Neither of the two brothers who went on a Broken Arrow stabbing rampage that killed five members of their family and injured another will face the death penalty, after the only brother eligible for capital punishment entered a plea deal that would ultimately save his life.
Robert Bever, now 19, was 18 years old when he and his 16-year-old brother Michael went on a killing spree, stabbing to death their mother, father, two brothers (12 and 7), and a sister (5). Another sister (13) was critically injured in the attack. A toddler sister was found unharmed in an upstairs room of the house.
Police believe the 12-year-old brother who died of his injuries was responsible for saving the lives of the two surviving sisters when he placed a 9-1-1 call for help. Investigators say Robert and Michael planned to continue the killing spree outside the family home and into populated areas.
Because Michael Bever was only 16 at the time of the killings, he is ineligible for the death penalty, according to state and federal law. Robert, however, was a legal adult at 18, and he was facing the death penalty if convicted of his crimes.
But earlier this month, the eldest Bever brother escaped the death penalty by accepting a plea agreement that would land him in prison for the rest of his life. Ironically, Robert Bever attempted suicide in the Tulsa County Jail in June, less than three months before accepting a deal that would spare his life.
Last Wednesday, Robert Bever pleaded guilty in Tulsa County District Court to five counts of first degree murder and one count of assault and battery with intent to kill. He is sentenced to life in prison without parole for each of the murder charges, and he is sentenced to life in prison for the assault and battery with intent to kill conviction. All sentences are to be served consecutively, meaning Robert Bever will spend the rest of his life in jail.
As for the younger brother, Michael, the case is still pending. Michael is charged as an adult in the case. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for April 11, 2017, and the trial--if the case comes to that--is set for June 5, 2017. Michael Bever's attorney says that he plans to use a "mental health defense" in the teen's case.
