Bever family murders

On the night of July 22, 2015, 18-year-old Robert Bever and his 16-year-old brother Michael attacked their family with knives and other bladed weapons at the family's home at 709 Magnolia Court in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Twelve-year-old Daniel Bever called 911 to report that his brother was attacking the family; he was killed by the assailants during the call, but the call alerted police, who arrived and found 13-year-old Crystal Bever critically wounded on the porch, along with the bodies of Daniel and four other family members inside. A two-year-old sister, Autumn, was found alive and unharmed upstairs; the brothers later said they had intended to decapitate her.

Killed in the attack were the parents, David Bever, 52, and April Bever, 44, and three younger children: Daniel Bever, 12; Christopher Bever, 7; and Victoria Bever, 5. A medical examiner determined the cause of death for all five was multiple sharp force injuries, with each victim sustaining more than 20 stab or blunt-force wounds. Crystal Bever, 13, survived after her throat was slit and she was stabbed in the stomach and arms; she identified Robert and Michael as the attackers and underwent surgery.

The brothers fled into a wooded area behind the house and were apprehended by police using a K9 unit within roughly 45 minutes, found hiding beneath a bush. Robert was armed with a knife at the time of arrest. Investigators later recovered a flash drive, computers, and surveillance cameras from the home; Robert confessed that the brothers had planned the familicide for months and intended to go on to commit a mass shooting spree outside the family, aiming to surpass the death tolls of the Columbine and Aurora attacks, with a stated goal of reaching a body count of up to 500. Detectives also found body armor, a hatchet, darts, and other weapons and protective gear at the home; Robert said he had taken a job to fund weapon and armor purchases and had guns and ammunition ordered for delivery.

Both brothers were charged with five counts of first-degree murder and one count of assault and battery with intent to kill; Michael was charged as an adult. Robert Bever pleaded guilty to all counts and was sentenced on September 7, 2016, to six life sentences plus an additional life term, without the possibility of parole. Michael Bever's trial began April 16, 2018; he was found guilty on May 9, 2018, and on August 9, 2018, was sentenced to five life sentences with parole eligibility after 225 years. Robert attempted suicide in custody in June 2016 and, on July 15, 2019, attempted to attack two prison officers at Joseph Harp Correctional Center, resulting in three additional life sentences imposed on November 17, 2020, bringing his total to nine life terms.

The family home was later destroyed by fire on March 18, 2017, and the site was redeveloped into a public memorial, Reflection Park, dedicated on March 27, 2019.