Minor League Baseball pitcher Blake Bivens opened up on Thursday after he lost his wife, infant son, and mother-in-law to senseless murders on Tuesday, allegedly carried out by his teen brother-in-law.
“My life as I knew it is destroyed,” 24-year-old Bivens said Instagram. “Emily, my sweetheart, you are the best wife and mother this world has ever seen.”
Bivens was referring to his wife Emily Bivens, one of three family members killed Tuesday morning at a Keeling, Virginia, home. Emily’s brother, 18-year-old Matthew Bernard, has been arrested and charged with the murders.
“My sweet little boy, dada loves you so much! I can’t breathe without you here,” Bivens continued. “I finally understood what love was when you were born and I would have done anything for you. You have changed my life forever, you are my reason why. ”
Bivens’ 1-year-old son Cullen was among the three victims, along with Bivens’ mother-in-law, Joan Bernard. All three were found deceased at their family home. Police found a bloodied sledgehammer, a rifle, and shell casings nearby, according to court documents.
“Joan you were the best mother-in-law anyone could ask for. You loved your family more than anyone I’ve ever seen,” Bivens wrote. “You raised the most wonderful girl in the world. ”
Court documents state that a neighbor of the victims, Ms. Jefferson, told police that on the morning in question, she spotted Bernard on her property outside and when she walked out to investigate, he punched her in the arm and ran off.
Shortly after, the woman heard gunshots coming from the home where Bernard lived with his family.
The neighbor discovered Joan Bernard deceased in her own driveway and promptly called police. Inside the residence, police later discovered the bodies of Emily and Cullen. Police said at least two of the victims had visible gunshot wounds to their heads.
NBC 10 reports that the suspect’s uncle said Bernard made strange and chilling comments a week before the killings took place.
“He expressed to his mother last week that he was having bad dreams, and that he’d seen demons around his bed,” Bryant Bernard reportedly said.
“He woke up [on Tuesday,] he said something to his mother that something’s going on and ‘it has to stop today’ and he left. They never saw him again until the point of where [his mom] got back home and that’s where she confronted him.”
Bryant Bernard said even the family dog was killed during the gruesome incident.
Police eventually stopped Bernard by macing him and striking him with a nightstick when the suspect ran out of a nearby wooded area.
Bernard is currently on suicide watch and behind bars without bond.
Check back for further details.
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[Feature Photo: Joan Bernard; Emily and Cullen Bivens/Instagram]
