Broken Arrow murders

Broken Arrow murders
Map of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
LocationBroken Arrow, Oklahoma, U.S.
Coordinates35°58′10.32″N 95°47′28.08″W / 35.9695333°N 95.7911333°W / 35.9695333; -95.7911333
DateJuly 22, 2015 (2015-07-22)
TargetParents and siblings
Attack type
Mass stabbing, mass murder, familicide, pedicide
WeaponsKnives
Deaths5
Injured1
PerpetratorsRobert and Michael Bever
Motive
  • Desire for fame and to outdo historical mass murders
  • Plans to perpetrate a mass shooting after murdering their family
VerdictRobert:
Pleaded guilty
Michael:
Guilty on all counts
ConvictionsFirst-degree murder (5 counts), assault with intent to kill
SentenceRobert:
Six consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole
Michael:
Five consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus 28 years

The Broken Arrow murders, otherwise known as the Bever family massacre, were a familicide and mass stabbing that occurred on July 22, 2015, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The perpetrators, Robert and Michael Bever, murdered their parents and 3 siblings. It was the deadliest crime and mass murder in the city of Broken Arrow, until a murder-suicide in October 2022 which killed 8 people.

Daniel Bever (age 12) called 9-1-1, saving the lives of his sisters Autumn (2) and Crystal (13) by alerting authorities. During the call, the assailants ambushed Daniel in his room and he was subsequently murdered. Crystal, one of the two survivors, identified two of her older brothers, 18-year-old Robert and 16-year-old Michael, as the assailants. The brothers were subsequently arrested and charged with five counts of first-degree murder and one count of assault and battery with intent to murder. The perpetrators were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.