Murdered fitness trainer's husband makes public plea for tips
MIDLOTHIAN, Texas - Police have determined how a fitness trainer died at a Midlothian church, but they are not releasing that information.
Missy Bevers’ autopsy was completed by the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office Tuesday morning. Midlothian police said they are not ready to make that report public.
Missy was found murdered early Monday morning at The Creekside Church. She was there to teach a 5 a.m. Camp Gladiator fitness class.
Surveillance video shows the alleged killer wandering down a hallway and opening doors. The suspect is seen wearing what appears to be heavy police gear.
Midlothian police originally referred to the suspect as a "he" but later said there is insufficient evidence to rule out the suspect may be a woman.
They’ve gotten a number of tips from the public that they’re looking in to. They’re also checking out surveillance video from nearby businesses and hope to find a picture of the suspect’s vehicle.
Investigator agreed the murder certainly has elements of a targeted attack. They haven’t yet ruled out an interrupted burglary, though. Although nothing was taken at the church, several windows and doors were broken and police have recovered tools the suspect used to bust the glass.
Hundreds of people attended a vigil Tuesday afternoon for Missy.
"She loved her family and really put herself into everything she had," said Pastor Joey Alcala who attended the vigil. "Just touched a lot of people."
Missy’s husband, who arrived home late Monday afternoon from a trip to Mississippi, spoke to the FOX 4 outside his home on Tuesday.
“I haven’t had a whole lot of time to get emotional yet. I’ve been dealing with the immediate needs of my children,” Brandon Bevers said.
- Watch the full press conference Tuesday afternoon and reporter Richard Ray's interview with Brandon from Monday afternoon.
Brandon asked for privacy for his family but wanted to let people in the community to know that he’s proud of his wife and the way she touched so many lives with her fitness classes.
“My wife was a Godly woman, and she was very passionate about changing people’s lives with fitness,” he said.
Brandon believes his wife walked in on a robbery. Police told him the suspect was rummaging from room to room and spent several minutes in the kitchen before his wife arrived.
“I don’t think she was targeted,” he said.
Brandon also doesn’t think the tactical gear was real. He believes it was all made to look like the real thing but could have been regular military boots, a motorcycle helmet and a knock-off police jacket.
“I ask everybody out there to review the video. Look at the video. The person has a very distinct walk. There’s just a very distinct mannerism about this person that could be very apparent to somebody,” he said.
Attorney Pete Schulte, a former prosecutor not involved in the investigation, believes Missy was targeted.
"Obviously the person was wearing the gear to get the guard down of anyone who interacted with him like, 'Oh, it's a police officer. I don't feel like there's a threat,'" said Schulte.
Schulte said there does not seem to be any urgency when it comes to a warning from police to the general public.
"'Watch yourselves. Be aware of your surroundings.' We are really not hearing that. That just tells me, pure speculation going into this investigation, they are not looking for an unknown suspect,” he said.
Oak Farms Dairy has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest.