Niner
Long time Websleuther
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2003
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I shall go ahead & post this - since it already happened - but to keep my notes straight.
Wednesday, July 3rd:
*Preliminary Hearing (@ am ET) – VA – Emily Marie Bernard Bivens (25), Cullen Micah Bivens (14 mos.) & Joan Denise Jefferson Bernard (62) (August 27, 2019, Pittsylvania) - *Matthew Thomas Bernard (19/now 23) (bro of Emily, son of Joan) arrested & charged (8/27/19) & arraigned (9/12/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder & 3 counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. No plea entered. Held with bond. On suicide watch.
Court info from 8/28/19 thru 10/29/20 reference post #318 here:
https://www33.websleuths.com/forums...ia-murdered-26-aug-2019-arrest.470300/page-16
3/31/21 Update: Hearing has been delayed. Still receiving treatment. Next preliminary hearing on 9/15/21.
7/3/24 Update: Court documents from 2019 reveal Bernard gave statements indicating he was operating on a religious motivation & “things Bernard heard from God.” In November 2019, Bernard was ruled incompetent to stand trial after a psychiatric evaluation. A Pittsylvania County judge wanted treatment to continue with the goal that Bernard would be able to stand trial for the murder of his three family members. For the last five years, motions have been filed to continue Bernard’s court proceedings due to mental incompetency & sanity. After a preliminary hearing Wednesday, all of Bernard’s charges will now be brought before a grand jury. The grand jury will convene in August.
Wednesday, July 3rd:
*Preliminary Hearing (@ am ET) – VA – Emily Marie Bernard Bivens (25), Cullen Micah Bivens (14 mos.) & Joan Denise Jefferson Bernard (62) (August 27, 2019, Pittsylvania) - *Matthew Thomas Bernard (19/now 23) (bro of Emily, son of Joan) arrested & charged (8/27/19) & arraigned (9/12/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder & 3 counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. No plea entered. Held with bond. On suicide watch.
Court info from 8/28/19 thru 10/29/20 reference post #318 here:
https://www33.websleuths.com/forums...ia-murdered-26-aug-2019-arrest.470300/page-16
3/31/21 Update: Hearing has been delayed. Still receiving treatment. Next preliminary hearing on 9/15/21.
7/3/24 Update: Court documents from 2019 reveal Bernard gave statements indicating he was operating on a religious motivation & “things Bernard heard from God.” In November 2019, Bernard was ruled incompetent to stand trial after a psychiatric evaluation. A Pittsylvania County judge wanted treatment to continue with the goal that Bernard would be able to stand trial for the murder of his three family members. For the last five years, motions have been filed to continue Bernard’s court proceedings due to mental incompetency & sanity. After a preliminary hearing Wednesday, all of Bernard’s charges will now be brought before a grand jury. The grand jury will convene in August.
