New details in stabbing deaths of 5 Oklahoma family members
BROKEN ARROW, Okla. - When officers from the Broken Arrow Police Department responded to a silent 911 call late Wednesday night the last thing they expected to find was five people stabbed to death.
According to Cpl. Leon Calhoun, the suburb of Tulsa, which was named one of America's safest cities in 2007, averages less than one murder a year.
A mass murder like this one "isn't just unusual, it's unheard of," Calhoun told 48 Hours' Crimesider.
Cops were called to the home after someone called 911 from inside the house but did not speak. Cpl. Calhoun said officers were dispatched to investigate whether there was a problem and found the bodies of David Bever, 52, April Bever, 44, and three of their children. The Associated Press reports that the deceased children are a 5-year-old girl, and two boys, ages 7 and 12.
Now, the Bever's 18-year-old son, Robert, and his 16-year-old brother are in custody, suspected of the murders.
A 13-year-old girl was injured in the attack and taken to the hospital where she underwent surgery and is now in stable condition. Also in the home was a two-year-old girl who was not injured and has been taken into protective custody. CBS affiliate KOTV reports that the family had seven children - four boys and three girls.
When police arrived, the two suspects fled out the back, but were apprehended about 200 yards away with the help of a K-9 officer.
A neighbor told the Associated Press that the family homeschooled their children and kept them on a tight leash.