TX TX - Terri 'Missy' Bevers, 45, killed in church/suspect in SWAT gear, Midlothian, 18 Apr 2016 #49

[windrower]

I don’t want to break forum rules (or basic online decorum), but there’s reasons why I’m doubtful it was a woman over a romantic thing. In other words, I’m somewhat discounting this was a woman who was killing out of jealous rage over a real or perceived fling the victim had with a man. I’ll leave it to those reading this to get the subtext I’m putting down.

Since the above is the main scenario I can see where a woman would be the perp, I’m leaning towards man. I’m skeptical about the multiple perp theory, as I think we’d be aware of evidence for this possibility (of which I’m unaware of).

Of course, all of this is online conjecture and there’s a excellent chance that I’m completely wrong.

Bbm

Because I think it’s a woman who killed Missy, and IMO is a targeted attack, I also think it’s one of the reasons I bolded in your post above. When women kill, IMO, many times it is emotionally driven.

Know I’ve posted a lot about this case in the last couple of days, but I wanted to give an additional thought on this:

I’m new posting on this forum, but one thing I’ve noticed is that Websleuths often has the same “very online” biases as Reddit, X, etc etc. What I mean by this is a tendency to lean towards really fictionalized/objectively “interesting” (from a narrative perspective) theories of what happens in these various cases. The Shannan Gilbert case comes immediately to mind, for example.

And while sometimes these quite dramatic/interwoven theories can end up having a kernel or more of truth, really occum’s razor tends to win out the majority of the time.

Which brings me back to this case. At this point, coming up on a decade since the event and with what we know, it feels very probable that this was a situation where a random event (weirdo playing make believe in an empty church) had the unlikely outcome of a homicide.

In a country of 300m people (and really in a world of 8b), weird things occur every day. Churches (especially empty churches) tend to inherently attract these sort of things.

Let’s say statistically you have 100 bizarro things like this happen in various places across America every day. Most days, none of these weird events would result in a homicide. But, like getting hit by lightening, every once in a while it does. That’s how I currently view this.

Because this case appears isolated, the idea of random dude overreacting to getting caught doing weird things seems, well, unsatisfying. But, stepping away from your keyboard for a moment, turning off Netflix and touching grass, nothing we’ve seen with this perp really jives with premeditated murder.

As per my response above, I think a female killing Missy IS an Occam’s razor type of thing.

It's been a long time but if I remember correctly there was only 1 death In Midlothian that year and it was listed as GSW and people put two and two together.

^^^^ this. Yes. Back in the day, a WSer found a report or compilation (maybe by FBI?) and deduced that Missy had been shot.

I believe the victim posted the night before she would be there by 4AM to set up. And also that the training session would go ahead regardless of weather, and if rain, they would move inside. So if the perp was stalking, they too could have seen that post, knowing of the victim's arrival by 4AM

I think the perp is a female related to Missy’s husband (NOT his mother), therefore having knowledge of what was going on both inside and outside of Missy’s marriage.

She also would know Missy’s daughter was not accompanying Missy to class on that morning (as the daughter sometimes did) and that Missy’s husband (who would be LE’s first suspect) was out of town.

And she was, perhaps, a very unlikely suspect.

Doubt it. If that person in the police gear was the perp, they're morbidly obese, and I'd say there is 0% chance they could have caught or cornered a fitness instructor outside...if the weapon was a gun, they might have pulled it off, but not, I believe, with a hammer or other weapon. Then again, if they were dressed in "police" uniform, they might have been able to get close enough for a strike/stab--now I'm unravelling my own theories, lol.

Bbm

I think the camera angles and the chosen outfit make the perp look heavier than they are.

2016 rbbm

Bevers Was Allegedly Having Marital Problems Before Murder

According to a search warrant released by police in Midlothian on Thursday, murdered fitness instructor Missy Bevers was having marital and financial struggles at the time of her death.

www.cbsnews.com

''MIDLOTHIAN (CBSDFW.COM) - According to a new search warrant released by law enforcement officials in Midlothian on Thursday, murdered fitness instructor Missy Bevers was allegedly having marital and financial struggles at the time of her death and had been involved in an intimate relationship "external to the marriage."

''The new search warrant, however, refers to the suspect as moving with a "feminine sway."

''Some clues have even indicated that this may have been a targeted attack. Bevers had advertised the date, time and location of her class online.''

''Police also believe that images of the victim or the murder itself may have been photographed or recorded.''

Italicized by me (bold is original to the quoted post).

Killing Missy took care of a few problems for this suspect: an actual or perceived flirtation Missy may have had with the suspect’s spouse; a resolution for Missy’s husband, with their alleged affairs and no divorce ramifications (spousal and/or child support); an end to Missy’s growing confidence in her looks and abilities that bothered some people.

All of this is IMO, as much of why I feel this way is discussed far far back in the thread.

IMO

 

[keiji]

Bbm

Because I think it’s a woman who killed Missy, and IMO is a targeted attack, I also think it’s one of the reasons I bolded in your post above. When women kill, IMO, many times it is emotionally driven.



As per my response above, I think a female killing Missy IS an Occam’s razor type of thing.



^^^^ this. Yes. Back in the day, a WSer found a report or compilation (maybe by FBI?) and deduced that Missy had been shot.



I think the perp is a female related to Missy’s husband (NOT his mother), therefore having knowledge of what was going on both inside and outside of Missy’s marriage.

She also would know Missy’s daughter was not accompanying Missy to class on that morning (as the daughter sometimes did) and that Missy’s husband (who would be LE’s first suspect) was out of town.

And she was, perhaps, a very unlikely suspect.



Bbm

I think the camera angles and the chosen outfit make the perp look heavier than they are.



Italicized by me (bold is original to the quoted post).

Killing Missy took care of a few problems for this suspect: an actual or perceived flirtation Missy may have had with the suspect’s spouse; a resolution for Missy’s husband, with their alleged affairs and no divorce ramifications (spousal and/or child support); an end to Missy’s growing confidence in her looks and abilities that bothered some people.

All of this is IMO, as much of why I feel this way is discussed far far back in the thread.

IMO

Nice insights here--thanks. I realize I'm just now joining a years-old thread, but one question, please: If it was targeted, why would they take their time, shuffling about, etc. Wouldn't they be a bit more 'down to business' with their actions? The police also say it was target, just difficult for me to square that up with the almost nonchalant way they walked about the place.

 

[lonewanderer]

Nice insights here--thanks. I realize I'm just now joining a years-old thread, but one question, please: If it was targeted, why would they take their time, shuffling about, etc. Wouldn't they be a bit more 'down to business' with their actions? The police also say it was target, just difficult for me to square that up with the almost nonchalant way they walked about the place.

Some speculate that the attacker was trying to figure out where Missy would be and the best place to attack her from.

Looking around to see if there was workout gear set up in a room, seeing the best blind spots when predicting where she would be.

It’s also highly possible this person was extremely intoxicated in some way, “liquid courage” or their drug of choice to get themselves hyped up enough to carry out the attack.

 

[keiji]

Some speculate that the attacker was trying to figure out where Missy would be and the best place to attack her from.

Looking around to see if there was workout gear set up in a room, seeing the best blind spots when predicting where she would be.

It’s also highly possible this person was extremely intoxicated in some way, “liquid courage” or their drug of choice to get themselves hyped up enough to carry out the attack.

Hadn't thought about the intoxication--that makes sense. Not 'nonchalant' rather just doped up. Others have said "juvenile" to describe them--similar mannerisms.

 

[keiji]

How about the perp being a teen/adult child of the person Missy may have been having an affair with (if they had kids), or the spouse of that person? If the police know the person(s) she was involved with, I would think that they looked very closely at those people and their families, so seems unlikely.

How about the perp being a teen/adult child of the person Missy may have been having an affair with (if they had kids), or the spouse of that person? If the police know the person(s) she was involved with, I would think that they looked very closely at those people and their families, so seems unlikely.

I believe there was at least one dead end, as to the identify of the sender of some creepy texts. But yes, I 'd guess they took a close look at anyone she was involved with.

 

[keiji]

Completely random coincidence: As a hobby, I look into the history of small Texas towns. One of them is Jacksboro, about 90 minutes east of Dallas. Couple days ago, I ran across crime stats for Jacksboro--what little of it there is. Surprised to see MBs name appear--as a former resident of Jacksboro who'd been killed. Turns out she graduated from Jacksboro High School. Spent a few years in Graham, TX, not far from there. I'm sure LE looked into all this, but just throwin' it out there, on the odd chance that might ring a bell for someone, for something related to the case.

 

[Ladyotm]

I'm sure this has probably been covered/discussed, but the police say there were "puncture wounds" but what appears to be a hammer, being swung by the possible perp in tactical gear--that hammer looks far to big to have caused "puncture wounds." Crushed bones, sure, but "puncture wounds"--that doesn't seem possible to me.

If she was struck with the side used to pull nails, they would be puncture wounds.

 

[keiji]

If she was struck with the side used to pull nails, they would be puncture wounds.

Yes, that's true for a claw hammer. But it doesn't look like a claw hammer. Looks more like a 3-5 lb. mini sledge hammer. Video quality is poor, but the head of the hammer definitely looks bigger than a typical claw hammer. And if it was a claw hammer, doesn't seem likely the perp would use that side to attack--the claw side--although if there was a struggle, anything's possible. I believe LE also said a hammer was recovered from the scene. In the video, there does appear to be a slight taper on one end of the hammer head. Two mini sledge photos attached.

 

[Hexe]

''Police also believe that images of the victim or the murder itself may have been photographed or recorded.''

Interesting. Was the perpetrator so much into cosplaying SWAT he had a body cam?

 

[FromGermany1]

Agreed it can and often is the simplest answer that wins out. So what's simplest here--that someone was there just to rob, and got surprised by the victim's arrival? This chubby possible perp certainly doesn't seem to be rage driven at all, just shufflin' around, breakin stuff windows I think they did as well? So I'll jump to this conclusion--the perp, if it's the one in the gear, was not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Why break windows, which makes noise and maybe sets off alarms? Not necessary. Seems more intent on mischief not murder. Possible simple explanation: they had a half-baked idea to go in with XXXL uniform that says "Police"--who would fall for that?--and see what they could find. They get surprised, and because they aint too bright, they unnecessarily get violent instead of just leaving. That helmet also looks comically bad--looks like the ones that California motor cops wear. Would it shed anylight if you frame it is: kiler was really dumb. Serious question--would such a framing be of any benefit?

In any case, the SP was well protected against all things, which could have injured him (starting with broken glass, blows by hands or a tool, gunshots). Maybe, the bad uniform was only chosen for that reason, nothing more. Also hiding his stature and his face/hair. Unfortunately, it worked. IMO

 

[lonewanderer]

Interesting. Was the perpetrator so much into cosplaying SWAT he had a body cam?

There is a part in the footage where i swear the perp is pulling out a phone to check:

Right around 42 seconds:

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I think they have the mystery white object seen later in the hallway in one had and a phone in the other, or two phones.

One theory i have involves a particularly scorned wife using a phone pretending to be the husband Missy was having an inappropriate relationship with (LE mentioned she may have been communicating with her killer that morning) logged into his Snapchat or whatever choice of millions of ways to communicate. This was 2016, so the options were less, but discretion and sneak was MUCH easier to do with obscurity and anonymity.

 

[sunspun]

I've always thought it interesting that the perp kept the helmet on the entire time. Seems they would've been satisfied soon after they arrived that there was no one else in the building (which likely would've been highly unusual at that time in a church in the middle of the night.) And there are indications that the helmet impeded vision somewhat, for example, as seen when they open the bottom half of the door of what was probably the nursery room. So I would think there were practical reasons they would have taken the helmet off, for comfort and better vision, after they had gotten inside and determined they were alone and in a private space out of the public eye, where there was no one to identify them if they took it off.

Maybe it's just because they knew they were on camera, but I've always felt they were completely unaware of the working cameras inside filming their every move. I doubt even with the disguise, they would have spent as much time and acted so cavalierly as they did, if they knew it was all being filmed.

But I've also wondered if maybe all the footage we saw was wearing the helmet while they were still investigating the entire space to reassure themselves that they were indeed alone... and that finally they did remove the helmet once they felt certain there was no one else in the building, but this moment occurred either while off camera or during footage that we haven't been shown, If so, maybe this was when Missy encountered the suspect face to face with no helmet on, which was why they felt the need to murder her. as a potential identifying witness if left alive.

 

[lonewanderer]

I've always thought it interesting that the perp kept the helmet on the entire time. Seems they would've been satisfied soon after they arrived that there was no one else in the building (which likely would've been highly unusual at that time in a church in the middle of the night.) And there are indications that the helmet impeded vision somewhat, for example, as seen when they open the bottom half of the door of what was probably the nursery room. So I would think there were practical reasons they would have taken the helmet off, for comfort and better vision, after they had gotten inside and determined they were alone and in a private space out of the public eye, where there was no one to identify them if they took it off.

Maybe it's just because they knew they were on camera, but I've always felt they were completely unaware of the working cameras inside filming their every move. I doubt even with the disguise, they would have spent as much time and acted so cavalierly as they did, if they knew it was all being filmed.

But I've also wondered if maybe all the footage we saw was wearing the helmet while they were still investigating the entire space to reassure themselves that they were indeed alone... and that finally they did remove the helmet once they felt certain there was no one else in the building, but this moment occurred either while off camera or during footage that we haven't been shown, If so, maybe this was when Missy encountered the suspect face to face with no helmet on, which was why they felt the need to murder her. as a potential identifying witness if left alive.

I have heard the theory that the helmet had Bluetooth and there was an accomplice communicating with them through it.

 

[FromGermany1]

I've always thought it interesting that the perp kept the helmet on the entire time. Seems they would've been satisfied soon after they arrived that there was no one else in the building (which likely would've been highly unusual at that time in a church in the middle of the night.) And there are indications that the helmet impeded vision somewhat, for example, as seen when they open the bottom half of the door of what was probably the nursery room. So I would think there were practical reasons they would have taken the helmet off, for comfort and better vision, after they had gotten inside and determined they were alone and in a private space out of the public eye, where there was no one to identify them if they took it off.

Maybe it's just because they knew they were on camera, but I've always felt they were completely unaware of the working cameras inside filming their every move. I doubt even with the disguise, they would have spent as much time and acted so cavalierly as they did, if they knew it was all being filmed.

But I've also wondered if maybe all the footage we saw was wearing the helmet while they were still investigating the entire space to reassure themselves that they were indeed alone... and that finally they did remove the helmet once they felt certain there was no one else in the building, but this moment occurred either while off camera or during footage that we haven't been shown, If so, maybe this was when Missy encountered the suspect face to face with no helmet on, which was why they felt the need to murder her. as a potential identifying witness if left alive.

Google Search

There are 4 images, and on the second from right the SP is looking straight to the surveillance camera (if I remember well). I saw this pic or just similar zoomed in and you could see his eyes. It seemed, he was aware of the cameras and where they were/are installed. IMO

 

[sunspun]

Yes, that's true for a claw hammer. But it doesn't look like a claw hammer. Looks more like a 3-5 lb. mini sledge hammer. Video quality is poor, but the head of the hammer definitely looks bigger than a typical claw hammer. And if it was a claw hammer, doesn't seem likely the perp would use that side to attack--the claw side--although if there was a struggle, anything's possible. I believe LE also said a hammer was recovered from the scene. In the video, there does appear to be a slight taper on one end of the hammer head. Two mini sledge photos attached.

Before reading your post, I watched a certain part of the video over and over again in slo-motion (.25) trying to see what kind of hammer it might be, and I had just decided I thought it was a claw hammer. Then I see you thought it did not look like a claw hammer, so I went back to watch again!

I feel like it's hard to say for sure due to the distorted look of the video. But I think I still lean toward some kind of claw on one end. When you watch in slo-mo, while the perp is walking and swinging their arms, you can see the profile or silhouette of the hammer against the background of the floor as they swing their arm backward in a normal walking movement. Even in slo-mo, it's REAL quick and very little time to study the hammer when it is visible against the solid lighter-colored background, so it's hard to say. Then the arm swings back forward and the hammer can't be seen again against the backdrop of the uniform, but then swing back again and you get another quick glimpse. I think that's around .50 or a bit before, but I'm bad at pinpointing times in videos. But I'm watching for this right as they finish trying to jimmy the door, or whatever they did at the first door they face in this video, and they put away their tools, into their uniform, and walk away facing us across the hall to the next door. It's right then that I'm watching the swinging of the arm back and forth, with the profile of the hammer more clearly seen as the arm swings backward, but still not so clear as to be able to say for sure what I see. But I do think it looks more like a sharp, possibly claw end on one side.

I need to go back to watch the other videos they released and study them closely like I did this one, to see if I can come to a more definite conclusion.

Now I also wonder about the mystery white object in their left hand toward the end of this video. It seems to me they did not have this object until they exited the room at the left of the screen, where the view is from right above that door as they walk out of that room to cross the hall to another door. Makes me think it's something they picked up in that room they exited. Could be something they brought with them, that was inside their jacket til they pulled it out and we can see them with it in their hand, but I feel like it's something they picked up and carried out of that room with them.

And I know it sounds funny, but I keep thinking it looks like a box of tissues! It does seem narrower than that, although I know they come in a lot of different sizes, but that's what I keep seeing. At first, I thought box of aluminum foil, which does seem to be closer to the right width. Wish I knew what room it was that they exited right before we see the white object. You can see inside the room just barely, and I see something in there, but I can't tell what. You get the best view (although still not great) of the white object toward the very end, and again, it's when the perp swings their arm back and forth a few times and the object is seen on the backswing against a more contrasting background. They're not swinging their arms while walking here though. More like hitting the door or something with something held in their other hand. Right at the end of the vid.

 

[dotr]

Murder suspect seen lurking in church hallway dressed in SWAT gear

Eerie surveillance footage taken from the scene of a grisly murder inside a small church in Texas has seen a man dressed from head-to-toe in a police SWAT uniform lurking in the hallway just minutes before the horrific killing.

au.news.yahoo.com

 

[Charlot123]

I don’t follow this case constantly, so there is not much to say, except that each time I look at the intruder, I remember an unrelated story about a man, in the “very old teenager” group.

That man was obsessed with joining the police force and could not. Several times he called the police to their house or another place, hide in the bushes and watch “how they work”. How they’d arrive, get out of the car, approach the house. Later he probably “mimicked them”. I don’t know how this story ended for him.

When I am looking at the video, I always wonder if the intruder, too, was obsessed with the police/SWAT and didn’t make it there but used to covertly observe them. There is some “mimicking” element that this video conveys to me.

I wonder if anyone else sees the same.

 

[lonewanderer]

Before reading your post, I watched a certain part of the video over and over again in slo-motion (.25) trying to see what kind of hammer it might be, and I had just decided I thought it was a claw hammer. Then I see you thought it did not look like a claw hammer, so I went back to watch again!

I feel like it's hard to say for sure due to the distorted look of the video. But I think I still lean toward some kind of claw on one end. When you watch in slo-mo, while the perp is walking and swinging their arms, you can see the profile or silhouette of the hammer against the background of the floor as they swing their arm backward in a normal walking movement. Even in slo-mo, it's REAL quick and very little time to study the hammer when it is visible against the solid lighter-colored background, so it's hard to say. Then the arm swings back forward and the hammer can't be seen again against the backdrop of the uniform, but then swing back again and you get another quick glimpse. I think that's around .50 or a bit before, but I'm bad at pinpointing times in videos. But I'm watching for this right as they finish trying to jimmy the door, or whatever they did at the first door they face in this video, and they put away their tools, into their uniform, and walk away facing us across the hall to the next door. It's right then that I'm watching the swinging of the arm back and forth, with the profile of the hammer more clearly seen as the arm swings backward, but still not so clear as to be able to say for sure what I see. But I do think it looks more like a sharp, possibly claw end on one side.

I need to go back to watch the other videos they released and study them closely like I did this one, to see if I can come to a more definite conclusion.

Now I also wonder about the mystery white object in their left hand toward the end of this video. It seems to me they did not have this object until they exited the room at the left of the screen, where the view is from right above that door as they walk out of that room to cross the hall to another door. Makes me think it's something they picked up in that room they exited. Could be something they brought with them, that was inside their jacket til they pulled it out and we can see them with it in their hand, but I feel like it's something they picked up and carried out of that room with them.

And I know it sounds funny, but I keep thinking it looks like a box of tissues! It does seem narrower than that, although I know they come in a lot of different sizes, but that's what I keep seeing. At first, I thought box of aluminum foil, which does seem to be closer to the right width. Wish I knew what room it was that they exited right before we see the white object. You can see inside the room just barely, and I see something in there, but I can't tell what. You get the best view (although still not great) of the white object toward the very end, and again, it's when the perp swings their arm back and forth a few times and the object is seen on the backswing against a more contrasting background. They're not swinging their arms while walking here though. More like hitting the door or something with something held in their other hand. Right at the end of the vid.

Allegedly, the mystery white object may be a random plastic thing for holding small objects like pencils, fishing tackle, that kind of stuff. A speculation I read once said it was full of nuts and bolts and random pieces like that, that the prop picked up in a room.

I have racked my brain a million times and the object looks so familiar but I just can’t place what it is.

 

[sunspun]

Allegedly, the mystery white object may be a random plastic thing for holding small objects like pencils, fishing tackle, that kind of stuff. A speculation I read once said it was full of nuts and bolts and random pieces like that, that the prop picked up in a room.

I have racked my brain a million times and the object looks so familiar but I just can’t place what it is.

Not a tissue box though?

 

[Luce2842]

There is a part in the footage where i swear the perp is pulling out a phone to check:

Right around 42 seconds:

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I think they have the mystery white object seen later in the hallway in one had and a phone in the other, or two phones.

One theory i have involves a particularly scorned wife using a phone pretending to be the husband Missy was having an inappropriate relationship with (LE mentioned she may have been communicating with her killer that morning) logged into his Snapchat or whatever choice of millions of ways to communicate. This was 2016, so the options were less, but discretion and sneak was MUCH easier to do with obscurity and anonymity.

Absolutely haunting footage that!