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

[Marie A]

"I do agree that Missy, as a victim was random, but I do not believe that particular church was random at all." -- In some way, that has to be true, because Loser Perp didn't just walk down the street and saunter into this church. He did pick to be there. The problem we have is in knowing why they picked this particular church and at this specific night, and we probably have to first know who did it and why to answer that question of why they picked it. Was it the location, some perceived ease of access or egress or of being undiscovered, some connection to the church, some info LP knew that made him think this was an easy or good place to get into, was it MB that drew him there, was it somehow originally picked at random, or some other reason we just don't consider? We can't objectively eliminate any of those, other than just using our own "bias" to decide on an answer and work from there, sad to say.

"I’m sure the police/investigators ... checked for camera footage from businesses, homes & traffic cameras in a widening circle around the church to see if the car was caught on camera at another location in which the license plate and/or driver was more visible because they were less careful thinking that they were away from the scene." --- Yes they did. The challenge is that even if someone caught the perp's car on camera, the limits of technology make it virtually impossible to make out the license of a car going 60 mph or so, and it was raining, and the road is a good ways from any camera. Even in the video of the car at SWFA across the street that night, going 5-10 mph, up close, and stopping at times, the license was illegible. LE tried, however, every place up and down that highway for quite a ways. Unfortunately, with such a highway, perp could easily have been 30 or more miles away before stopping, and before the murder was discovered, as there is quick access to multiple interstate-style highways (including US 287, US 67, I-35, I-20, and I-45) in less time than that.

"Did the investigation keep the church closed to the public for a while...?" --- Nope, LE was only there for a day or two, during which time they gathered whatever evidence they needed, and then the church was back in full service.

"I have wondered if something outside the box like this was used to kill Missy." --- Nope, it was a handgun that killed her. Plain and simple. There is no mystery to unravel. LE saw the body up close, saw the wounds, there was a full autopsy, and LE went looking for ammo sales in prior days hoping to get lucky on perp buying the ammo (which should make it clear what they knew). The FBI records (they were there from the outset to aid the investigation, as was ATF and other LE groups) recorded the murder's "Weapon" as "Handgun - pistol, revolver, etc". The murderdata.org site obtained their info from the FBI's public files. I have personally seen the FBI files too, multiple times (but not a user-friendly setup or search engine, it took many hours each time of pure trial-and-error to get there, so I finally decided never again), which is accessible if you have the patience to wade through their setup.

LE literally refused to comment on how she was killed, saying they would talk about that later, then never doing so, even to this day. That speaks volumes. In two early SWs they speak of vaguely of tools, and an unknown instrument (of death), with one also mentioning puncture wounds, but never actually say directly how she was killed, and imo they were trying to mislead the curious without actually lying, to keep under wraps that she was shot. Technically, a gun is a tool for shooting people, and a bullet wound punctures the skin. The discovery of the FBI records let the cat out of the bag, but LE still isn't asked about it afaik, and I suspect they would decline to answer if asked.

"The search warrant would've specifically indicated a gun, casings, etc, rather than "unknown instrument" as the murder weapon if she died from a gunshot" --- Obviously not true, since the FBI records the murder weapon was indeed a handgun.

But in relation to this SW's wording, LE (imo) hastily covered more than they really needed to, and so in order to keep facts behind their curtain, it appears they fuzzied some detail as they did so. This was their 1st SW, asking for permission to search MB's vehicle she arrived in (because she was found murdered) for anything that might give them a clue as to what happened and why. How she was murdered didn't matter at all (for purposes of getting a SW to look in her car), and it's enlightening that all the warrants obtained after that one and one other (those 2 were in the 1st 36 hours) basically said NOTHING about the death other than it was a murder being investigated and describing the perp as seen in the video. You can even look at the SW's and see how the first couple were slapped together hastily, with part of them hand-written, with mark-throughs, and sloppy wording. But I think they got some training as they went, because after that the SW's were professional, with polished content, formal affidavits attached (which removed any need to say much about the murder itself, and only in repeated, precise, finely crafted wording), and so on.

One note to keep in mind about all the various SWs - they are each written in a way that recites "facts" that may actually be nothing more than guesses, or possibilities being explored, but offering them up in a way that makes them sound concrete and that justifies the search being requested at that time. The next SW might say just the opposite, chasing a different suspect or angle. The ones in this case contain a graveyard of ideas and since-disproven theories of the crime. Reader beware.

This is great information- thank you Steve S. for all your well thought out research and work on this case.
I’m happy to share the same point of view that this was a “random” encounter and not a planned offing of Missy.

It’s been several years since I put down my theory on these threads so I’ll post in some detail.
It is all IMHO and fully speculation.

Very happy to see Missy’s thread getting more traction.
This is one of the most annoying unsolved mysteries.

Within the first couple of years after Missy was killed I had a very random encounter with a woman (a stranger) who told me her young adult son still lived at home and wanted to be a policeman/ was trying to be a policeman.
This lead me to thinking that Missy’s killer was most likely a young 20s “want to be”
policeman who was roll playing that fateful morning.
There’s a decent chance he still lived at home with a parent or parents and he had his own entrance or fully snuck out after everyone else was asleep.
He was a milder version of a Kohberger who never actually had a wish to off somebody but who unexpectedly happened upon Missy (or she happened upon him) and the rest is history.
I do believe that the killer did live within a certain proximity of the church- in Waxahachie or Midlothian or Mansfield or one of the rural areas surrounding the church.
He may have even walked or biked to the church from the housing development behind it at the time.
I don’t know if it was his first time in the church but I do think the church itself was an easy target - dark and removed from sight-and I think the perp was playing out a fantasy roll play which was more exciting than the nighttime video games he likely played regularly.
I also don’t know if he targeted other churches or businesses for late night break in roll playing or if this was his first time. I do think this was his last time to roll play in this manner after he was prominently plastered on TV in full gear and after he was spooked into murder.
He happened to have a loaded pistol on him to complete his roll playing outfit and he was fully spooked into using it by the idea of being caught breaking and entering.
An arrest for breaking and entering and impersonating a cop would have ruined his future plans.
I don’t think he murdered anyone before or after Missy.
I do think the gray sedan in the SWFA parking lot was a red herring and unrelated to this murder.
The occupant of the car never volunteered his information because he may have been up to no good that night or had priors.
Remember what they say about “nothing good ever happens after midnight”…..
The driver of the gray car may have been up to his own nefarious business totally unrelated to Missy’s killing.
I can tell you that these small towns and rural areas around this church were and still are very blue collar. These folks largely go to bed early and wake up early and it’s very very quiet at night (in juxtaposition to big city life.)
SWFA is no longer there and the area is quite built up in the last 9+ years since Missy was killed but it was a rainy night, poor visibility, and SWFA’s large visible open parking lot just happened to be the one place to pull off and check directions for a drug drop or pick up or simply rest for a minute, send a text or enjoy a quick snack or drink. I think the gray sedan’s driver was familiar with the parking lot. His quickness to turn off his lights and perceived odd behavior don’t raise any red flags for me. I think it was a random coincidence unrelated to Missy’s killing that he was there that night.
In any case, it creeps me out a bit to think that the killer (now in their 30s ) may actually be a bona fide police officer at this point.
I wonder if he is hiding in plain sight in the area still or if he’s moved away to a big city fighting real crime instead of roll playing or if his unexpected encounter with Missy had him dispose of his roll playing gear and abruptly change gears.

 

[Cortne]

I noticed the driver used their turn signal even when exiting the parking lot. To me it seems an odd thing to do if you are getting ready to break into a building. Like I'll break into a church but I'm not going to turn without using my blinker. I guess it could just be muscle memory but it makes me lean towards it not being the murderer. It looks to me more like someone being taught to learn how to drive.

Might be to 'avoid bored cop looking for minor infractions'. Kinda like ridin dirty, gotta avoid any reason for interaction w the law

 

[SteveS]

"But why would they do that? Guns aren't exactly rare in Texas, so why to hide that?" --- LE are known to keep some details of crimes (especially murders where the perp is not easily discerned) hidden from the public, for strategic purposes. As to why they chose THIS to mask, only they can answer that. But o bviously they did.

"I think LE didn't know at first what caused the wounds. Maybe they later figured it out, but maybe not." -- The idea that LE somehow didn't know is not really possible. They were looking for sales of gun ammo VERY early on (the day of the murder itself, IIRC), they would have seen the gunshots to head and chest (and blood coming from wounds) which would have been obvious immediately, and they had the autopsy back in a day. They deliberately chose to obscure those details, and then never talk about it at all, which is certainly their choice. Their wording on the early SW's was all 100% technically true, even if misleading, and I think that's exactly what they intended until they figured out they just didn't need to mention such things at all.

"Could the murder weapon be a replica gun? Attacked with but never fired?" --- I think too much is being read into the hazy wording that it was an "unknown instrument" and everyone is trying to make that into way more than is being said, and solve for something that isn't a real mystery. That wording is true wording of ANY gun that fired a shot, that they don't have in hand to be able to say it's "this" gun. And bullets cause puncture wounds - they are not a blunt instrument to bash someone with. They wanted to word it to be able to look for anything and everything, so it was something "unknown!!!!!". There were rumors around town that they wondered if MB's gun had somehow been used as the murder weapon, and thus the urgent SW to get the lay of the land and see what they could learn.

"He may have even walked or biked to the church from the housing development behind it at the time." --- I like the rest of your thoughts and notes, but I have strong doubts on this idea, because there was no easy access from that direction (it would have been a long trek across fields, creeks, and in pouring rain with a bulky costume on). They did look for tracks, and a route like that would have left significant footprints in the rain and mud and dirt. Instead I think Loser Perp drove to the church, parked behind it out of sight, first tried to break in at the back (most hidden place) and then moved to the side (still mostly unseeable from the road) to gain access, and he left by getting in his car and being on the highway 30 seconds after he got in his car. There was no traffic to hide from at that hour. Just go as far and as fast as he can at 60-70 mph and create lots of distance.

Obviously so much of what we know is just looking at sparse facts and then each of us deciding what makes most sense in our personal estimation, but whether LP was actually sensible in what he did and why he made the choices he did that night (or not), who knows.

 

[dotr]

Could the murder weapon be a replica gun? Attacked with but never fired?

It would fit with the elaborate costume.

It could fit with the wording of the SW.

It might fit with an unplanned attack.

It might fit with puncture wounds.

It would be a weapon and a tool.

Is it possible that LE has audio but has only released video?

Wounds match a gun but no weapon ever fired?

JMO TOL

(Just My Opinion, Thinking Out Loud)

Please forgive this horrible speculation regarding possible murder weapon(s), but wondering if any crosses might be missing ? imo.

 

[DancingMuse]

"But why would they do that? Guns aren't exactly rare in Texas, so why to hide that?" --- LE are known to keep some details of crimes (especially murders where the perp is not easily discerned) hidden from the public...

Thanks so much SteveS, Megnut and all the recent excellent discourse, to keep this case alive:

Knowing nothing about the outfit the perp is wearing, can someone address these questions and observations.....

(We are now saying that the perp is carrying various things at various times while committing this horrific crime. )

How did the perp carry a handgun, and the black "stick" s/he is holding, AND then pick up the white object near the end of the video? Perp is also checking a cell phone at some point?

Does the swat gear that s/he is wearing have pockets, belts w/holsters, other enclosures for all these objects?

I am genuinely asking how could the perp keep all these weapons/objects on hand, and adjust an ill-fitting helmut at some point, too?

It just seems like so much to carry, execute someone (who was VERY healthy strong and fit), and get away so quickly.

This person was very "lucky" to have gotten away with this heinous crime, with all the unwieldy items "they" were carrying.

MOO

 

[Marie A]

"He may have even walked or biked to the church from the housing development behind it at the time." --- I like the rest of your thoughts and notes, but I have strong doubts on this idea, because there was no easy access from that direction (it would have been a long trek across fields, creeks, and in pouring rain with a bulky costume on). They did look for tracks, and a route like that would have left significant footprints in the rain and mud and dirt. Instead I think Loser Perp drove to the church, parked behind it out of sight, first tried to break in at the back (most hidden place) and then moved to the side (still mostly unseeable from the road) to gain access, and he left by getting in his car and being on the highway 30 seconds after he got in his car. There was no traffic to hide from at that hour. Just go as far and as fast as he can at 60-70 mph and create lots of distance.

Thanks so much- this is a fair assessment- I agree that he drove to the church and parked behind it out of sight. I just looked at the maps and didn’t realize how far away those original houses were.
You are completely right, it wouldn’t make any sense that he walked or biked from anywhere.
I don’t think this perp drove from as far away as Fort Worth or Dallas though.
I think he drove from Alvarado or Venus or most likely Waxahachie or Midlothian, possibly Mansfield. I think he knew that stretch of Hwy 287 pretty well and didn’t live too far from the church.
If I was a betting woman, I would place a bet on him having previously attended Waxahachie High School just 4 minutes away from the church.

All IMHO

 

[Inthedetails]

Please forgive this horrible speculation regarding possible murder weapon(s), but wondering if any crosses might be missing ? imo.

Others might know this better than me, but I think that denomination doesn't have many crosses, if any, in their worship. jmo

 

[cenazoic]

Has anyone else ever heard of a “bang stick?”

Nope, it was a handgun that killed her.

It’s an interesting idea, and bang sticks use bullets.

https://www.guns.com/news/2013/07/12/the-bangstick-keeping-sharks-and-gators-on-the-menu

 

[squareandrabbet]

This is great information- thank you Steve S. for all your well thought out research and work on this case.
I’m happy to share the same point of view that this was a “random” encounter and not a planned offing of Missy.

It’s been several years since I put down my theory on these threads so I’ll post in some detail.
It is all IMHO and fully speculation.

Very happy to see Missy’s thread getting more traction.
This is one of the most annoying unsolved mysteries.

Within the first couple of years after Missy was killed I had a very random encounter with a woman (a stranger) who told me her young adult son still lived at home and wanted to be a policeman/ was trying to be a policeman.
This lead me to thinking that Missy’s killer was most likely a young 20s “want to be”
policeman who was roll playing that fateful morning.
There’s a decent chance he still lived at home with a parent or parents and he had his own entrance or fully snuck out after everyone else was asleep.
He was a milder version of a Kohberger who never actually had a wish to off somebody but who unexpectedly happened upon Missy (or she happened upon him) and the rest is history.
I do believe that the killer did live within a certain proximity of the church- in Waxahachie or Midlothian or Mansfield or one of the rural areas surrounding the church.
He may have even walked or biked to the church from the housing development behind it at the time.
I don’t know if it was his first time in the church but I do think the church itself was an easy target - dark and removed from sight-and I think the perp was playing out a fantasy roll play which was more exciting than the nighttime video games he likely played regularly.
I also don’t know if he targeted other churches or businesses for late night break in roll playing or if this was his first time. I do think this was his last time to roll play in this manner after he was prominently plastered on TV in full gear and after he was spooked into murder.
He happened to have a loaded pistol on him to complete his roll playing outfit and he was fully spooked into using it by the idea of being caught breaking and entering.
An arrest for breaking and entering and impersonating a cop would have ruined his future plans.
I don’t think he murdered anyone before or after Missy.
I do think the gray sedan in the SWFA parking lot was a red herring and unrelated to this murder.
The occupant of the car never volunteered his information because he may have been up to no good that night or had priors.
Remember what they say about “nothing good ever happens after midnight”…..
The driver of the gray car may have been up to his own nefarious business totally unrelated to Missy’s killing.
I can tell you that these small towns and rural areas around this church were and still are very blue collar. These folks largely go to bed early and wake up early and it’s very very quiet at night (in juxtaposition to big city life.)
SWFA is no longer there and the area is quite built up in the last 9+ years since Missy was killed but it was a rainy night, poor visibility, and SWFA’s large visible open parking lot just happened to be the one place to pull off and check directions for a drug drop or pick up or simply rest for a minute, send a text or enjoy a quick snack or drink. I think the gray sedan’s driver was familiar with the parking lot. His quickness to turn off his lights and perceived odd behavior don’t raise any red flags for me. I think it was a random coincidence unrelated to Missy’s killing that he was there that night.
In any case, it creeps me out a bit to think that the killer (now in their 30s ) may actually be a bona fide police officer at this point.
I wonder if he is hiding in plain sight in the area still or if he’s moved away to a big city fighting real crime instead of roll playing or if his unexpected encounter with Missy had him dispose of his roll playing gear and abruptly change gears.

I like the way you're thinking.

Something like this fits much better with someone engaged in the careless almost performative sauntering around the church that we see, than a purposeful revenge play or any scenario with someone lying in wait for Misty in particular; and the fact that they're so nonchalant about what they're doing also doesn't dovetail with someone who showed up with the goal of killing someone, anyone nonspecific; because they don't seem the least bit nervous, hurried, or worried either.

They don't seem like they entered the church with a goal; and they certainly weren't in anything remotely approaching a Kohberger-esque frenzy.

Of course, like the Asha Degree case, this is probably something that will make no sense until all of a sudden we have been given a sizable chunk of evidence and/or rumor drop heretofore entirely unknown to any of us.

 

[lonewanderer]

Thanks so much- this is a fair assessment- I agree that he drove to the church and parked behind it out of sight. I just looked at the maps and didn’t realize how far away those original houses were.
You are completely right, it wouldn’t make any sense that he walked or biked from anywhere.
I don’t think this perp drove from as far away as Fort Worth or Dallas though.
I think he drove from Alvarado or Venus or most likely Waxahachie or Midlothian, possibly Mansfield. I think he knew that stretch of Hwy 287 pretty well and didn’t live too far from the church.
If I was a betting woman, I would place a bet on him having previously attended Waxahachie High School just 4 minutes away from the church.

All IMHO

Biked as in bicycles? I think the perp has a “motorcycle cop” look to them, and have thought about that before. I’ve posted before a picture of a Korean delivery driver who was dressed extremely similar to the perp, riding a motorcycle. To be sure someone would have heard a motorcycle though?

I’ve often thought the perp has a “sassy teacher” waddle, and at one point did wonder if Missy had any connections to any of the staff at that high school.

So maybe not a former student, but a teacher at the school? (Man or woman).

Does anyone know if school was out the morning Missy was attacked? I thought I remembered reading somewhere that the local schools had an off day but I could be mistaken

I’ve also wondered if the (debated as a glare) sticker on the back of the car in the church parking lot was a school spirit sticker of some kind.

 

[CrimeTheorist]

I wonder what time it was when the suspect broke the glass in that security video. If it was targeted than I would think it wouldn't be very close to the time that Missy was supposed to arrive or she might hear it and leave..... but if it was untargeted than it could be any time, including right before she arrived.

 

[lonewanderer]

I wonder what time it was when the suspect broke the glass in that security video. If it was targeted than I would think it wouldn't be very close to the time that Missy was supposed to arrive or she might hear it and leave..... but if it was untargeted than it could be any time, including right before she arrived.

Speaking of hearing things, I recently wondered if any of the camp attendees reported hearing a gunshot inside the building? .22 caliber can be mistaken for a firecracker but to be sure someone heard something, right?

 

[Inthedetails]

Speaking of hearing things, I recently wondered if any of the camp attendees reported hearing a gunshot inside the building? .22 caliber can be mistaken for a firecracker but to be sure someone heard something, right?

That is a good question I don't recall being discussed before.

jmopinion

 

[sunspun]

Speaking of hearing things, I recently wondered if any of the camp attendees reported hearing a gunshot inside the building? .22 caliber can be mistaken for a firecracker but to be sure someone heard something, right?

I thought that the timing worked out such that the first early arrival would have shown up AFTER she was killed. I thought it was very SOON after, but after.

In fact, I remember thinking that it was so soon after that I thought it was a miracle that the perp was able to escape unseen by whoever arrived first. Which also made me speculate that possibly the killer could have quickly changed clothes, put them into a gym bag, put on workout clothes, and joined the group of exercisers as they arrived, blending in as one of them. But I don't think this was targeted at Missy, so I don't think much of that theory.

 

[lonewanderer]

That is a good question I don't recall being discussed before.

jmopinion

I have wondered if a more unconventional “handgun” was used. A bang stick (uses bullets), crossbow or mini crossbow, something pneumatic (like No Country for Old Men minus the oxygen tank) or any other number of handheld gun like weapons.

 

[Inthedetails]

I have wondered if a more unconventional “handgun” was used. A bang stick (uses bullets), crossbow or mini crossbow, something pneumatic (like No Country for Old Men minus the oxygen tank) or any other number of handheld gun like weapons.

Oh wait! There is no mention that a gun was used. I can't believe I forgot that part. I think something was used to hit her on the head that wasn't a conventional weapon and the early-arriving student wouldn't have heard gun because there wasn't a gunshot to be heard.

jmopinion

 

[lonewanderer]

I thought that the timing worked out such that the first early arrival would have shown up AFTER she was killed. I thought it was very SOON after, but after.

In fact, I remember thinking that it was so soon after that I thought it was a miracle that the perp was able to escape unseen by whoever arrived first. Which also made me speculate that possibly the killer could have quickly changed clothes, put them into a gym bag, put on workout clothes, and joined the group of exercisers as they arrived, blending in as one of them. But I don't think this was targeted at Missy, so I don't think much of that theory.

One of the worst possible motives I have ever thought of was one of the campers taking Missy’s life simply so they would not have to come to the early morning workouts.

I have wondered if there was any campers who were more or less mandated to be there by a husband who insisted they lose weight or get divorced.

Was there any campers who were not accounted for that morning either?

Were any of the campers a woman, married to or in a relationship with another woman who may have been jealous of or suspicious of Missy?

 

[lonewanderer]

Oh wait! There is no mention that a gun was used. I can't believe I forgot that part. I think something was used to hit her on the head that wasn't a conventional weapon and the early-arriving student wouldn't have heard gun because there wasn't a gunshot to be heard.

jmopinion

This has been a very highly debated detail.

@SteveS has provided us with a direct link that shows that a woman on that date who was the same age as Missy was killed in Midlothian, Texas via firearm. There was no other deaths reported on that day. There is a news segment that also clearly states Missy was shot to death.

 

[sunspun]

One of the worst possible motives I have ever thought of was one of the campers taking Missy’s life simply so they would not have to come to the early morning workouts.

I have wondered if there was any campers who were more or less mandated to be there by a husband who insisted they lose weight or get divorced.

Was there any campers who were not accounted for that morning either?

Were any of the campers a woman, married to or in a relationship with another woman who may have been jealous of or suspicious of Missy?

I don't know about all that, but I do recall it was reported that there was no set list of attendees, meaning that anyone who saw the notice on FB or otherwise knew they were meeting there at that time on that day, was welcome to just show up and join the session. They weren't required to register in advance or even tell Missy or anyone that they were going to attend. They could just show up.

So imo, that does leave open the possibility that the killer could have left the church out some unseen exit door (after changing clothes), and simply blended in with the rest of the group who were arriving. And I believe we know that they were arriving at basically the SAME time the killer was leaving! So it works, in theory.

Also works because it wouldn't be suspicious for the other campers to see someone new, someone they didn't recognize at all, since as I said, anybody was welcome to attend, even if they had never attended a session before.

And the killer could have stashed their cop clothes in a gym bag, which would also not raise any suspicions.

So I really don't see any holes at all in this theory, but I still am not advocating for it, because I think it would mean that the killer had gone there to kill Missy, instead of just being a random Larper who Missy unfortunately interrupted unexpectedly. And I do believe it was random horribly bad luck, not targeted.

 

[lonewanderer]

I don't know about all that, but I do recall it was reported that there was no set list of attendees, meaning that anyone who saw the notice on FB or otherwise knew they were meeting there at that time on that day, was welcome to just show up and join the session. They weren't required to register in advance or even tell Missy or anyone that they were going to attend. They could just show up.

So imo, that does leave open the possibility that the killer could have left the church out some unseen exit door (after changing clothes), and simply blended in with the rest of the group who were arriving. And I believe we know that they were arriving at basically the SAME time the killer was leaving! So it works, in theory.

Also works because it wouldn't be suspicious for the other campers to see someone new, someone they didn't recognize at all, since as I said, anybody was welcome to attend, even if they had never attended a session before.

And the killer could have stashed their cop clothes in a gym bag, which would also not raise any suspicions.

So I really don't see any holes at all in this theory, but I still am not advocating for it, because I think it would mean that the killer had gone there to kill Missy, instead of just being a random Larper who Missy unfortunately interrupted unexpectedly. And I do believe it was random horribly bad luck, not targeted.

I don’t buy the LARP theory for a number of reasons, but there is some theories I’ve heard that could put that person there for other reasons and not targeting Missy, such as the sporting goods store being the perps actual target but going to the church after being scared off by cars in the parking lot.

If there was no real accountability of who was there and who wasn’t there for the camp, this opens up a lot of possibilities. Very interesting.