Sword and Scale - Episode 120

Episode Date: August 19, 2018

Everyone loves the idea of having the perfect family and keeping everyone close together. Go to work, come home, play with the kids, eat dinner together. Unfortunately, that isn’t always how things go. In 2015, the Bever family was the perfect example of this. The family of nine stuck close together within the four walls of their home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.But, stick a family together long enough, and eventually someone will blow their lid. On the evening of July 22nd, 2015, Robert and Michael Bever carried out a savage attack on their family, leaving most of their family dead, but their plans reached further than the closed doors of their home.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sword and Scale contains adult themes and violence and is not intended for all audiences Listener discretion is advised He's going to do it no matter what. He says, if I don't do it, I think they'll just come eat you. Welcome to season five episode 120 of Sword and Scale, a show that reveals that the worst monsters are real. When you picture the perfect family, what comes to mind? Maybe it's the Brady Bunch. It's probably the Brady Bunch, isn't it? Actually maybe not, because most of you are sort of in the millennial era.

And probably don't even know what I'm talking about with that particular show. So it's probably something more like, uh, I don't know, Charles- no, Charles and Charche. Ha ha ha. Malcolm in the middle? Would that be the perfect family? I don't even know. But it probably is some sort of family

from a modern day sitcom of some sort, some sort of thing on the Disney channel perhaps. And most families, they're space and boundaries between each other. I mean, that's natural. But what happens when those boundaries don't exist? Can family ties be a little too close for comfort? Well, of course they can. And what happens to adolescence in that type of environment?

Please note that today's episode will deal with some violence against children. And you've been warned. Neighbors of the Bever family and broken Arrow, Oklahoma noticed things were a little atypical compared to most families. In 2015, the family consisted of 52-year-old David Bever, 44-year-old April, and their seven children, 18-year-old Robert, 16-year-old Michael, 13-year-old Crystal, 12-year-old Daniel, seven-year-old Christopher, five-year-old Victoria, and two-year-old Autumn. What neighbors noticed most about the family family besides how big it was, is how the kids never seemed to leave the household at all. They weren't real social, their kids were homeschooled so we didn't see their kids in school. For years and years, the Bever family lived in the same house. Yet one neighbor would

state, they'd only seen a boy once and only knew there were children because of toys by the pool. Any time that I would take my kids to the park, my kids would run up to their fence and try to talk to them, and the kids would just turn around and even run for my kids and run back in the house. David and April Bever kept their family close together. All of the children were homeschooled, surprise, prize. And they weren't allowed many opportunities to make friends outside of the children were homeschooled, surprise prize, and they weren't allowed many opportunities to make friends outside of the household. Robert, the oldest of the Beverage Children, found a way to express himself through a YouTube

channel where he went by the name Cult Empire. It's me Colton Park, cause she ain't no. You found me by accident. Are you expecting someone else? Yeah, why would you do that? Anyway, this is the second first ever update, which thanks to major improvements. I tried to use report theme less times, that's not very blog news yet. So I'm being a little more chillin' aided, wrangstuckstripting.

I'm gonna make my first skit soon. I can't show you a sneak preview or it would ruin it. It'll be like a minute long. It's going to be some big stuff. I think it's going to be hilarious. It's going to have a few props in it, which is the only delay. So props for props. Non-profit organization.

I don't know. I just came up with that. I would be really serious. It was one. I came up with a couple of songs. They aren't parody, so though, they're some intense gangster rap type stuff. I came up with when I was listening to someone's mixtape.

I'm about that. Yeah. I had a parody song, but it's probably offensive, so I'm never going to upload it now and having to write a whole new parody song. You can't explain that. Man. Write a song. Spending so much time in a home, crowded by other siblings, likely fueled Robert's creative endeavors, which included making comedy skits for his YouTube subscribers. Acting in one of these skits is Robert's

younger brother Michael. Robert cared deeply for Michael as they were closest in age. According to Robert, Michael had a speech impediment causing Robert to feel bad for his younger brother and helping their bond grow. Both Robert and Michael became disconnected from their parents, further strengthening the bond between the two brothers. Speaking with detectives, Michael states while his mom was alright at times, his dad could be a little too much.

Robert would later claim that David, Robert and Michael's father began telling the children that people in the world only wanted to hurt them, and that the children were told to stay away from the windows and leave the curtains closed. The only escape the older, beaver boys had was the internet. And we here at Surin Scale know how well that usually turns out. Soon their fascinations with the internet took a dive into darkness, of course. Michael and Robert shared a room. Late at night they began reading up on serial killers and mass murderers, which

the pair became obsessed with. Two events that the pair admired most were the Columbine High School Massacre that took place in 1999 and the 2012 Aurora Theater Massacre perpetrated by James Egan Holmes. A deeply disturbed young man with a crazed look on his face and orange hair. The more they read, the more intrigued they became. People like Colin but I need to change the cameras. Okay. Did you kind of feel that way too? Like when you guys were talking earlier, like... Yeah, like do you have a problem with society too, do you think? No, I just... Or you're just more like the number of people getting killed

was kind of interesting and exciting. Okay. So, because you mentioned a couple of names of are those like serial colors or something? Roughly two years prior to the interrogation between Michael and investigators, Robert seemed to have plenty of normal things occupying his time. Alright, the new V-LOG. I got my video uploading for my first happy-wills playthrough. Sadly something happened and at the last the game crashed and so my guy got a little slow I have to cut out certain parts of it.

There's just silence, hoping it would come back. It didn't though. So I'm going to upload a part two sometime soon hopefully with better video quality. Second of all new hairstyle check it. It's called a fohawk where I don't have to shave the rest of my head but I still get so low-hawk. I hope that it still looks like a fohawk. I still have them along here. I just shaped it to look like a fo-hawk. In the next couple days I'm going to try to get an actual fo-hawk. I did this before I started filming my playthrough of Happy Wheels. Thirdly, YouTube, can you not? I uploaded my first video of the Dark Forces playthrough through her Colton pirate classic and there was like no audio which completely ruined it had commentary it was hilarious it was 20 minutes of my life.

What you'd think would be the voice of a nerdy innocent teenager is really that of a cold blooded killer. On June 30th 2015, Robert and Michael began making a plan to have their names in the ranks of other mass murderers. The plan was to go on a multi-state killing spree and flicking death and injury to anyone who got in their way. Both of the brothers began working on their plot to kill as a nightly routine. to this second night. So I started getting ready. When was that? Second night, where you joined for this? Okay. Because we started. That's when you started making the plan. Yeah, so we found out you could buy it constantly. I see. Did you guys draw? Drawing is the right thing.

Or he had a journal. It was amazing. I think he was down with it. It took his bed. Under his bed. Is it like a journal? Like a real pen? Yeah. It's like a second-point book. After beginning to map out a plan of attack, Robert began making purchases on eBay and other various shopping outlets. By this time, Robert had been working at a company by the name of Micatec. From what Michael would go on a state, Robert had only gotten a job in order to make money

to begin purchasing knives, guns, body armor, and ammunition. We're gonna eat by body armor for a few hands. Oh, good. Yeah, please. Did you have a job? He didn't have Micate techie quit, started to go. Basically, he just kept escalating, he kept getting bored, and he asked if I wanted to,

and I said yes, so he got me my own set. Okay. And then, about month, about like June 30th, is when you came to me to say found out that you can legally buy guns without putting it in a clone. And that's why it's not planning. Did you? Yeah, you said he bought body armor, but you kind of said like a bunch of stuff. Did he buy what else did he buy besides body armor? He said it's body armor and knives, and he was in a little of fucking coincidence in the airy mission. Because the teenagers were limited to using the internet when at home and were under such close watch, it's a wonder how David and April felt about the purchases Robert was making, with knives and body armor being shipped to the house.

Michael claimed Robert walked around the family home showing off the body armor. He purchased. Do your parents know? Do they know? Do you have all the best sale? You thought there was a little while to figure out anything about it. According to Robert, every time he put the body armor on, he felt empowered. Can you imagine a household with a teenager walking around the living room in body armor. Less than a month after beginning to devise a plan, Robert decided it was time to carry out his plan. He chose the night of July 22nd, 2015, and there was a reason why he chose this particular night.

A supply of ammunition was set to be delivered to the Bevere household on July 23rd, the next morning. What began as a normal routine night in the Bever household turned into the family's worst nightmare. Crystal, whose name had been redacted from police interrogation audio, went into Robert and Michael's bedroom to tell them that April, their mother, wanted them to clean the kitchen and put the cats outside before going to bed. Michael asked his 13-year-old sister to come over to the desk where his computer was, telling her that he wanted to show her something. She came to tell us, they were on my desk, I can't look at something to this desk. I went up behind her and then she followed the crows claiming, mom came in first and she's hard on upstairs just like, I don't know, I don't know.

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. after hearing screams April ran into the room to see what the commotion was. Where was he? Where was he? Down there. Oh yeah, I can't stand it. I'm still in there. And then my mom came in and she started yelling, called the police, and then came up and started attacking her. I actually got a lot of him around out to get on tour. Wow. And now, once more, the son told her out to heat God up and start chasing after her.

And what were you doing? Did you come out in that all the way? You know, I was just standing alone. And the process on what I was doing. So he said, your mom went to say, night? Yeah, to my mom. And what he said, her.

I think in the neck too. And you know, actually, he just started doing that push through the kitchen and then together. So he was here, but she started screaming on the man that's in family. April, seeing that her daughter was being stabbed, yelled for someone to call police.

Robert proceeded to stab April, pushing her out into the hallway and ultimately ending up in the living room. Crystal then got up and ran outside, triggering the security system. I went out for a few seconds. I'm all right. Okay.

I'm just glad I did. I didn't. Where's the path for your arm arm a long time. Okay. That's what I did. I didn't work. Where's the path for your alarm? It's not difficult to. It's what? It's not difficult to give a friend or. Yeah.

And I'm sorry, I went out and looked at disabled for a long time. But then she already got outside. She went outside and then we went up my head to have to go. So where did she... She was playing the two guy away and he had to go up her back from another bench, not the other one. I'm a stud-shielding cold. That is a big bench.

Yeah, from? Yeah, I was the gold bitch and the food bitch. I'm going back inside to go after the gold kids. On his way to attack the younger children, Robert encountered his father, David. And then that's about the time Dad came down. And then his bedroom was upstairs. And then he started attacking there, making a whole world of fight. And then eventually, well, I got him down and down.

I think he killed him. Did he cut his throat to? Where did that happen? In your room. In your room, yeah. And uh... Where were you? I was standing in the hallway.

Okay. So did you see him cut your back throat? Daniel, one of the younger beaver brothers called 911. Broken air 911. Hello? Hello? Hi, Where are you at? Do you get out or go home to 7411? What address? I'm doing a manual.

Okay. Are you the only one there? No. My dad is a sit-taking family. Your dad is a packing your family. No, my dad will go. Hello. My name is Emily.

I'm Emily and I'm a people-baller. your dad is attacking your family? No, my deoggle. Okay, do you want me to take you below? Okay, who is attacking your family? Who is attacking your family? Yes, who is it? Do they have a log over? What is it? Are you there? Hi, what's going on there? What's going on there? Hello?

While Daniel was on the phone with 911, Michael coaxed him into opening the door. It was like let me in and let me in. People were saying, I'm going to the police at the airport, which is my phone. I get my phone. I get it in the kitchen and I smash the underground. Which was your phone? Yeah, it was my phone. I don't know. I don't know if asked for the other ground. Which was your phone? Yeah, it was my phone. And you have cell phone anymore.

And they were my pet, they were hanging on. They're going on Christmas for Christmas. I think something better, they're going on Christmas for their office. And then I finally got both of them into two, because they thought I wanted them out. But they were in different rooms. Yeah, they were all day next to each other. After Michael had taken the phone from Daniel and smashed it in the kitchen, the 911 operator

attempted a call back. We're sorry. You're called to not be completed as a director. If you think that you have reached this recording in error, please check the number and try your... to not be completed. During this time, Robert proceeded to stab Daniel. Seven-year-old Christopher and five-year-old Victoria hid in the bathroom next to the room in which Daniel was being killed. murdering. If I'm in here you start by hand again. Okay. And I'm going with it because I'm still the way I thought it would not do it. Okay, very quickly. Anyone's statement. Okay, did you

want to do it? I told you not to do it. I didn't just be fighting, killing you. Okay. I abstained. Someone. Who did you stand? I'm a man over at Christopher. Christopher. How was Christopher? I didn't. What was you stand? I'm laying over the other Christopher. Christopher? How was Christopher? Nine. What was you standing like? My left. What's your neck look like?

It's pretty, I'm kind of like camouflage on my suit. On where your hand goes or where the blade is. Is he came up on? He got his whole thing. What was his whole thing? How big is that? Show me how big it is. I think it's like a contested big.

How incredible. What was Christopher doing when you stabbed him? He was laying on the bathroom floor, and Robert was also stabbing, and Robert asked me to go over and tell him that I stabbed Christopher Wendell. Where did you stab him? Oh, south of the bank. Really?

You okay? Yeah, you okay. Let me know if you need a break or anything, okay? So, was Christopher still alive when he was davening? Yes. What was he saying and doing? He was just sweating and sweating. Was it, did you say he was in the bathroom?

Yeah, I just texted him to a toilet at home. With that bathroom? Who else was in the bathroom? I think it seems he told me it might have been in there. What's that book? Victoria. Yeah, my own political system. The interrogators wanted to know more about how Michael was able to get into the rooms where his siblings were hiding.

You've pleaded with, I guess, when they were locked in the bathroom and what, we don't have a room with the locked in? Uh, the bathroom, right next to it is not my desk office, stand on my desk office. Is it just one door to get into the bathroom and the office? No, the right two doors can't come to each other. It's the right one like this. Like, you know, like, they're in the corner. Yeah, kind of. And I was like, I said, hello from the tap to me and they both have a big time. Michael tells detectives what he did after gaining access to the bathroom or Christopher and

Victoria were hiding. That's when steps. So when he stepped in, or where did he step? I think he, I'm ashamed of him, and that hit the Dan moment and off. So I went back in. Sorry, attack the Christopher. So Dan, you got stabbed in the neck and ran off. Yeah.

Where did you run to? He he ran to the family room, and brought mom in to the upstairs light. I'm going to go home. Call 911. Okay. And we stopped in there. Yeah, he left. He collapsed and then I went away. And he started stabbing me with a chest.

Oh, I see. And then I risked the youngest for a year old. The phone number? I don't know what happened this year. My book says I like that. I'm sorry. I missed the one that you stabbed. Who was that?

Chris Christopher. It's my therapist's head. He was a piece of a ten. And he was in the bathroom. So Daniel had got stabbed in that grand house to where your mom was. Robert followed him. Stabbed him some more.

Yeah, I have to wait. You've got a stabster. Chris, did you. Yeah, I have to wait for you to get a stabs for a stint. Oh, I see. OK. David, the father, had sustained at least 28 sharp force injuries, consistent with being stabbed, and multiple blunt force injuries. April had been stabbed 48 times. 18 of those wounds directly to her head and neck area. Daniel was stabbed

nine times in his back, shoulders, and chest area. Christopher had been stabbed six times. Victoria had been stabbed a total of 18 times in her neck, chest, and back, when all was said and done most of the beaver family was dead. The only surviving members in the family of nine were Crystal and Autumn, as well as two attackers, Robert and Michael. Police arrived on scene shortly after the 911 call came in. Robert and Michael quickly gathered their survival gear in order to leave their home. Upon arriving at 709 Magnolia Court, police noticed blood on the porch. They began to call out and identify themselves to anyone who might be in the household.

From outside they could hear the moans coming from Crystal. Gaining entry to the home, police found the massacre that had just taken place. Crystal told police that her brothers Robert and Michael were the ones responsible for what had occurred inside this home. It wasn't long before police were able to locate the two brothers. We both collapsed. I think so, I was just sitting there. I mean, they found us.

Guess how you got kind of dirty and stuff. You're running. So you guys collapsed. Or you just kind of hide now. Yeah, we were just laying a little ditch, and then we saw the light, and we were like, tap on the window. The dark, and the photo.

Did you hear the dog coming? I don't think I saw the coming in there. So I'd be on the other lane, put my hands up on it, and then I stepped on my head, and got to meet. Photos publicly released after the arrests show the two boys covered in dirt and blood. One of the photos shows Michael with a shirt torn, as a police canine ripped his body

armor clean off of him. A photo of Robert shows his shirt lifted and blood covering his Kevlar vest. While this attack had taken place, two-year-old autumn was asleep in her crib within David and April's room. She was unharmed in the savage killings of her family. But Michael admits she was included in the plan to be killed. Are there any other kids? How many kids is that? I don't know. I guess.

Then there was... She's a baby, she's about to... ...to talk about. She was up in her bed. I can't tell the food. She was up in her bed. I think I've forgotten food. He forgot about food. And I think she stayed asleep until the police came

from her son and gave her an answer. She's in the bed. So you saw them carrying her out? Yeah, yeah, I was in the car. Was there the plan? Was there a killer or two, though? I think he was talking to the human. No, I don't think so.

According to Robert in a separate interrogation, the two had planned to kill autumn by beheading the two-year-old with an axe. The two beller brothers had carefully devised their plan, but Michael admits things didn't quite go according their plan. But Michael admits things didn't quite go according to plan. Murders of their siblings were supposed to happen in a specific order. So we talked a lot about your plans in the beginning because here's where I don't understand. It is, as you and Robert are kind of planning things out. I mean, because you seem like a really smart kid and that you kind of, I mean,

it seems like you had some pretty detailed plans. You guys have good equipment and weapons. And it seems to me, and tell me if I'm wrong, but I would think that as you guys plan this out, you had maybe more specific plans like, robber was gonna kill this person Yeah, we're gonna kill so who are you supposed to kill? I was supposed to take my pistol cost though Who's the shankist who's just supposed to die while we yeah, she was the one who first made you must again

Lovely going slip on to your push you up with me. I think I'm Supposed to be like quiet I would go you up with a minute, but I was going to be like quiet. Yeah, I was going to be like, I would go up to the sandwich and shoot David. I had to get out of my just a little cross-dose. Okay. I killed him and I didn't have a good deal of who I am. Okay. So did you use your, did you use your cross-dose?

No. Hey, at the only time I have, who did anybody use all of my steps? Pushed for the neck. Didn't Robert issue crossed her? No, it's just me. Where is your crossbow? I think it's on my bed still.

I must take a lot of the bed. So did you have it out ready to go, and then it just kind of didn't go as planned? Yeah, no, nothing. Their plan included dismembering their family members, placing the remains in plastic storage bins and storing them in the attic. After disposing of their family, the two would wait for their ammunition supply to be delivered before embarking on a trip to the state of Washington. Quite a lofty little plan. So when you're done, how's it going?

We were going to hang out there for at least a day, with my two-hour left together by using a little of something in the attic. I need up and then we're putting our ammunition to pick up the guns and pick up our leaf the next day. Did there be a take through your economy together? I stayed with the guns and still. No, Chris. I'm a brand-paging. Did you know where you were calling me to have a state with the cons and still? No, press book and red page. Did you know where you were going to drive to?

To his Washington. Washington State or Washington State? His Washington State. Why would you go to Washington State? To their life. To their life. That's kind of a big action. And you said you conned, and your parents had blood,

and you conned it that way, did? Yeah. Against the lower jade, you conned it so. Does Robert have a job or license? He has a lot of school. OK. So he could be able to drive it. Can you drive it if you had to?

No. Well, you can play video games, really. You can drive a car. It's not very well. I mean, you could get it from point A to B. You might hit some things on the way, but OK. After leaving the household, their plan was to commit a series of killings.

Whoever they encountered on their journey to Washington. Where are we going to go? Where was your mass planned to get the most bang for your buck? We're just heading to Washington State, but we're quite tired of it. To do it statewide. Did you guys have like, like, four-year-old, At this point, detectives interviewing Michael try to gas him up, giving him an opportunity to take credit for his involvement in the murder of his family. After all, he stated that both he and Robert wanted the notoriety.

Did you, because here's what happens, you know, you guys have all these detailed plans, you have all the cool stuff to make it happen. And it kind of started falling apart and he said like it didn't go as planned. I think, I mean, because you kind of. And he said, like, it didn't go as planned. I think, I mean, does she kind of just forget all her did it, like, just really happening. Well, I didn't know it was going to go to the lake. Yeah, you don't. But here's what's getting me is, like, it's crazy,

because you guys work together to make all these plans and, you know, I had it all figured out and then when it happens you're just kind of standing there not doing anything and did you did you decide like Robert's gonna kill everybody and I'm gonna stand here because I think so I better I mean did you yeah I just went to let him, like kill everyone. You know, you stabbed somebody in the neck. You know what I mean? I just kind of, but what I'm saying is,

it's not Roberts the one that should get all credit here. I mean, I mean, because it's a big deal, I mean, you're gonna be all the videos. You know what I mean? People are gonna lie in it, yeah. I don't want to be a glimpse into how he's feeling just shy of eight hours after the attack began. So you're staring now. Several hours later. How are you feeling? This whole thing, like, feeling really first step.

To get caught, I think you only last day about for three minutes. Yeah. Yeah. But that was a lot of, because it's eight o'clock in the morning now. So it's like a year or two ago. So how do you feel now? I mean, I just kind of had a team want to do that. Yeah, I just think about that.

Michael says he didn't want to kill anyone and continues to claim he only stabbed Christopher once as if that's okay. So I guess we're not gonna confuse him. If you didn't want this city, you didn't want this to go down this way. Why condom in the the door to the door to the door to continue? I was to cut the whole part of it.

In a separate interview with detectives, Robert Bever had plenty to say. According to Robert, he'd been planning to kill his parents and siblings since he was 13 years old. Many times during the interview, Robert laughed and chuckled as he described killing the family to investigators. Robert described how he admired serial killers and mass murderers. And in his mind he believed that once you kill another human being you were considered godlike. Robert thought that the world was overpopulated and that if he killed enough people, he would end up killing someone who didn't contribute to society, which would be a good thing in his mind. After killing the family, Robert and Michael planned on making two videos.

One of the videos was to contain shots of their deceased family members for the police. After storing the bodies, they were going to make a separate video that could be aired on new stations. There was one major difference in what Robert had to say about the events of the previous evening. Robert went on to claim that while he did slit crystals throughout and chased April down the hall after stabbing her, Michael was in fact the one who killed April in the living room. A vast contrast from what Michael had been saying in his interview.

The investigators questioning Michael even brought this up to him, letting him know that there would surely be differences between the brother's stories. So here's the problem that we might have, and I don't want it to be an issue for you because you've been really cooperative. We're going to talk to Robert too. So he's going to give us his version of the story and you know, sometimes they're going to be different. So is there anything that you kind of didn't quite tell me right or you changed a little

bit? And now that you understand that Robert's going to tell me everything. I don't know. Um, I hope I tell you that I can't forget't forget you, because that's why I told him we are going to go see him afterwards, to make conversation, and then we'll go to the next school show and I'll just get out of the person to food. What do you mean you told him to be? So you told him you killed your baby?

Yeah, I told him, because he asked me how many to you? I said three. Did you tell him who you were? No, I'm said to him. So, do you... I guess this is my question for you. Do you think it's a lesser sentence if we kill one or if you feel three? No.

What? I mean, I don't know. I think Robert, he may have... There's going to be a lot of differences. That's what I'm concerned about. And we don't want you to come off as a liar. I mean, because you've been real cooperative. You seem like a really good kid.

You know, you graduated high school early. You're designing games. I mean, there's all kinds of stuff you got going on. And so I don't want people to get a bad opinion of you and think that you're the type of guy that lies to police when it's kind of caught. You know what I mean? Tell me, I know you're leaving something out.

There's something, I mean, because it's like she said, you know, you're, this isn't like, you're still a bicycle. I know this is the most you can do. But, you know, so it's a big deal. But a lot of people, when they talk and think about this thing, your honesty is a big deal, and how you handle yourself from here on out.

And if you come off, because to me, you don't seem like a bad guy. You know, like, you don't scare me. I mean, I never thought you would've done that. So, you just seem like a normal kid to me. And you seem like an honest kid. But see, I talk to people all the time. And I mean, I know what people are lying.

Or when I'm not quite getting the whole story. And so, I just want to catch you up before you get in that bad spot where people start saying you're a bad guy, you're evil, you're a liar. So just tell me what I'm missing. Oh, I mean, along with you two thing, I was going to be going to, like, convincing people who are still alive there,

like, I was on the side, I called the police, you know, so they would, like, stay in one, and get them. So they're kind of staying on the side, I called the police, so they would stay and I would get them. So they'd come stay on the ground and he'd be able to come stay on them again? Did you ever have to go get Robert to let him know someone was still making too much noise or anything? No, I don't know. He was just going to push it and push it. So what kind of things did you say to them?

The only thing I said to them was when I was against convinced that I was with them, so they would come to me and kill them. Okay. Another claim Michael goes on to make is that he just wanted a normal life, get his learners permit, get a job, and live as normally as possible. He states that the only reason he wanted to help Robert was to save his own life. That homeschooling can really be a bitch.

According to Michael, Robert told him that if he didn't want to be part of the family. Yeah, I do want to do it with him because he's going to do it no matter what. He says if I don't do it, I think they'll just call me to leave him there. So I'll do everything. Yeah. Both detectives walk out of the room. After leaving Michael alone with his thoughts for a few moments, they return. I was right. The guys that are interviewing Robert, kind of getting a quick version of what he's saying that you did. And you got to hold everything.

So I know you're not being completely honest. And I gave you one shot already. I'm sorry, I don't know what you might say. I mean, which staff'm not going to master. We stand more than one person. So who else did you stand? I'm not going to understand. Or do you stand more than just one time?

Oh, I didn't stand to this one more than one time. How many times did you stand? I think twice. Because you don't think we're going to know that? I think you can go to what you know. You mentioned forensics a minute ago. I know. I mean, I'm just one of like hundreds of people that are going to look at this thing.

Okay. I know. We got the state police coming in. There's 20 different forensic detectives at your house right now. They're gonna be there a long time because of the scene that it ends. So everybody that you killed and every single stab wound that you inflicted, we're going to know about. And this is your last chance to just kind of let us know to be honest, the man up and tell us exactly what you did and start making a rhyme. I had a twist. It's not a stab.

It's really a routine. You just not stab. Yeah, I tried to stab him off. You just had him off. That's the guy I got in which he was walking away. I just got to go for a knee. But, you know, I... Is that when you cut yourself?

Yeah, I think you have to do that. Where did you stab her? I just got to go from behind. I hope I... Did you cut her? I think you guys have to do that. Where did you stab her? I just got to go from behind it. I kind of hope like, did you cut her? You guys think so, guys? Yeah, this isn't seem like something you have to think about. I know it's, you're still kind of dealing with it. And I wasn't there, I wasn't the one doing it.

But you don't have to think about it. You know what you did. So you cut her neck. You stabbed Christopher in the neck. How many times did you stab Christopher? Two or three. And who else did you stab? Besides Maul. Because here's a thing. Everybody's been stabbed. And we both had knives and we know you both stabbed everybody.

So you guys are kind of at the same level. And so now it's who's gonna be honest and make this right and who's a liar? Okay, which one do you wanna be? Not a lot. Okay, so you're a man of your word? Yes. Okay. Do you wanna make this right

and do the right thing at this point in time? Yes. Okay. Michael finally admits he did in fact attack his mother April. While most of the bevers neighbors didn't know much about the family, they pulled together to show their support. It doesn't just touch a family and the first responders, it touches everyone that reads about it.

And you have to be not human, not to care. We just felt like we had to do something. Our hearts were broken because no one had stepped up. Something happened to that. Like this, to my family, I would like people to step up and help and show their support. Only three days after the attack and murder of the family members, authorities announced that Michael Bever would be charged as an adult. Both Robert and Michael were charged with five counts of first degree murder and one count

of battery with intent to kill. On August 3, 2015, Robert and Michael were arraigned in court, with both brothers pleading not guilty to the charges leveled against them. While in jail, Robert attempted suicide. Around noon on June 17, 2016, he used his bedsheet to try to hang himself. During routine checks, a correctional officer found Robert during his suicide attempt to notify medical staff who came in and cut him down. He was then placed on suicide watch. Months later, on September 7th, Robert accepted a plea deal from the District Attorney's Office. He would plead guilty to avoid a possible death sentence.

Robert Bever avoided trial and the death penalty by pleading guilty Wednesday. His attorneys alluded to what has only been hinted at. The why in this entire tragedy. entry then head at home. After pleading guilty, Robert received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. He told the judge he was solely responsible for the murders of his family members. Michael's defense team filed a motion to have his charges dismissed. The judge denied this motion. Roughly a year and a half later, Michael Bevers trial began on April 20, 2018. The prosecution argued that Michael was complicit in Robert's actions and helped coax his younger

siblings into opening doors in order to be killed by Robert. Much of what the defense had argued was that Robert was solely responsible for the murders. The defense also argued that Michael suffered mental, emotional, and physical abuse in their household. On the first day of the trial, the prosecution's first witness to the stand was Lisa Smith, the 911 operator who took Daniel Bevers' call. Lisa became emotional, thinking about the call she'd received that night. She testified that in a later review of the audio, she could hear Daniel reference Michael and say, please

don't murder me. Next up to take the stand against Michael was his now 16 year old sister, Crystal, who testified via a screen from a nearby courtroom. The television she appeared on was faced away from Michael, so she didn't have to directly face her older brother. She testified that Michael told her about their plans several months before the attack occurred, and he asked her if she would join him. Crystal took this information to her mother April, who responded by stating,

they're just being boys. Further into her testimony, Crystal told the jury about how the events of that night played out from her memory. She remembered walking into Michael and Robert's room to inform them that their mother April wanted them to do dishes before bed. As she started to walk out of the room, she heard one of the brothers ask, should we do it now? Crystal went on a state that she turned around to see what the two brothers wanted. Michael directed her to his computer screen, and Robert came behind her with a

knife and slit her throat. She stated it felt metallic, and that she felt like she could taste it. As she fell backwards, she could feel Robert continue to stab and slash at her arms and chest. Crystal didn't remember how, but she escaped the brother's room and ran outside before losing consciousness in the driveway of the home. She then lifted parts of her sweater sleeves to show the scars from all the slashes and stab wounds she'd received during the attack. Days later in the trial, Robert Bever took the stand. There was a powerful moment in court today when Robert Bever broke down, saying I'm sorry and I don't know what I was thinking. Robert was on the stand all day long today testifying

his brother, Michael's defense. Robert said looking back, it's unfortunate this plan ever came to fruition. He says, for a long time, the plan wasn't real. It was just something he thought about to make himself feel better. Robert went through the entire chain of events of that night in detail.

This was back in July of 2015. He talked about how it started, how it ended, taking responsibility for every death and saying he doesn't even remember seeing Michael holding a knife. Robert admitted Michael helped trick the three little ones into unlocking the doors they were hiding behind. Robert says ultimately though, he's the one who killed them along with their two parents. Robert says he kept a journal and inside that journal he created a Robert Bever character who was cold-blooded and ruthless, saying that night he flipped the switch into this character

so he wouldn't think about what he was doing too much. Now the question for prosecutors is to find out whether Robert's account of events in court today is true or not. We weren't really sure what we were going to get, but after meeting with Robert I knew that he would be authentic with the truth, whatever that is to him, and I think that's what we were seeing in there. While the defense may have thought Robert's testimony was a home run, the prosecution disagreed.

I think anybody sitting in the gallery would say it's hard to even fathom what's coming out of that person's mouth. And so what we do is just do our job and start challenging whether there's trees to what he's saying or not. During his testimony, Robert was shown a photo of the hatchet that he initially claimed to have purchased to cut down bushes behind the family home. Robert began sobbing.

When Michael's defense attorney asked what had upset Robert about the photo, all Robert could say was, there's a lot of blood. There's a lot of blood. I don't know what I was thinking. Robert didn't deny the fact that both of the brothers had acted together, but his claim was that they acted in their own separate ways. According to Robert, he claimed he never saw a mental health professional until after he was arrested, and had never seen a primary care physician in his entire life.

A piece of evidence the prosecution introduced in the courtroom was a journal that had been confiscated from Michael during his incarceration. Inside the journal, Michael had drawn crude stick-figured depictions of his family. One page reads, once upon a time, there were two brothers named Michael and Robert. The next page goes on, they hated their family. The following page reads, so they killed them and shows two stick figures standing next to graves. Some pages were titled, My Hero, and had the names of James Holmes and Jim Jones written on them. Other pages had Hail Satan and White Power written within the journal. Obviously, Michael was a very well-adjusted and mature young man.

On May 9, 2018, the jury reached their decision regarding the younger Bever brother. Well, Craig, the jury found Michael Bever guilty on all six counts, five counts of first degree murder, as well as one count of assault and battery with a deadly weapon. Right now, his attorney is giving a news conference over here to my right. He's basically saying they will come back tomorrow and all they have to fight for now is to try to get this jury to give Michael Bever a life sentence rather than a sentence of life without parole. When we were in court and the jury verdict was read, many of the jurors, most of the jurors were crying,

one was sobbing quite hard, the bailiff was handing out tissues, Michael Beffer looked down, he looked at the jurors, he kind of almost sank into his chair at one point before being handcuffed. So his attorney right now is saying that they are going to fight tomorrow and ask the jury to give him a life sentence. So there is some chance that he would be out at some point in his life, of course, the prosecutor, who's walking up right now for a news conference, he is going to be asking

that jury for a life without parole. So of course, Ty, can we scoot over our camera? We're going to tune over here and show you guys Steve Coonswiler is coming out here right now. This is no doubt that this has got to be one of the toughest things any human being can have to go through. Very grateful for surviving teenager. I think she finally is going to have the opportunity to put some of this behind her. I don't think she's ever going to be able to put all of it behind her, but the reality is she's not going to have to worry about her brother being on the street. So it's it's it's satisfying to get through this process and we're looking forward to having this to make its own appropriate punishment. What about the sentencing second stage at the top of the tomorrow?

Obviously Corwin just shared he's going to be fighting for the jurors to give Michael the possibility for all. I know you will be by the loop holiday. He would not have the opportunity for all the whiny fields as strongly about it. They punched a knife into their sister's neck. They then went and attacked their mom, gave her 40-some odd wings to her body. They then hunted down their dad and stabbed him in a bedroom.

And then they had the audacity to go and knock on a door to try and lure out those children so they can stab them so that they can go on some kind of cross-country crime spree. I want to know when do you want them out? Michael's defense team had fought for a life sentence with parole, but the prosecution wanted to see Michael never have the opportunity to be back out on the streets. On May 10, jurors recommended a sentence of 28 years for the charge of assault and battery with intent to kill. The following day, May 11, jurors recommended sentences for five counts of first-degree

murder. Five sentences of life with the possibility of parole. So a couple of the jurors were crying as those verdicts were read. Michael Bever initially smiled, wiped some eyes as attorneys, wiped some tears from their eyes as well. Because he got five counts of life with the possibility of parole. So to give him life without parole, they would have had to find that he is beyond any hope of Rehabilitation for the rest of his life and the juror said they did not find that. So that is why they chose a sentence of life Five different counts of life for the two fathers and the three siblings in this case. Of course he's already gotten a sentence of

28 years for the near death of one of his sisters prior to Michael's trial of 28 years for the near death of one of his sisters. Prior to Michael's trial, Broken Arrow City Councilor Mike Lester announced the bevary home would be eventually demolished, making way for a memorial garden. First responders who had been called to the crime scene and neighbors in the community spoke about why they felt it was important to move forward on this project. And we believe this memorial Park would be an appropriate step to continue the healing process for not only the victims, but also the community and the first responders.

And that we ensure that we never forget the sacrifice and the tragedy that occurred here that night. In the wake of the tragedy, my wife and I were kind of left with, well, do we just let this process move on? Do we just sit stagnant and let the process roll and in our hearts? We just didn't feel that and once I connected with Councilman Lester I got to see the beautiful power of community and the channels move properly Many hands make light work and that's been true in this case

This house has been in more ways than anybody other than the neighbors will know, just, yes, a constant reminder. I'm almost positive that in the future it would be a constant reminder for those surviving victims. We're proud to say because we maintain a beautiful relationship with the extended family. We have their blessing on this. It is the right thing to do. It's time to turn the light on. Weeks after this press conference was held, the house was burned down by an unknown individual.

Pushing back the plans for the garden. On March 30, 2018, the city of Broken Arrow was finally able to begin working on plans to place a gazebo and Monarch Butterfly Garden where the home once stood. Since the tragedy occurred, both Crystal and Autumn were adopted into a loving home where they can still be together. Bringing a family close together typically tends to be a good thing considering how disconnected we can become in this modern age. But no matter how much we'd like to have this ideal family or pretend we do, there's

no knowing whether or not it'll ever be truly perfect. There's always something behind the facade. Sometimes if the grass is always greener, then it's because it's fake. Perfection simply doesn't exist in this world. No matter how many families it comes you watch. While some of us struggle to keep our family, close knit and close together, and take extreme steps to do so, sheltering them from the outside world as best we can. Sometimes the results can be the exact opposite of our intentions. The And that does it for another episode of Sword and Scale. We hope you've enjoyed it.

I want to take a minute and give a quick shout out to a good friend, a really, really good friend. Her name's Candace Fox. She's an Australian novelist and she's written a ton of great books. So when I was ready to write a book of my own, I decided to reach out to her and get a little bit of her help and her advice. And she's been awesome in giving me some feedback.

Go check out her book. She writes these incredible mystery books, which are gonna captivate you and keep you at the edge of your seat. It's called Crimson Lake by Candace Fox. Go check it out at CandaceFox.org. Thank you so much Candace for all your help. If you're the kind of fan that gets a little bit upset

when the episode is over, because now you've got to wait for the next one. We'll head on over to Sword and Scale Rewind. The show's changed a lot since the early days. It's hosted by Stephanie Wilder, Taylor, and Matt Fondaleer. And if you go check it out right now, I'm actually appearing on episodes 61 and 62 as a guest. It's a great way to recap older stories and get a fresh perspective on the world of Sword and Scale.

If you enjoy the show, please join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Sign up for Sword and Scale Plus at patreon.com slash sword and scale 32 episodes at this point that are available right now for instant access for just five bucks a month. So until next time do not homeschool your children and I don't give a shit if you come at me for that don't do it let them socialize with normal kids and oh yeah, stay safe. you