The wife, child, and mother-in-law of a minor league baseball player were murdered in a small Virginia town on Tuesday (August 27) morning. Police arrested the suspect, 18-year-old Matthew Bernard, following an hours-long manhunt that ended with Bernard running naked through the streets.
Authorities were called to the home after a neighbor reported that someone might have been shot. When officers arrived, they found a female victim in the driveway and the one-year-old boy and another woman dead inside. Bernard fled into the woods behind his home and hundreds of officers began searching for him.
He was apprehended by officers with the help of a K-9 unit when he tried to return to the crime scene. Authorities have not determined a motive for the triple homicide.
Bernard is the brother-in-law of Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Blake Bivens.
The Rays issued a statement addressing the tragedy.
"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. Our hearts are broken for Blake."
The Biscuits canceled a scheduled doubleheader against the Chattanooga Lookouts in light of the tragic situation.
Bivens, 24, was taken by Tampa Bay in the fourth round of the 2014 draft as a starting pitcher. This season he began transitioning to a role in the bullpen and is 4-0 with a 3.95 ERA in 27 appearances for the Biscuits.
Photo: Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Office