Midlothian police updated their investigation into the murder of a 45-year-old mother of three Friday morning, revealing little progress and a lack of suspects.
Fitness instructor Missy Bevers was found dead April 19 inside Creekside Church, where she had gone to teach a Camp Gladiator exercise group. Surveillance video from inside the church shows a person walking around the church, opening up doors, and breaking things with a hammer.
A forensic video analysis was conducted on the video, which included investigators walking back through the church to examine the physical space.
Deputy Chief Kevin Johnson said Friday that experts believe the suspect is between 5 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 7 inches tall. However, no other distinguishing characteristics could be gleaned from the analysis.
It is still unclear of the sex, race or identity of the person seen in what appears to be police tactical gear. Johnson said it’s also still unclear if it was police gear or some other kind of equipment.
Johnson said a silver or light-colored sedan, believed to be a 2010-12 Nissan Altima, was seen pulling into the SWFA Sporting Goods parking lot at about 2 a.m. the day Bevers was killed. The driver left a few minutes later. Police do not the driver was involved in the murder, but they want to speak to them to exhaust all possible leads.
Johnson said Midlothian investigators, along with partner agencies like the FBI, have received more than 1,000 tips so far, but that the investigation remains difficult.
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“It’s been very frustrating,” he said. “We want an arrest as bad as anyone in the case. We want to bring that sense of safety back to the community and resolve this for the family as well as our community and the public in general. We’ll continue to work until that’s done.”
Bevers' brother-in-law said his family still has confidence in investigators.
"I can't be unhappy, with all the amount of resources that were put in to the investigation thus far," said Chad Tucker. "There's no negative feelings toward the investigation or what has happened at all."
Rumors on social media sites and false reports about an arrest have hindered the investigation as officers have to review potential leads and tips that have generated from such discussion. He also said it’s been hard on the family to hear an arrest has been made, when in fact one has not been completed.
Tucker said his half-brother – Missy's husband, Brandon Bevers – is trying to avoid social media. He said this month has been frustrating for the family, especially Brandon Bevers's daughters.
"The family is holding up as best they can. I believe the girls are just trying to stay busy and keep their mind off of it as much as they can," Tucker said. "Everybody is just trying to cope until we can finally get some closure on the situation."
Johnson said investigators continue to ask for the public’s assistance and would like them to use the new height information and the unique gait of the person captured on surveillance video to see if they might know someone who fits that description. A $10,000 reward has been offered by Oak Dairy Farms resulting in an arrest.
