Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Blake Bivens suffered the shocking loss of his wife, child and mother-in-law, reportedly murdered at the hands of his brother-in-law.
Matthew Thomas Bernard, 18, was arrested after leading police on a bizarre foot chase in Virginia’s Pittsylvania County, near the North Carolina border, according to WSET. Video shows police officers trying to subdue the young man as he runs around named in a parking lot and down a country lane.
The man was arrested after the family members were found stabbed to death in their home. The family dog was also found dead.
The Tampa Bay Rays released a statement saying that their “hearts are broken for Bivens” and his family.
We're with you, Blake. pic.twitter.com/gJqdUCIf7p
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 28, 2019
The Double-A team Bivens plays for also cancelled Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Chattanooga Lookouts.
A statement from CEO & Managing Owner, Lou DiBella. pic.twitter.com/Uocm0juKb7
— Montgomery Biscuits (@BiscuitBaseball) August 28, 2019
Bivens, 24, was a fourth round pick of the Rays in the 2014 MLB Draft. He has a 4-0 record, and a 3.95 ERA for the Double A Biscuits this season.
Bevins’ brother-in-law now faces three counts of first-degree murder.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family deal with this devastating loss.
We are devastated by the loss of our friend and fellow baseball wife, Emily Bivens. Please help her family if you can. #milb https://t.co/3rFJi9IyI6
— OurBaseballLife.com (@ourbaseballlife) August 28, 2019
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.
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