Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
DANVILLE, Va. (AP) — The Virginia man who police say killed the wife, son and mother-in-law of a minor league baseball pitcher may have operated under some kind of "religious motivation."
That's according to a search warrant filed in Pittsylvania County. The Danville Register & Bee reported Friday that police cited the religious aspect while seeking access to Matthew Bernard's cellphones.
Police said the 18-year-old possibly kept an audio diary on his phone that includes his "visions" and things he had "heard from God."
Authorities say Bernard killed his sister, Emily Marie Bivens, and her 1-year-old son Cullen Bivens, and his mother, Joan Bernard, in late August.
Emily Bivens was married to Blake Bivens, a pitcher for the Montgomery Biscuits, an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Bernard is charged with first-degree murder.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
