VA - Cullen, 1, Emily Bivens, 24, & Joan Bernard, 62, Pittsylvania, murdered, 26 Aug 2019 *Arrest*

[Niner]

I shall go ahead & post this - since it already happened - but to keep my notes straight.

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

 

[Niner]

Court rules man now fit for trial for grisly triple murders in Pittsylvania Co. in 2019

Matthew Bernard was arrested in 2019 and charged with shooting and killing his mother, sister and nephew.

wset.com

 

[iamshadow21]

View attachment 515639

Court rules man now fit for trial for grisly triple murders in Pittsylvania Co. in 2019

Matthew Bernard was arrested in 2019 and charged with shooting and killing his mother, sister and nephew.

wset.com

I wish I could understand the point of persisting with prosecution, but I can't.

This young man was obviously seriously mentally ill, and will have to manage that condition for the rest of his life. For five years, he has been too unwell to understand his situation enough to participate in his case at the most basic level.

I understand that three people died, but can anyone seriously see the defendant being held responsible under the circumstances?

This is one of those cases that doesn't feel like anything so much as a whole family was struck by lightning, leaving three dead and one with life-changing injuries.

MOO

 

[Simply Southern]

@Niner
Screenshots I do not see any murder charges, yet. As stated in the article the grand jury meets in August, that's when I expect to see charges.
I also checked to see if there were any civil charges maybe related to a lawsuit and found none.

 

[Niner]

@Niner
Screenshots I do not see any murder charges, yet. As stated in the article the grand jury meets in August, that's when I expect to see charges.
I also checked to see if there were any civil charges maybe related to a lawsuit and found none.

When it gets closer to August - I shall remind you to look! If that is okay?

 

[Niner]

Hearings
# Date Time Type
1 08/19/2024 9:00AM Grand Jury

link: Virginia Court Case Information

 

[Niner]

Monday, August 19th:
*Grand Jury Hearing (@ 9am ET) – VA – Emily Marie Bernard Bivens (25), Cullen Micah Bivens (14 mos.) & Joan Denise Jefferson Bernard (62) (August 27, 2019, Pittsylvania) - *Matthew Thomas Bernard (19/now 23) (bro of Emily, son of Joan) arrested & charged (8/27/19) & arraigned (9/12/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder & 3 counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. No plea entered. Held without bond. On suicide watch. Pittsylvania County
Found competent to stand trial (7/3/24).
Court info from 8/28/19 thru 10/29/20 reference post #318 here:
https://www33.websleuths.com/forums...ia-murdered-26-aug-2019-arrest.470300/page-16
3/31/21 Update: Hearing has been delayed. Still receiving treatment. Next preliminary hearing on 9/15/21.
7/3/24 Update: Court documents from 2019 reveal Bernard gave statements indicating he was operating on a religious motivation & “things Bernard heard from God.” In November 2019, Bernard was ruled incompetent to stand trial after a psychiatric evaluation. A Pittsylvania County judge wanted treatment to continue with the goal that Bernard would be able to stand trial for the murder of his three family members. For the last five years, motions have been filed to continue Bernard’s court proceedings due to mental incompetency & sanity. After a preliminary hearing Wednesday, all of Bernard’s charges will now be brought before a grand jury. The grand jury will convene on 8/19/24 @ 9am.

 

[Niner]

Finally got into the court site - but no next hearing date yet.

Hearings
# Date Time Type Room Plea Duration Jury Result
1 08/19/2024 9:00AM Grand Jury True Bill
2 08/19/2024 9:00AM To Be Set

link: Virginia Court Case Information

 

[Niner]

Hearings
# Date Time Type Room Plea Duration Jury Result
1 08/19/2024 9:00AM Grand Jury True Bill
2 08/19/2024 9:00AM To Be Set Set For Trial

3 10/29/2024 1:00PM Motion - Other Pre-Trial

4 11/07/2024 9:00AM Jury Trial 2 Day(s)

5 11/08/2024 9:00AM Jury Trial 2 Day(s)


link: Virginia Court Case Information

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, October 29th:
*Pretrial Motions Hearing (@ 1pm ET) – VA – Emily Marie Bernard Bivens (25), Cullen Micah Bivens (14 mos.) & Joan Denise Jefferson Bernard (62) (August 27, 2019, Pittsylvania) - *Matthew Thomas Bernard (19/now 24) (bro of Emily, son of Joan) arrested & charged (8/27/19) & arraigned (9/12/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder & 3 counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. No plea entered. Held without bond. On suicide watch. Pittsylvania County Circuit Court
Found competent to stand trial (7/3/24).
Trial set to begin on 11/7/24 (& on 11/8)
Court info from 8/28/19 thru 3/31/21 reference post #347 here:
https://www33.websleuths.com/forums...ia-murdered-26-aug-2019-arrest.470300/page-18
7/3/24 Update: Court documents from 2019 reveal Bernard gave statements indicating he was operating on a religious motivation & “things Bernard heard from God.” In November 2019, Bernard was ruled incompetent to stand trial after a psychiatric evaluation. A Pittsylvania County judge wanted treatment to continue with the goal that Bernard would be able to stand trial for the murder of his three family members. For the last five years, motions have been filed to continue Bernard’s court proceedings due to mental incompetency & sanity. After a preliminary hearing Wednesday, all of Bernard’s charges will now be brought before a grand jury. The grand jury will convene on 8/19/24 @ 9am.
8/19/24 Update: Grand jury came back with a True Bill. Next pretrial motions hearing on 10/29/24 @ 1pm & trial is set to begin on 11/7/24 & will continue on 11/8/24 @ 9am. A two-day trial has been set.

 

[Niner]

@Simply Southern - I am having trouble getting into the court site - can you see if his next court date IS the trial on 11/7 & 11/8/24 - or has it changed? TIA!

 

[Niner]

@Simply Southern - were you able to access the court site? I am having problems... just want to know IF trial is still good for 11/7 - TIA!

 

[Simply Southern]

@Simply Southern - were you able to access the court site? I am having problems... just want to know IF trial is still good for 11/7 - TIA!

Not yet. But I do have this for you...

Trial for triple-murder suspect in Pittsylvania County pushed back to June

The trial for Matthew Bernard, the suspect in the 2019 homicides of three of his relatives in Keeling, has been pushed back until Jun

godanriver.com

 

[Niner]

Not yet. But I do have this for you...

Trial for triple-murder suspect in Pittsylvania County pushed back to June

The trial for Matthew Bernard, the suspect in the 2019 homicides of three of his relatives in Keeling, has been pushed back until Jun

godanriver.com

well dang.... you need a subscription to read the article.... can you read it? Does it say when in June his trial will be? I shall continue trying to access the court site. I have to let it "rest" for a few days - and then it will let me search!

edited to add - tried searching - but just getting older articles..

 

[Simply Southern]

well dang.... you need a subscription to read the article.... can you read it? Does it say when in June his trial will be? I shall continue trying to access the court site. I have to let it "rest" for a few days - and then it will let me search!

edited to add - tried searching - but just getting older articles..

@Niner
I had a very hard time looking up. Sorry for the delay...

 

[Niner]

@Niner
I had a very hard time looking up. Sorry for the delay...

Thanks!

 

[Niner]

Friday, February 21st:
*Pretrial Motions & Plea Hearing (@ 1pm ET) – VA – Emily Marie Bernard Bivens (25), Cullen Micah Bivens (14 mos.) & Joan Denise Jefferson Bernard (62) (August 27, 2019, Pittsylvania) - *Matthew Thomas Bernard (19/now 24) (bro of Emily, son of Joan) arrested & charged (8/27/19) & arraigned (9/12/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder & 3 counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. No plea entered. Held without bond. On suicide watch. Pittsylvania County
Found competent to stand trial (7/3/24).
Trial was set to begin on 11/7/24 but was reset on 6/2/25 (thru 6/6/25)
Court info from 8/28/19 thru 7/3/24 reference post #350 here:
https://www33.websleuths.com/forums...ia-murdered-26-aug-2019-arrest.470300/page-18
8/19/24 Update: Grand jury came back with a True Bill. Next pretrial motions hearing on 10/29/24 @ 1pm & trial is set to begin on 11/7/24 & will continue on 11/8/24 @ 9am. A two-day trial has been set.
10/29/24 Update: Per article trial has been reset to June 2 to thru June 6, 2025. Next pretrial motions & plea hearing on 2/21/25 @ 1pm.

 

[Niner]

I guess he did not make a plea deal - court still has trial starting 6/2/25. I shall look again in a few days to see if they might have added a hearing before that date.

Pleadings/Orders
Seq. # Date Type
40 02/10/2025 NOTICE TO RELY ON AUTOPSIES

39 02/10/2025 OTHER AUTOPSIES

38 01/13/2025 MOTION APPT. EXPERT INVESTGATOR

37 01/09/2025 RESPONSE APPT EXPERT INVESTIGATOR


Hearing Information
Date Time Result Type Courtroom Plea Duration Jury 06/06/2025 09:00 AM JURY TRIAL 5 Day(s)
06/05/2025 09:00 AM JURY TRIAL 5 Day(s)

06/04/2025 09:00 AM JURY TRIAL 5 Day(s)

06/03/2025 09:00 AM JURY TRIAL 5 Day(s)

06/02/2025 09:00 AM JURY TRIAL 5 Day(s)

02/21/2025 01:00 PM PLEA
02/21/2025 01:00 PM MOTION - OTHER PRE-TRIAL

link: https://eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/details;oneCase=true

 

[Niner]

Pleadings/Orders
Seq. # Date Type Judge Remarks
41 02/21/2025 ORDER SWM APPT EXPERT INVESTIGATOR


Hearing Information
Date Time Type Duration Jury
06/06/2025 09:00 AM JURY TRIAL 5 Day(s)

06/05/2025 09:00 AM JURY TRIAL 5 Day(s)

06/04/2025 09:00 AM JURY TRIAL 5 Day(s)

06/03/2025 09:00 AM JURY TRIAL 5 Day(s)

06/02/2025 09:00 AM JURY TRIAL 5 Day(s)

02/21/2025 01:00 PM PLEA
02/21/2025 01:00 PM MOTION - OTHER PRE-TRIAL

link: https://eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/details;oneCase=true

 

[Niner]

Hearings
# Date Time Type Duration Result
7 02/21/2025 1:00PM Plea Continued

8 05/16/2025 1:00PM Motion - Other Pre-Trial

9 06/02/2025 8:30AM Plea

10 06/02/2025 9:00AM Jury Trial 5 Day(s)

11 06/03/2025 9:00AM Jury Trial 5 Day(s)

12 06/04/2025 9:00AM Jury Trial 5 Day(s)

13 06/05/2025 9:00AM Jury Trial 5 Day(s)

14 06/06/2025 9:00AM Jury Trial 5 Day(s)

link: https://eapps.courts.state.va.us/CJISWeb/CaseDetail.do