Robert Bever

Mass Murderer

Robert Bever and the Broken Arrow Family Murders

Overview of the Case

Robert Davis Bever was one of two brothers responsible for the mass murder of five members of their own family inside their home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Although the case is sometimes confused with a separate 2022 familicide in Broken Arrow, Robert Bever's crimes occurred during the night of July 22, 2015. Bever, who was 18 years old at the time, carried out the killings with his 16-year-old brother, Michael Bever. The brothers murdered their parents, David and April Bever, and three of their younger siblings. They also attempted to murder a 13-year-old sister, who survived despite suffering serious injuries. A two-year-old sister was discovered unharmed. Investigators later learned that the family murders were intended to be the beginning of a much larger killing spree.

The Bever Family Home

The Bever family lived at 709 Magnolia Court in Broken Arrow, a suburb southeast of Tulsa. David and April Bever had seven children who were largely homeschooled and reportedly had limited interaction with neighbors and other children. Robert was the oldest child living in the home, followed by Michael and their younger siblings. Neighbors described the family as private and socially isolated. Some residents of the neighborhood reportedly knew very little about the children before the murders. During later court proceedings, allegations were made that the children had experienced an abusive and restrictive home environment. Those allegations became part of the defense discussion surrounding Michael Bever's trial, but they did not excuse or legally justify the planned killings.

Planning the Murders

Robert Bever later admitted that he and Michael had discussed killing their family before the night of the attack. According to Robert's statements to investigators, the brothers wanted to become notorious mass murderers. They studied previous mass shootings and talked about exceeding the death tolls of attacks such as the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting. The brothers accumulated knives, protective equipment and other items that could be used during the attack. Robert also ordered firearms and a large quantity of ammunition. The shipment was expected to arrive at the Bever residence on July 23, 2015, only hours after the family was attacked. Their plan was to murder the family, take a vehicle and continue killing people at multiple locations. Robert described ambitions that went far beyond the five murders committed in the house. He reportedly talked about killing dozens of strangers and eventually achieving an extremely high death toll. The brothers also discussed recording material connected to the crimes and leaving evidence that would ensure public attention. ...

Confirmed Victims: (5)

David Bever 52 yr old Male

Broken Arrow murders