Mathew Bernard, 19, has been arrested in connection to a horrific triple homicide that left the wife, daughter, and mother-in-law of Minor League Baseball player Blake Bivens dead. Bernard is the brother of Bevins’ wife, Emily Bivens. Bivens’ son Cullen was just one year old. Bernard has been charged with three courts of first-degree murder, according to WFXR.
Bernard was arrested after emerging from the woods naked and running around the neighborhood. At one point, Bernard was reportedly attacking bystanders.
“ABC 13’s Kyle Wilcox was standing in the media staging area when Bernard ran past reporters, attacked a church groundskeeper by putting his hands around his neck, and a police officer chased him down the street after macing him and hitting him with a nightstick to no avail,” according to ABC 13 News.
“He was taken into custody after running toward the homicide scene and officers.”
Authorities currently do not know a motive for the arrest.
“We won’t go into the whys because we don’t know yet,” Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor told reporters. “We are trying to figure that out ourselves.”
The 24-year-old Bivens plays in the Southern League for the Montgomery Biscuits, a Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
“Earlier today we learned that Blake Bivens, a pitcher with our Double-A affiliate, the Montgomery Biscuits, suffered a terrible family tragedy in southern Virginia,” the Tampa Bay Rays said in a statement.
“Our hearts are broken for Blake. We are grieving with him and will support him any way we can. We ask that everyone respect the privacy of the Bivens family and the Biscuits family during this extremely difficult time.”
The Biscuits have also released a statement regarding the tragedy.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to benefit the family. At the time of this writing, $12,000 has been raised.
“We are devastated by the loss of our friend and fellow baseball wife, Emily had an incredible heart for the Lord and shared His light to many through her writings in Baseball Chapel,” Our Baseball Life said in the fundraiser. “She deeply loved this community of baseball women and was a comforting, kind soul to all who knew her. Our hearts are with her husband Blake and her family during this unimaginable time.”
Our deepest condolences go out to the Bivens family during this incredibly difficult and tragic time.
