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KEELING, Go. –
The first indication that something was wrong in 1949, Keeling Drive, was when Matthew Thomas Bernard went to a neighbor's house and hit the woman in the arm before running away. A few minutes later, she heard gunshots.
New court documents filed in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, provide insight into the bloodshed that occurred Tuesday morning in a Keeling home, where the wife, son and daughter-in-law mother of minor pitcher Blake Bivens were shot. Bivens, 24, plays for the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A team affiliated with Tampa Bay Rays, based in Alabama.
>> Associated Story: The family of the prospect swinging the Tampa Bay Rays killed in the triple homicide of Virginia
Bernard, brother-in-law of 18-year-old Bivens, is charged with three counts of first degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a crime. He is accused of killing his mother, Joan Jefferson Bernard, his sister, Emily Marie Bernard Bivens and his 14-month-old nephew, Cullen Micah Bivens.
The criminal complaint in the case, obtained by WSET in Lynchburg, indicates that the neighbor drove to the home of Joan Bernard, where Matthew Bernard also lived, after hearing gunshots, and found Joan Bernard, 62 years old, lying dead in the driveway. She called 911.
A Pittsylvania County Member who responded to the scene found the bodies of Emily Bivens, 25, and her son inside the house.
"Two victims had gunshot wounds to their heads," the complaint said.
#UPDATE on Pittsco. Triple homicide. The neighbor who called the police filed a criminal complaint saying that Benard had come to her house, punched her, left her and then heard several shots. She went next door and found a body in the driveway. pic.twitter.com/FZ1LQcDTyb
– Itinease McMiller (@IMcMillerNews) August 29, 2019
Sockets of a 30-30 rifle were found near the three victims, the document says. A bloody club blow was found in the garage of the house, although the complaint does not specify whether the tool was used on a victim.
The rifle considered as the weapon used during the killings was found in the woods behind the Bernard house.
About one hundred law enforcement officers descended on Keeling, a rural community near the border of the state of North Carolina, and began searching for Matthew Bernard. Several news agencies, including the Associated Press, reported that an armored vehicle and a tank were parked along Keeling Road.
According to the Chatham Star-Tribune, schools in the area were placed in receivership and an inverted 911 alert was issued to residents.
"The citizens of the Keeling area are urged to be on the lookout for Matthew Bernard," said the alert before giving a description of Bernard. "He is armed with a rifle and considered very dangerous. He was last seen around 1949 Keeling Drive in the community of Keeling. If you see this person, do not contact them, but call the 911 Pittsylvania County Center immediately. The citizens of this area must be cautious and watch this individual until further notice. "
Matthew Bernard was seen shortly before noon, leaving naked woods along Keeling Drive. According to the Danville Register & Bee, he allegedly met a state soldier who ordered him to stop.
Bernard refused and, even after the soldier sprayed him with pepper spray, he continued jogging in a circle. The show was videotaped by stunned reporters, gathered nearby in a media staging area set up by the investigators.
Click here to see images of Bernard's capture, courtesy of WSET. Warning: The alleged shooter, although vague, is naked in the video.
Bernard jogged on the parking lot of the Keeling Baptist Church, where he met Loyd Gauldin, the church's keeper.
Gauldin told the Register & Bee that his wife had just called to tell him that a naked man had run into their yard. Gauldin saw Bernard arrive and tried to get into his truck.
Before he could, Bernard took him by the neck and began to choke him.
The rider caught Bernard and hit him with a tactical baton to get him out of Gauldin. Bernard then ran on the shoulder of Keeling Drive, where deputies and state soldiers formed a blockade, the newspaper reported. A K-9 team brought Bernard to the ground and he was arrested.
Bernard was taken to the hospital for treatment after being hit his head repeatedly against the metal cage of a patrol car suffering from cuts, authorities said. His picture shows bandages wrapped around his head.
Officials from the Virginia State Police have stated that the use of force by police officers against Bernard was being reviewed, as was the usual protocol when a suspect fought against him. apprehension. They said that the soldier who first met Bernard had deliberately made a "tactical retreat" and chose the non-lethal force because of the apparent mental distress of the young man.
"The murder suspect was not in possession of a weapon and was living in obvious mental distress," said a soldier in a statement to WSET. "The state police are trained to first try to defuse a situation with an individual manifesting overt mental distress. The soldier used the equipment at his disposal, which included a pepper spray and a stick. Only tactical teams of the state police (the equivalent of a SWAT team) are equipped with Tasers. Soldiers are also trained to maintain a tactical and safe distance with a suspect to prevent an individual from gaining access to soldiers' weapons. "
Authorities said Bernard was monitoring suicide in Pittsylvania County Jail. The Pittsylvania County Sheriff, Michael Taylor, said at a press conference on Wednesday that the motive for the killings was not known.
"We do not know what happened to trigger this chain of events," Taylor said.
Neighbors told Register & Bee that Bernard had recently graduated from Dan River High School. WSET said that he is studying at Danville Community College. He also worked at his family's campsite.
Joyce Earp, who has known the family for about 30 years, said that she "would never have dreamed". Bernard could never be accused of killing his family. She told the Register & Bee that he was still a kind and calm young man.
"Big-hearted people involved in the church," Earp told the newspaper on Wednesday. "It's only a sad tragedy."
Another neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said she had known Bernard since childhood.
"He was just a love," she said in front of her house. "He grew up in the church, always respectful. He just snapped.
The woman said that she had seen something unusual the night before the murders, however. Around 7:30 pm, she saw Bernard sitting in a nearby field as she passed by.
"I raised my hand (with a wave)," said the woman. "He did not answer."
Ann Byrn, who lives next to the Bernards with her uncle, described Joan Bernard as a "kind and charming person".
"Joan has dedicated her life to being the best mom and nana ever," says her obituary. "She was an active member of her religious family at Central Church Church of God Church. The light of Jesus flowed from her to all the people she met. She loved her family and spent most of her time with her. When she was not with her family, she was doing family camping a fun place. "
Our Baseball Life, an organization that supports families of professional baseball players, described Emily Bivens as another godly and loving woman.
"We are devastated by the loss of our friend and our baseball companion," the group wrote on Facebook, as well as a GoFundMe page created for Blake Bivens. "Emily had an incredible heart for the Lord and shared her light with many through her writings in the baseball chapel. She deeply loved this community of women baseball and was a comforting and kind soul for all who knew her. Our hearts are with her husband Blake and her family during this unimaginable time. "
Along with the GoFundMe page, which raised more than $ 42,000 on Thursday afternoon, Our Baseball Life is also raising funds for Bivens through the sale of a wall print designed by his wife.
"The house is everywhere I am with you," we read.
Emily Bivens' obituary describes her as "a kind and gentle soul and a light for all who knew her". A graduate in Averett University's musical performance, she loved photography and teaching music.
His obituary describes Cullen as the love of his parents' life. He does not mention Matthew Bernard as his brother, but lists four other siblings in addition to him.
The obituary of Joan Bernard lists the five children as survivors.
The Biscuits canceled a double-header on Tuesday night with Chattanooga watchmen, describing the killings as a "tragic event within the Biscuits family". A subsequent statement from owner and CEO Lou DiBella described the murders as an "unimaginable loss" for Bivens.
"First, the thoughts and prayers of the cookies are with Blake and everyone who has been affected by this tragedy," wrote DiBella. "We appreciate the surge of support and concern, but we ask you to respect the privacy of the family during this difficult time."
A statement from CEO and Chief Owner, Lou DiBella. pic.twitter.com/Uocm0juKb7
– Montgomery Cookies (@BiscuitBaseball) August 28, 2019
The Rays also used social media to offer their condolences and support to the player.
"Our hearts are broken for Blake," tweeted the team. "We are afflicted with him and will support him in every way possible."
The Houston Rays and Astros held a minute of silence in honor of Bivens before their match on Wednesday. The Tampa Bay Times has announced that the Rays should do the same at home Friday for their next game.
#Rays/# Astros Moment of silence for the family tragedy of Blake Bivens pic.twitter.com/mFasNoB26g
– Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) August 28, 2019
We are with you, Blake. pic.twitter.com/gJqdUCIf7p
– Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 28, 2019
The Biscuits should resume their own schedule Thursday in Montgomery, without Bivens, who rushed home to Virginia after the murder of his wife and son.
The description of Bivens's Instagram account is brief: "Rays Pitcher. Emily Marie. The words are composed of a heart and a diamond ring. The couple got married in January 2016, according to Bivens' Facebook profile.
Their son was born in June 2018. Cullen was their first child.
Bivens posted a video of his son on June 10 in honor of Cullen's first birthday.
"Happy first birthday to my little man!" Wrote Bivens. "Daddy likes you!"
Fans are overjoyed on the Bivens page, offering their Alabama condolences to Spain.
"I am completely sorry for you and your loved ones," wrote Kimberly Wilson of Brownsburg, Indiana. "Stand on others and on the Lord (if you are a believer) to help you cope each day. Know that foreigners hurt you honestly.
Todd Montgomery, of Tampa, expressed a similar feeling. "I do not know you and I probably will never know, but I'm thinking of you," Montgomery wrote.
"I am a baseball mom for two boys and many other members of their team, and my heart breaks for you and your family," wrote Kim Cameron of Georgetown, South Carolina. "Prayers for peace beyond all understanding to embody you now and in the days to come."
"My God, I'm really sorry, Blake," wrote Victoria Vitoria of Spain. "I can not believe that someone would do that to a baby. God has them in his glory. From Spain, kisses.
Jenn Stallard, a member of the Bernards' family, shared on Facebook a photo of Joan Bernard, Emily Bevins and Cullen Bevins, in which she explained that she wanted this photo to become viral instead of "discouraging" (by Matthew Bernard). " pushed in (their) faces lately. "
Stallard said that mental illness had played a role in the murders and that she loved everyone involved, including Matthew Bernard, as she knew "the real him".
"We will miss you so much. The sweetest and sweetest people that we know in my family, "wrote Stallard. "Joan, you have always cared so much not only for all your children and grandchildren, but also for all your nephews and nieces. Emily, you were so tender with a beautiful voice just like an angel, and now you are one.
"I love you and I'm sorry for what happened, I know you've forgiven Matthew because he was not aware of what he did."
© 2019 Cox Media Group.
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