Michael Bever

Mass Murderer

Michael Bever and the 2015 Broken Arrow Family Murders

Overview of the Case

Michael John Bever was one of two brothers responsible for the mass murder of five members of their family inside their home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Although the case is sometimes mistakenly associated with 2022, the killings occurred during the night of July 22, 2015. Michael was 16 years old at the time, while his older brother and accomplice, Robert Bever, was 18. The brothers killed their parents, David and April Bever, and three of their younger siblings: Daniel, Christopher and Victoria Bever. A fourth sibling, 13-year-old Crystal Bever, was seriously wounded but survived. The youngest child in the family, 2-year-old Autumn Bever, was found unharmed. The attack was classified as a mass murder, familicide and mass stabbing.

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, most of whom were educated at home. Neighbors later described the family as private and socially isolated, with the children rarely seen interacting with other young people in the neighborhood. Testimony and statements presented during the criminal proceedings described serious dysfunction within the household. Robert Bever claimed that the children had experienced physical and emotional abuse. Crystal Bever also testified about abusive conduct inside the home. These allegations became part of the background examined at Michael's trial, but they did not excuse or legally justify the planned killings.

Planning the Murders

Investigators concluded that Michael and Robert Bever did not act during a sudden argument. The brothers had discussed killing their family and then carrying out additional acts of mass violence. They accumulated knives, protective equipment and other supplies while researching notorious murderers and mass attacks. Robert had obtained employment and used some of his earnings to purchase weapons and equipment. Investigators recovered knives, a hatchet, a surgical blade, body armor, protective gear, a black mask, cameras, computers and electronic storage devices from the residence. Firearms and ammunition had reportedly been ordered as part of the brothers' broader plans. The brothers wanted to become infamous and discussed surpassing the death tolls of previous mass killers. Their plan allegedly extended beyond the Bever household. After killing their relatives, they intended to leave Oklahoma and attack additional victims in other locations. The murders of their family were therefore intended to be the first stage of a much larger campaign of violence. ...

Confirmed Victims: (5)

Victoria Bever 5 yr old Male

Broken Arrow murders - Wikipedia