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Christian Fitness Instructor Killed by Intruder at Texas Church

  • Carrie Dedrick Religious persecution, missions, Christianity around the world
  • Updated Apr 19, 2016

A Christian fitness instructor was killed by an intruder at a Texas church on Monday (April 18), according to police. 

Terri “Missy” Bevers, 45, entered Creekside Church of Christ at approximately 4:30 a.m. to prepare for an early morning fitness class at the church. She was found unresponsive by her students at approximately 5:00 a.m. Police were called to the scene where Bevers was pronounced dead. 

The suspect in Bevers’ murder is a man who appeared on church surveillance cameras wearing SWAT gear, including a helmet and a vest that read “POLICE” on the front and back. He was not a real policer officer, but posing as one. The man held a tool that was used to break into windows.

The attack itself was not visible to the cameras, according to the Dallas Morning News

Midlothian Police Department spokesman Captain John Spann said, "She was actually found by one of the boot camp participants who got there a little bit early and waited outside for a while until others got there.” 

It is unknown if Bevers was targeted in the attack and a motive for the murder has not been determined. 

Bevers’ brother-in-law, Chad Tucker, said that Bevers was “an amazing woman” who loved her family and “was dedicated to taking care of herself, taking care of other people and being a good mother.”

Publication date: April 19, 2016