TX - Terri 'Missy' Bevers, 45, killed in church/suspect in SWAT gear, Midlothian, 18 Apr 2016 #47

[TheGardener]

Does anyone know if MPD discovered footwear impressions?

 

[SteveS]

JMO I have never understood how just because a woman is alone or it is dark outside, somehow that equates to unsafe.

Women tend to be physically smaller and more vulnerable. That's just basic physiology. Having concerns for the well-being of your wife or female family member, when they are in a situation that might make them even more vulnerable, makes all the sense in the world.

 

[Razz]

A blast from the past, April 20, 2016:

Husband Of Murdered Midlothian Mother Feared For Her Safety

"... Bevers’ mother-in-law, [MT] said her son was worried for some time about Missy teaching early morning workout classes.

“The morning before we knew anything had happened, he said ‘I’ve told her, I’ve told her she’s got to be careful.’ He was just so afraid something would happen,” said [MT], ..." ...

Ellis County, Texas, has a very low crime rate, especially low on violent crime. Midlothian only had 3 murders in the thirteen years 2006-2018, and Missy is one of those:
http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Midlothian-Texas.html

JMO I have never understood how just because a woman is alone or it is dark outside, somehow that equates to unsafe. I thought MT's statement was absurd and questionable at the time of this murder, and it looks even more ridiculous five years later. I am only expressing an opinion on the widely published statement, made 4 days after the murder.

Another coincidence I hadn't known about.

 

[TheGardener]

Territoriality. To anyone's knowledge has the MPD plotted every B&E committed in the years from 2012 through 2016? Oftentimes, burglars will select targets within a certain range and distance from their domiciles. They want to make sure they can commit their crimes and return as quickly as possible to the shelter of their homes. By plotting every location of B&Es and determining the equidistance from a common axis, it can be very helpful in determining the central location where the perp resides. These kinds of studies can indicate patterns of criminality and add a thread to the cloth of a case.

 

[acehard]

My understanding is that professional burglars never carry weapons due to the (as you observed) significantly increased charges.

One such truly professional burglar related that following additional things in a documentary. Again, these guys were top level, big city pros:

- They (preferred number was three, four at most- one on look out, others in the home) took great pains to ensure that nobody was home. They passed on lucrative targets if there was even a remote chance that somebody was home.

- They always presumed they triggered an alarm upon entry. Thus, blitz speed was of the essence. I believe 10 minutes was the max they would stay in a home.

- They were on the look out for everything. Sure, they preferred cash and high end jewelry. But they had encyclopedic knowledge high end brands in: electronics, women's shoes, fashion brands, kitchen appliances, sports gear, kitchen knives / pots and pans, tool brands, musical instruments, heck- even art equipment and paints etc. They were also good at telling real antiques from repros and real collectibles from "shelf stuff".

- Being consummate pros, they opened a window or door on every level of the home they came to. As they presumed they had already triggered an alarm, having emergency escape routes was more valuable.

- Their preferred entry method was one enters the home and opens the garage door. In drives the other(s) with a phony repair truck.

- They totally toss homes at blitz speed, the loot brought to a central location, then stuffed it into large and wide mouth military duffle bags. The bags then get tossed in the truck. They then drive out the garage.

- And...... they stayed in shape (not big on weights, but on recreational running and climbing gyms). Being fast and agile aided in entry- and escapes the few times they were surprised. Running also provided an alibi: The pro wore trendy jogging clothes to burglaries. This enabled him to run away in plain view- right by the responding police on one occasion.

- They could "hit" four or five pre selected homes in one day.

Thanks for the tips I guess the MO here is a bit different - they're robbing a business and wearing a police outfit, so a gun makes sense. Shooting and killing is so unnecessary. IMO

 

[TheGardener]

Does anyone know if MPD discovered footwear impressions?

I'm not really concerned with shoe size. My concern is soil samples from the impressions. As a botanist/hybridizer, I know that soil, the elements in the soil as well as pollens in soil are wonderful evidence when it comes to pinning and narrowing down locations. Some of those pollens exist in a very small area, because they find that particular area perfect for growth. Surprisingly, a specific pollen might even pinpoint a specific residence.

Case in point. Great Britain. Young girl murdered. Body found in a field far from where she was last seen. Police engaged the services of a forensic botanist. She examined the soils and microscopic debris on the child's clothing and found pollen from a tree found nowhere near where the body was recovered. She also found the microscopic presence of chicken feathers! Chicken feathers and a persimmon tree. She informed the police. Find the suspect who lived or lives near chickens and has or had a persimmon tree nearby. As the police began going door to door sorting through suspects, they came upon one that caught their eye. Within days after his interview, he moved into new quarters (which gave the PD free reign to search the previous property).

Lo and behold! Behind the house, there was a seriously unkempt garden with an abandoned chicken coop and a persimmon tree! Bingo! Pollen saves the day. Pretty heroic stuff for such a tiny, microscopic player in the drama.

Pollen grains are different from plant to plant and tree to tree. Like human DNA their DNA tells you if they're a lima bean or a mighty oak. Even better, they're made to stick to anything they come in contact with. Its a job they were designed for. Pollen will stick to bees, ants, wasps, chairs, cars, clothes, tools, your old granny...and shoes. They like to travel too. They'll travel through the air (achoo!). They'll mix with water and cause a nasty film on your windshield in the Spring. They'll mix with soil and water during a rainstorm and cling to the mud on your shoes until drying out a bit and strong agitation shakes them loose. They have microscopic spikes and hooks that somehow know when to let go when they're agitated. Think of them as tiny, hitchhiking sand spurs with built in GPS units. April, as it usually is, is pollen prime time.

My interest isn't size of shoe. Its what's in the mud.

 

[cady]

Does anyone know if MPD discovered footwear impressions?

They SHOULD have, but as far as I know, there hasn't been a hint of such a finding. Yes, it would be very evidentiary. Even if the boots were dry, there should have been some, if partial impressions on the floor near the actual killing, but also, wherever SP walked in the church, on his/her casual tour. The whole church was a crime scene, but they pretty much wrapped it up by noon of that day. Thereafter, church members were allowed in for their various meetings/events and likely walked the same halls OVER SPs possible footprints. Too bad, so sad. JMO

 

[TheGardener]

They SHOULD have, but as far as I know, there hasn't been a hint of such a finding. Yes, it would be very evidentiary. Even if the boots were dry, there should have been some, if partial impressions on the floor near the actual killing, but also, wherever SP walked in the church, on his/her casual tour. The whole church was a crime scene, but they pretty much wrapped it up by noon of that day. Thereafter, church members were allowed in for their various meetings/events and likely walked the same halls OVER SPs possible footprints. Too bad, so sad. JMO

A glaring and significant missed opportunity.
But not a total loss. If SP wrestled with Missy during a struggle, if they brushed together for a moment, the pollens on his clothing would have easily transferred to her clothing. She would have been loaded with his "stuff". No human sperm to be found, but LOTS of plant sperm (that's what pollen is).

 

[Amateurpi1]

A glaring and significant missed opportunity.
But not a total loss. If SP wrestled with Missy during a struggle, if they brushed together for a moment, the pollens on his clothing would have easily transferred to her clothing. She would have been loaded with his "stuff".

I think there’s an MPD statement saying that Missy was “ambushed.” To me that means caught by surprise with no chance to fight back… does anyone else remember this report or maybe it was in one of the search warrants? However, yes, I hope they kept some of her clothing, etc. in case some sort of forensic evidence can link the killer.

 

[buckfifty]

This is a great analysis by Chris, completely brilliant.

Respectfully SBM. Is Chris' theory from his podcast now the prevailing one, in that the vehicle at the SWFA is indeed the so-called SWAT-perp?

 

[TheGardener]

I think there’s an MPD statement saying that Missy was “ambushed.” To me that means caught by surprise with no chance to fight back… does anyone else remember this report or maybe it was in one of the search warrants? However, yes, I hope they kept some of her clothing, etc. in case some sort of forensic evidence can link the killer.

Hmmm, Ambush means: make a surprise attack on (someone) from a concealed position. Unfortunately, it doesn't guarantee the attacker actually touched the person being attacked. I sure hope there was contact. If SP grunted and flew spit in her direction, or coughed while he grappled with her (if he did), or even stood over her body post mortem, microscopic material was shaking loose and flying around in a state of agitation. The closer SP was, the better.

 

[JnRyan]

After careful consideration, I've come to the conclusion that this crime was committed by someone (male) between 17 - 22 years old, an unsophisticated, clumsy burglar who dressed like a cop, because he has authority problems (psychopathy), who ran into someone he didn't anticipate being there. Seeing Missy blew his mind, he panicked and killed her.
B&E gone wrong. I believe the MPD have this guy somewhere in their Juvenile Offender - B&E files from between 2012 - 2016.

Yeah, I'm pretty much in the same place. The original motive is where I'm up in the air. Burglary? Vandalism? Prank? I'm not firmly in the ballpark of entering to kill, although I haven't ruled it out.

 

[TheGardener]

Yeah, I'm pretty much in the same place. The original motive is where I'm up in the air. Burglary? Vandalism? Prank? I'm not firmly in the ballpark of entering to kill, although I haven't ruled it out.

Its probably a little of each. Break in, poke around, grab some stuff, play cop. As far as assassination goes, Missy could have done something as simple as stay home during a dreary pre-dawn thunderstorm and call her workout buds to cancel.
Call it fate, destiny, or happenstance. Godzilla meets loving Mother on a rainy night in a church of all places. The kind of tragedy that changes the direction of generations to come.
So sad. Every life is so important.

 

[iamnotagolem]

I think the time of death in relation to Missy time of arrival say a lot. 2 minutes? Right? She was dead 2 minutes after she arrived at the church? This keeps me pretty solidly in the targeted attack and I think the chances of the killer leaving dna on her is pretty slim. Seems like he shot her and left.

 

[Itsapuzzle]

The suspect did leave tools behind:

“We found tools around the crime scene and are currently analyzing them."

www.yourglenrosetx.com/article/20160422/NEWS/160429778

So the tools we know of are hammer, prybar, and whatever is in the killer’s left hand just before he or she goes into the auditorium (flashlight?). And they might have also referred to the white basket he picked up. Police said “tools” so it was definitely more than one.

But unless the killer somehow left his DNA on a tool, I don’t see how it would be helpful. I doubt police could trace a hammer or a prybar back to a purchase.

Is there any chance those tools found were the small discarded ones from the little basket he picked up? Just been wondering about this.

 

[TheGardener]

What really gets me about this case is that the entire crime could have been avoided if either or both participants had taken a look outside their door and thought, "Man! Its raining pretty hard out there! I think I'll stay home and call it a night!" Hypothetically speaking, a few phone calls to cancel the camp members and reschedule, and SP opting for an all nighter on his computer playing Grand Theft Auto. I am always amazed that simple choices made or not made change the course of many lives.

What if a conscientious janitor knew of a roof leak in the building and decided to take a nocturnal trip to check it out? Would he be our victim? What if SP had a flat tire on the way and had to call someone for a ride home? What if one of Missy's girls had gotten sick, had an injury at school, needed motherly care for just a single day? No, both people chose a course of action that brought them together, same day, same place, same time. Their reasons are their own.

I often think of the mothers of murdered children who are forever haunted for allowing their child an unattended trip to the mailbox, the local convenience store, the home of a little friend two doors down. Those seemingly simple decisions that opened the door to never-ending, unfathomable horror.

So, here we are, stuck with a handful of clues, a tight lipped PD (rightly so), the sum total of our own life's experience, and our intuition. We're all bringing that to the table, because we see human life as valuable...not an easily dismissed or disposable commodity. THAT is the beating heart that motivates and squeezes our brains. No matter what we believe or do not believe about this or that fact or supposition, we overall value life and want to see those who take life found out and isolated away from us. Whether a lady preparing to teach an exercise class or a homeless man slaughtered under a bridge...everyone has value.

That's why I like WS. There's something of a noble impetus behind every post. A thread of thought that acts as a sentinel's sword at the gates of humanity. I don't think truth seekers could find better company.

Ultimately, SP could be found next week, 20 years from now...or never. The most important aspect is that we did not forget people lived and died before their time, that their lives had meaning, that they were one of us.

I so appreciate everyone's participation and look forward to new thoughts, new analyzation, and new vantage points.

 

[JosieMae]

So glad to see revived discussion on this forum. This case has never been far from my mind for 5 years now. I fear the only chance for resolution is a confession.

What strikes me most about the video is how relaxed SP appears. He/she goes about in a completely lackadaisical manner. IMO, there is a sense of killing time, so to speak.

As a previous poster stated, why drive through a rainstorm at that time of morning, armed, and wearing an elaborate disguise?

This person was determined to do what he/she did - kill MB.

 

[cady]

Its probably a little of each. Break in, poke around, grab some stuff, play cop. As far as assassination goes, Missy could have done something as simple as stay home during a dreary pre-dawn thunderstorm and call her workout buds to cancel.
Call it fate, destiny, or happenstance. Godzilla meets loving Mother on a rainy night in a church of all places. The kind of tragedy that changes the direction of generations to come.
So sad. Every life is so important.

The original motive is one or the other, IMO. An ambush speaks to the motive to kill the hapless victim. Otherwise, a burglar had the option of hiding and exiting when the coast was clear. After all, SP had plenty of time to loot before Missy showed up. As it turned out, nothing was stolen, and no evidence of a loot stashed somewhere. We don't know if she was shot in the head from behind or if she was facing SP. My guess, is that it was from behind, perhaps, at an angle. But, that's a guess. Knowing HOW she was reportedly "ambushed", is the big question. LE knows the answer. After 5 years, we should know, too. It is a major clue as to motive to kill or motive to burgle and get away with it, either way. JMO

 

[Sillybilly]

So glad to see revived discussion on this forum. This case has never been far from my mind for 5 years now. I fear the only chance for resolution is a confession.

What strikes me most about the video is how relaxed SP appears. He/she goes about in a completely lackadaisical manner. IMO, there is a sense of killing time, so to speak.

As a previous poster stated, why drive through a rainstorm at that time of morning, armed, and wearing an elaborate disguise?

This person was determined to do what he/she did - kill MB.

ITA JosieMae, and my very first impression, and the word that still comes to mind when viewing the video, is "cavalier attitude".

 

[TheGardener]

ITA JosieMae, and my very first impression, and the word that still comes to mind when viewing the video, is "cavalier attitude".

Yes. SP goes from schlubbing along almost disinterestedly to violent murder within a very short time span. That's a pretty short fuse whether planned or not. The mystery is the synaptic moments between the two behaviors. What pulled SP's mental trigger? Plot, plan and kill or being surprised and losing it?