TX TX - Terri 'Missy' Bevers, 45, killed in church/suspect in SWAT gear, Midlothian, 18 Apr 2016 #48

[somequestions]

I have looked at the church surveillance video many times, and the part I think is strange is how the burglar never seems to stop once to look outside to see if a police car or random employee might be pulling into the church parking lot. Maybe that was not on the video released to the public?

On the surveillance video when the burglar goes around the first corner they do not look towards the outside, but around the corner down the hall. I wonder if this is a burglar or someone who is dressed as a burglar who is very familiar and comfortable with being inside the church at that hour? I wonder if they already knew about the surveillance cameras inside the church too? If they did, then it was clever to keep moving around and not sit by the door or keep looking out the window.

 

[lonewanderer]

Honestly, its really, really hard to tell. The movements in the video do have some sways that seem feminine. I think this person moves like an overweight, sassy, and bossy teacher (not implying this person is a teacher, just an example) like we all had in school, gender non-specific.

There are two people I know that walk in a very similar manner, (granted I have never seen both of them dressed in full riot gear and carrying a hammer). They are both tall and overweight men. Missy's killer is estimated to be on the shorter side for a male (under five feet eight inches).

I was in the military for over a decade, and when it was cold, the soldiers would often wear authorized skullcap beanies. Especially when they were doing base control at the gate and wearing body armor, it was extremely hard to tell if most of them were men or women, until you got up close to them. This is without much concealing their face (such as a mask, gaiter, or baklava). The beanie did a good job of concealing hair for women, and a good job of making the men's facial features not quite as distinct for masculine. As they were in uniform, only a face with no facial hair and no hair line for men, and no defining features like makeup, lashes, etc for women make it hard to distinguish. One thing that may only make sense to see, is the ears. The beanie covering the ears made it really, really hard. Sometimes, it covered the eyebrows too.

I realize I am replying to myself, but here is a really good example.

Is this person a man or woman?

 

[dub]

I think, the killer knew:

MB's exact time, she would arrive (he didn't know, she would have been a little late this morning)
MB hadn't her daughter with her this morning (on other mornings she was accompanied by daughter)
MB had a gun in her possession (he didn't know, whether the gun was brought into church by her)
MB entered the church always at the SW entrance (where her truck parked with the training utils and where the group would have trained under the awning, if the weather had been appropriate)

where there were no surveillance cameras in the church (ie. main reception hall or adjoining room)

For what purposes except some boredom he wandered around and looked into rooms, I don't know. He could have done it without smashing windows, so I think, he staged some vandalism or Break & Enter for misleading police (maybe being successful with that) and causing a lot of work for forensics.

I thought on days when her daughter came with her it was not for the early class but one later in the morning, like 9am or something.

Did I have that wrong this whole time?

 

[Kaley Smith]

I commented to offer a rational explanation of how this perp could be a burglar, and not take anything. The answer is that if he's there to burgle, the murder changes everything. At that point, taking incriminating evidence would make no sense.

As for the bigger question of why this perp was there, it's a familiar dance in this forum, but we really don't have enough info to tell us definitively whether the perp was a lousy burglar who killed, or a lousy killer who was there for one thing and then wandered around the building for no reason and got caught by surprise by MB's presence, or some other reason. I do know LE has more evidence than we do, and they apparently don't really know why this perp entered the building, so how can we?

I don't agree that this killer was wandering around for no reason. He/she was "wandering around" to fool police and people like us into thinking this was a burglary. In my opinion, it was a targeted, premeditated murder, and I think the motive was jealousy and resentment towards Missy or anger by someone who suspected her of an affair. I think the murderer is a woman by her walk, the way she handles the crowbar to pretend she's a burglar, and the way she swings the hammer to break the glass. She doesn't mind making noise because she knows exactly what time to expect Missy.

 

[lonewanderer]

I don't agree that this killer was wandering around for no reason. He/she was "wandering around" to fool police and people like us into thinking this was a burglary. In my opinion, it was a targeted, premeditated murder, and I think the motive was jealousy and resentment towards Missy or anger by someone who suspected her of an affair. I think the murderer is a woman by her walk, the way she handles the crowbar to pretend she's a burglar, and the way she swings the hammer to break the glass. She doesn't mind making noise because she knows exactly what time to expect Missy.

I also fully believe it was targeted and planned.

I do think a possible explanation for wandering around is the perp was looking for what room Missy would be in, to surprise attack her.

I have a possible explanation for the whimpy swinging at the glass, too. When I worked at a place that was covered in snow, one of my responsibilities was to chip away the ice. I found myself swinging the hammer very dainty like this too, because the ice was flying back into my face when I swung hard.

These are speculations of course, but I agree it was targeted.

 

[FromGermany1]

I thought on days when her daughter came with her it was not for the early class but one later in the morning, like 9am or something.

Did I have that wrong this whole time?

I don't know, where to find proof for my claim, but I may try. But: why should journalists have told of the daughter at all, if she never was present at the early camp sessions? I remember otherwise, though vague after these many years.
ETA: The geo-blocking (EU) hinders me a lot, sorry.

 

[dub]

I don't know, where to find proof for my claim, but I may try. But: why should journalists have told of the daughter at all, if she never was present at the early camp sessions? I remember otherwise, though vague after these many years.
ETA: The geo-blocking (EU) hinders me a lot, sorry.

Found one reference, True Crime Garage episode 139. Around 44min into the episode.

They don’t state the time of the class that the daughter sometimes attended, but they say that she never attended the 5am.

As sources go I wouldn’t say TCG is an ironclad one, but it’s definitely better than most.

 

[FromGermany1]

Found one reference, True Crime Garage episode 139. Around 44min into the episode.

They don’t state the time of the class that the daughter sometimes attended, but they say that she never attended the 5am.

As sources go I wouldn’t say TCG is an ironclad one, but it’s definitely better than most.

I wonder, but okay. Thank you!
Since 2016 I am thinking, the daughter wasn't present as an exception to the usual. I always wanted to know, why the exception was made exactly on this day (and who would have known).
Videos and podcasts are mostly avoided by me, btw.

 

[dub]

I wonder, but okay. Thank you!
Since 2016 I am thinking, the daughter wasn't present as an exception to the usual. I always wanted to know, why the exception was made exactly on this day (and who would have known).
Videos and podcasts are mostly avoided by me, btw.

Yeah, I think the details of the daughter’s attendance are really important to have correct when considering targeted scenarios.

If she did in fact attend the 5am class at times, your question would be a critical one. Even though it looks like she did not, it still might be important on some level (like did the killer know for sure that she never attended the 5am, and if so, how?), but it’s harder to say.

For what it’s worth, I lean pretty hard towards this being non-targeted, but I think discussing targeted scenarios are a more valuable use of time and energy because if it was non-targeted it would take a miracle for it to be solved at this point.

 

[Laughing]

I thought on days when her daughter came with her it was not for the early class but one later in the morning, like 9am or something.

Did I have that wrong this whole time?

bbm

Just thinking about the deceased's daughters, likely to Google their mother's name one day & read here....

Ladies, we are an endlessly curious group that follows all sorts of cases. We mean no harm while bouncing ieas off each other in CyberSpace. We wish only the best for you & your loved ones, and for your mother's memory!

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[DeDee]

At 00:02 mark, note the position of the right leg but mostly the foot. The right foot is touching the floor pointing in one direction while their body is facing another direction. It's most peculiar.

IANAD IANAP but I see a ballerina's duck walk and the ballerina is wearing shoes that are too big for their feet.

Some members from 7 years ago may recall that BB's mom joined WS after the murder. In maybe every single post, she mentioned the shoes were too big. I believe her.

 

[DeDee]

So much of what we do here is a Rorschach-like exercise in projection, but I am left with four main thoughts:

1. To quote Novelist Susan Isaacs, adultery results in recriminations and useless garter belts far more often than in homicide. At the same time, I am well into middle age and I've been on all three corners of a love triangle in my lifetime. know from personal experience that extramarital affairs can drive otherwise law-abiding middle-class people into criminal behavior. I am aware of all the arguments in favor of a burglar/dumb LARPer, but if we hypothesize that this was targeted then I think adultery supplies adequate options for motives, including some that would not be immediately apparent. Spurned lover, spouse of lover, jealous third party (e.g., someone who had crush on lover), vengeful defender (i.e. someone who thought they were "protecting" Missy's husband), angry in-law: there are lots of options, not all of which are rational to the outside observer.

2. If a person wants to commit premediated murder and is not a hunter, marksman, ninja, or Special Forces, it's probably going to look like what happened to Elizabeth Barraza and what (I presume) happened to Missy: gunshot at point blank range. If the victim is not part of the same household, IMO that's almost the sole means by which an average person could kill someone with malice aforethought. That likely means (a) lying in wait in the victim's home (which would require access or break-in; (b) approaching the victim at her home as in the Barraza garage sale case or the fake delivery in Shelia Keen-Warren case; or (c) approaching the victim on the street or in a public or semi-public place, as with Missy. Due to the prevalence of cameras in doorbells, driveways, and public spaces, a disguise seems necessary. If we assume that Missy was targeted, what strikes me about the church location is that it is the most reliable place to get her alone. Missy was a busy mother of three and likely to be in the company of her children at home or while driving or in public places such as the bank or grocery store. If the killer placed importance on not committing the crime in front of the children or in the family home, he or she had few options. And Missy had advertised on a publicly visible FB post that she would be at the church. It is one of the few places an evil-minded person with no special skills could approach her if they did not want to expose the children or home to the direct impact of the crime.

3. The crime happened on a date for which her husband had an impeccable alibi (out of state on a fishing trip with witnesses) and her FIL had a very good alibi (out of state). I do not suggest that they were involved. But what if protecting those family members was an important criterion for the killer? (Rational or not.) JMO.

4. The forensic podiatrist quoted above described unreleased video of Missy apparently hearing a noise and then proceeding further into the church, toward the noise. Missy had a gun in her truck. If I were in her circumstances, with a weapon and phone in my vehicle, there is only one thing that could cause me to walk into the deserted church on that stormy night: hearing someone call my name.

JMO. As noted, a lot of this is projection and may say more about me than it does about the case. I hope the authorities can catch a break and bring justice to her family.

I am reading your excellent post and thinking about Ninjas, Speci alongal Forces and all these things as I go, when I reach this fearful portion which sent cold chills and I watched goosebumps rise on my legs as the chills went down to my feet. If we could only tell her not to go that way...

"Missy had a gun in her truck. If I were in her circumstances, with a weapon and phone in my vehicle, there is only one thing that could cause me to walk into the deserted church on that stormy night: hearing someone call my name."

Thanks for using good ole common sense in the main highlights. Impeccable, you say. I agree.

 

[FromGermany1]

At 00:02 mark, note the position of the right leg but mostly the foot. The right foot is touching the floor pointing in one direction while their body is facing another direction. It's most peculiar.

IANAD IANAP but I see a ballerina's duck walk and the ballerina is wearing shoes that are too big for their feet.

Some members from 7 years ago may recall that BB's mom joined WS after the murder. In maybe every single post, she mentioned the shoes were too big. I believe her.

View attachment 441603

What strikes me more is the right arm swinging forward.

 

[Laughing]

What strikes me more is the right arm swinging forward.

in that clip, though, the hammer is in the perp's left hand -- natural for that arm to move less imho.

Anyone remember that physical therapist's user name???

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[arielilane]

I realize I am replying to myself, but here is a really good example.

Is this person a man or woman?

@lonewanderer, do you know if this is male or female? If so, I'll take a guess.

 

[lonewanderer]

@lonewanderer, do you know if this is male or female? If so, I'll take a guess.

Yes, I know the person.

Do you think they are male or female?

 

[FromGermany1]

in that clip, though, the hammer is in the perp's left hand -- natural for that arm to move less imho.

Anyone remember that physical therapist's user name???

jmho ymmv lrr

Yes, maybe natural as you said, but there are people (me for example), whose arm/s wouldn't swing like that.

 

[arielilane]

Yes, I know the person.

Do you think they are male or female?

Glasses can make the nose appear slightly different in both width and height. Because it’s hidden cannot see if there is an Adam’s Apple which is more prominent in men than women. I am going with this is male. moo

 

[Vern]

I realize I am replying to myself, but here is a really good example.

Is this person a man or woman?

Great photo and I totally get where you are coming from regarding distinguishing gender while in uniforms. I am a female in the Army (my profile pic is me a few years ago) and 3years ago I comissioned from Formation Chief Warrant Officer (enlisted) to Major (Officer). I can't tell you how many times I have been called "Sir" - especially when wearng my combat uniform (fatigues) despite the stud earrings I wear. Here Enlisted are called by their rank (grade) ie: Chief or Sergeant etc, while Officers are called as "Sir" or "Ma'am".

I'll wager a guess at your photo being a female. If I'm right, I'll explain why I think so (the 'tell' that I see ... ). I'll be disappointed in my years 35 years of military experience if it's a male.

I don't comment on this thread very often, but I'll put my two cents in IMO on the murderer of Missy and who/what I believe. My theory is that they are a "LARP" (we just call them "posers" or Walts" in the military) posing and trying to pass themselves off as someone with actual authority/credentials (in this case, a cop).

- Have built themselves up a 'wardrobe', fantasy as it may be. The lazy gate is an obvious sign that this individual has never served a day of their life in actual "uniform". Military personnel especially and those in LE, to a lesser extent, even veterans of those orgs, tend to carry themselves "with a distinct military manner" - we can pick each other out of crowds. There is absolutely zero of that visible with this individual;

- Fantasy - the lazy gait itself gives away that the individual has zero service in uniform and is "acting out a fantasy job". To me, they probably once dreamed of having "that fantasy job" in the military or LE but failed. Not that I think they ever even attempted Basic Training or Boot Camp, but that I do think they never even would have been selected for such even if they tried due to their lack of "ooommppphhh" (or laziness) in any single one of their physical actions/movement that I see when I watch the videos;

- But hey, one can dream, and so I think this individual was acting out a fantasy police patrol, dressed for the part, because they believe "they had the capability" to be successful at this in their own mind. I imagine this individual, if ever caught, will be seen to have a history of yakking about crime investigations/police procedures etc. If they also had an inkling for being in the military, then probably a paint ball player too. All the combined videos give me the feeling that they were acting out a "patrol" ... driving from one building to another, flashing lights to check something out, entering the church and tapping n doorways, opening doors to do a quick search ("clear the room") then moving on to the next down the hallways etc. A patrol or a "recce" (Recon);

- All the points above make me feel that Missy was an unintended victim or a victim of opportunity vice an actual target. They got surprised during their 'posing' patrol expedition. If one is going to break into some place to "pose" as an officer doing a patrol, what safer/better place than an unoccupied church in the middle of a rainey, stormy night. Perhaps combined with thoughts of less chance of real security catching you, lesser "cameras" etc. They chose the church over the other location. The perp surprised and 'boosted' by a little rush of adrenalin when they experienced the 'unexpected';

- Missy herself: This perp's gait shows a distinct lack of physical ability, a laziness if you will, while Missy exhibited physical strength just by her employment (Boot Camps) and she'd have been dressed for her role that day. The perp had to have used a weapon, and I suspect Missy fought like hell, because otherwise she'd have kicked this perp's butt to next week one on one;

- I don't think extramarital affairs had anything to do with it. If the perp is female then her and Missy are two very different types of women. Husbands have 'types' and this perp doesn't qualify as even close to similar to Missy. No risk there. Likewise if the perp is a male - no history there as Missy wouldn't have found such a lazy individual to ever have been 'her compatable type' either;

- So, I believe the perp is a male and I base this one my thoughts from watching the videos and the 'wannabe' actions / posing that I see occur (dressed a LE / patrolling buidlings & hallways) taken by the individual. The overwhelmingly vast majority of individuals who pose as LE or military, and dress up the part, tend to be male and IMO, if this were a "lazy female poser" with a bad right knee then I don't think even the extra rush of adrenalin would have helped them overcome an obviously physically fit and mobile Missy.

I have two lingering questions in all of this:

1) That it has been stated that police believe that the individual may have had a cell phone etc. Have they ever pulled down cell tower records for that evening and logged and investigated all cell phones that pinged in the area at the time; and

2) Does the Church itself beam out wifi and, if so, have LE ever accesses the router to determine if any phones connected to it at the time in question. Some people set their phones to "automaticly connect" to wifi that they have accessed before. If this person was familiar with the church or had been inside it before, this is a possibility if it had wifi.

 

[Vern]

Glasses can make the nose appear slightly different in both width and height. Because it’s hidden cannot see if there is an Adam’s Apple which is more prominent in men than women. I am going with this is male. moo

I guessed "female" ... should be a poll up to see what other think!!