve spoken with one source that believes this would have been the first time the class had met inside. That MIGHT not be accurate, though, as it’s mainly based on the fact that if they did meet inside they left no traces that they had been there. But the area under the awning was normally fine for the workouts. There was plenty of room and cover from the rain, unless it was stormy and blowing the rain sideways. The only other circumstance for going inside was if the temp was below 35 degrees F.

I don’t see evidence that the killer knew where Missy would be. I mean of course she was going to be at the church, but she was going to be either in the parking lot or under the awning or inside the doors. Even if she was targeted, I don’t see what the location on the property has to do with anything because we’re talking about adjacent locations.

 

[Razz]

Steve’s points are well made here. I’ll add that rumors of what was done to Missy are overblown. Her funeral was very nearly open-casket, so that should tell you something about some of the crazier theories out there about her eyes being gouged out, the killer performing surgery to remove a bullet, etc.

As for the rainy morning - I’ve spoken with one source that believes this would have been the first time the class had met inside. That MIGHT not be accurate, though, as it’s mainly based on the fact that if they did meet inside they left no traces that they had been there. But the area under the awning was normally fine for the workouts. There was plenty of room and cover from the rain, unless it was stormy and blowing the rain sideways. The only other circumstance for going inside was if the temp was below 35 degrees F.

I don’t see evidence that the killer knew where Missy would be. I mean of course she was going to be at the church, but she was going to be either in the parking lot or under the awning or inside the doors. Even if she was targeted, I don’t see what the location on the property has to do with anything because we’re talking about adjacent locations.

It was raining and there was thunder and lightening that morning.

All that I have posted is my opinion only. But I do think that SP's purpose that morning was to murder MB.

The police report stated it appeared she had been beaten with a blunt object. Since there was no mention of a gun at the time, perhaps they didn't see the bullet entry. Maybe they decided to keep that bit of evidence quiet.

It has always been my opinion that she was ambushed. I also believe SP had close knowledge of where she was going to be that morning. In my mind, and my opinion only, that eliminates a rather large group of people.

 

[moslym3]

Steve’s points are well made here. I’ll add that rumors of what was done to Missy are overblown. Her funeral was very nearly open-casket, so that should tell you something about some of the crazier theories out there about her eyes being gouged out, the killer performing surgery to remove a bullet, etc.

As for the rainy morning - I’ve spoken with one source that believes this would have been the first time the class had met inside. That MIGHT not be accurate, though, as it’s mainly based on the fact that if they did meet inside they left no traces that they had been there. But the area under the awning was normally fine for the workouts. There was plenty of room and cover from the rain, unless it was stormy and blowing the rain sideways. The only other circumstance for going inside was if the temp was below 35 degrees F.

I don’t see evidence that the killer knew where Missy would be. I mean of course she was going to be at the church, but she was going to be either in the parking lot or under the awning or inside the doors. Even if she was targeted, I don’t see what the location on the property has to do with anything because we’re talking about adjacent locations.

We have seen a group photo in front of the common grounds - so we know they have been inside once, I think.

Do we know if MB died instantly or rather bled out in the 20 or so minutes she laid there? Was she still alive when the campers found her?

I would also love to know if she was shot at close range or from a distance. Was this a hand to hand to firearm situation or was it a "shooting at center mass across the room"? To me these are all clues related to intent to kill vs. escalation to kill.

 

[SteveS]

I do believe the tools and firearm were left behind at the Church so all SP had was what he was wearing.

Previously I had said that I didn't think perp had left any of this behind, and had not seen anything to indicate that to be the case.

However, I have since discovered that was not really accurate, as to reflecting what has been revealed to us. Sorry about that, Dedee!

In a PC by LE on the Friday following the murder, we were told "...there were some various tools found around the crime scene that we're analyzing."
.... But that was all they really said. What tools? Brought by the perp, or items from the church premises? Tools seen in the video? Are all items seen in the video accounted for? Are any of them? Tools used in the murder? LE probably knows all of that, but they didn't answer any of that. Nevertheless, they did find "some various tools" of some sort.

In addition, early on they mentioned they had brought in outside agencies, and ATF was one of them (as was the FBI). When we didn't know the death was by gunshot, we speculated as to why they were there. But it's easier to understand now. And if there's any question about how the FBI would have known a gun was the weapon, they were here and involved quite early.

Regarding finding a firearm, I also found that in a later interview (about 3 years later, I think), they mentioned that they did find one firearm; but then added that it was found in MB's vehicle and was not used in the killing.

 

[Gumshoe Stories]

We have seen a group photo in front of the common grounds - so we know they have been inside once, I think.

Do we know if MB died instantly or rather bled out in the 20 or so minutes she laid there? Was she still alive when the campers found her?

I would also love to know if she was shot at close range or from a distance. Was this a hand to hand to firearm situation or was it a "shooting at center mass across the room"? To me these are all clues related to intent to kill vs. escalation to kill.

Regarding the gunshot, I believe it was fairly close range. Shooting a handgun is not precise, it’s difficult to aim and shoot with accuracy. If the shot had been from across the room, I doubt she would have been hit.

(Graphic warning) The Ellis County CSI report describes several pools of blood around the body. So it appears she had lost a significant amount of blood in the 40 mins that she lay there. The early campers did make an attempt at CPR chest compressions from what I understand; if they were trained in CPR, then they would have checked for breathing and pulse first. If there is a pulse then you do rescue breathing only; if there is no pulse then you do compressions.

 

[Gumshoe Stories]

Previously I had said that I didn't think perp had left any of this behind, and had not seen anything to indicate that to be the case.

However, I have since discovered that was not really accurate, as to reflecting what has been revealed to us. Sorry about that, Dedee!

In a PC by LE on the Friday following the murder, we were told "...there were some various tools found around the crime scene that we're analyzing."
.... But that was all they really said. What tools? Brought by the perp, or items from the church premises? Tools seen in the video? Are all items seen in the video accounted for? Are any of them? Tools used in the murder? LE probably knows all of that, but they didn't answer any of that. Nevertheless, they did find "some various tools" of some sort.

In addition, early on they mentioned they had brought in outside agencies, and ATF was one of them (as was the FBI). When we didn't know the death was by gunshot, we speculated as to why they were there. But it's easier to understand now. And if there's any question about how the FBI would have known a gun was the weapon, they were here and involved quite early.

Regarding finding a firearm, I also found that in a later interview (about 3 years later, I think), they mentioned that they did find one firearm; but then added that it was found in MB's vehicle and was not used in the killing.

As you point out, the language LE uses could refer to the killer’s own tools, something found within the church and then discarded, or both. I think it’s probably a good guess that the killer left the hammer. This was something that didn’t fit in a pocket and they had been forced to carry it by hand in the footage. In the chaos after the attack, it’s possible they decided the risk of leaving it behind was lower than the risk of transferring DNA into her vehicle (assuming the hammer transferred DNA from her).

The other thing LE might be referring to is the mystery object the killer was seen carrying. They appear to have discarded it by the time they come around to enter the auditorium.

 

[SandyQLS]

@No It's Not , I just came across a post of yours in thread 41 post #264, it's a very good shot of the plate you've got there. It looks like there's a word going down the side, like Premier or some such? And that symbol on the left looks like a hand gesturing "it's okay" kind of symbol - are they on any plates? Cheers

That previous image by NIN really does look like a Texas plate with the 5-point star (okay, with blurry it's a 10-point), and the block letters TEXAS on the top. Just myself, I am not able to see the small side letters though.

A previously posted video makes a good case for your "okay" symbol to be the handicapped symbol. Poster @stoner311 on page 33 post#660 there is some remnant info but his own video was deleted. His theory is that SwatPerp has a prosthetic leg and there is a Texas handicapped plate on the Altima at SWFA.

 

[No it's not]

@No It's Not , I just came across a post of yours in thread 41 post #264, it's a very good shot of the plate you've got there. It looks like there's a word going down the side, like Premier or some such? And that symbol on the left looks like a hand gesturing "it's okay" kind of symbol - are they on any plates? Cheers

That previous image by NIN really does look like a Texas plate with the 5-point star (okay, with blurry it's a 10-point), and the block letters TEXAS on the top. Just myself, I am not able to see the small side letters though.

A previously posted video makes a good case for your "okay" symbol to be the handicapped symbol. Poster @stoner311 on page 33 post#660 there is some remnant info but his own video was deleted. His theory is that SwatPerp has a prosthetic leg and there is a Texas handicapped plate on the Altima at SWFA.

That's a possibility, yes.

-Nin