On the night of July 22, 2015, in the quiet city of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, a horrific scene unfolded within the Bever family home that would end in the tragic death of 12-year-old Daniel Bever, a male, along with four other members of his family. The events of that evening were set into motion by his own older brothers, 18-year-old Robert and 16-year-old Michael Bever.
The brothers, armed with knives, began a brutal assault on their family.
In a moment of bravery, Daniel managed to call 911, a heroic act that would ultimately save the lives of his two sisters, one aged 13 and the other just two years old. During the call, however, his brothers discovered him and the line went dead. The assailants then lured their other siblings out of locked rooms by pretending they were also under attack. Tragically, Daniel was among those who were fatally stabbed. When police arrived at the home, they discovered a gruesome scene with Daniel and four other family members deceased.
The two surviving sisters were found, one critically injured and the other, a toddler, unharmed. The injured sister identified her older brothers, Robert and Michael, as the perpetrators of the attack. The brothers had fled the scene but were quickly apprehended by police with the help of a K9 unit in a wooded area behind their house.
Investigations following the murders revealed a chilling motive. The brothers had been planning the massacre, hoping to achieve fame and notoriety that would surpass other mass murderers. They had aspirations of a cross-country killing spree that was to begin after the slaughter of their family. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Robert Bever pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Michael Bever was also found guilty of five counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to five consecutive life sentences with the possibility of parole. During the legal proceedings, claims of physical and verbal abuse by their parents were made by the brothers and one of the surviving sisters.
