Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect’s wife, child and mother-in-law are murdered

Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect’s wife, child and mother-in-law are ‘murdered’ by his brother-in-law – who then went on the run naked before he was caught by cops

  • Wife, child and mother-in-law of pitcher Blake Bivens were killed on Tuesday
  • Bivens, 24, is a Double-A pitcher with the Rays for the Montgomery Biscuits
  • His family was slain in a horror home invasion in southern Virginia 
  • Suspect Mathew Bernard, 18, is the brother of Bivens’ slain wife
  • He was arrested after running naked through streets and attacking bystanders 

Mathew Bernard, 18, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder

The wife, young son, and mother-in-law of a Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect have been slain in a horror triple murder, with the wife’s brother named as the suspect after he ran on a naked rampage.

Blake Bivens, a 24-year-old pitcher with the Ray’s Double-A affiliate the Montgomery Biscuits, learned of his family’s murder in southern Virginia on Tuesday, hours before a scheduled double header.

Mathew Bernard, 18, has been arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder. He is the brother of Bivens’ wife, and the son of the slain mother-in-law.

‘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 Rays said in a statement. 

Blake Bivens, a 24-year-old pitcher with the Ray's Double-A affiliate the Montgomery Biscuits, learned of his family's murder in southern Virginia on Tuesday

Blake Bivens, a 24-year-old pitcher with the Ray’s Double-A affiliate the Montgomery Biscuits, learned of his family’s murder in southern Virginia on Tuesday

Bivens' wife and young child were among the three victims of the triple-murder

Bivens’ wife and young child were among the three victims of the triple-murder

‘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 statement continued.

Photos show a naked Bernard, who has been accused of killing two women and a child, being maced and tasered by an officer. 

Authorities received a 911 call around 8am Tuesday morning about three bodies at a home along Keeling Drive in Pittsylvania, according to WSET.  

Upon arrival, officers found two women and a child dead inside the home. 

The Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect and the victims were all related and lived at the same home. 

Someone was visiting a neighbor in the area when they saw a body in the driveway. 

The other two bodies were discovered inside the home.  

Photos show a naked Bernard, who has been accused of killing two women and a child, being chased by an officer

Photos show a naked Bernard, who has been accused of killing two women and a child, being chased by an officer

Matthew Bernard was arrested in connection to a triple homicide after he ran at a TV reporter in Virginia and attacked a church groundskeeper - all while naked

Matthew Bernard was arrested in connection to a triple homicide after he ran at a TV reporter in Virginia and attacked a church groundskeeper – all while naked

According to a Facebook post from the Pittsylvania County Public Safety, earlier on Tuesday, residents in the area were asked to be on the lookout for Bernard who was considered ‘very dangerous’ and ‘armed with a rifle’. 

When authorities finally located Bernard, he had stripped naked.   

‘ABC 13’s Kyle Wilcox was standing in the media staging area when Bernard ran past reporters,’ the station reported. 

Bernard then allegedly attacked a Keeling Baptist Church groundskeeper before authorities chased him down the street and maced and tasered him.

Video from WSET shows the moment Bernard ran after a police officer who is seen spraying him with mace on the church’s property.

Bernard is heard screaming a bit before he ran over to the groundskeeper and appeared to try and choke him.

The officer then ran over to help the elderly man and Bernard ran off again. 

He was then seen running down the road where a police car and several other officers were waiting to taser and arrest him.  

When he was arrested, Bernard was not armed with a weapon. 

Authorities said it’s unclear what prompted the rampage and are still investigating the three deaths.  

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk