VA - Cullen, 1, Emily Bivens, 24, & Joan Bernard, 62, Pittsylvania, murdered, 26 Aug 2019 *Arrest*

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Could not access court this morning - timing out for me... so not sure IF this is going on - if someone finds out - please let me know! It's in Pittsylvania County Circuit Court if you can access VA site. TIA! :)

Wednesday, March 18th:
*Status Hearing (re Competency) (@ 2pm ET) – VA – Emily Marie Bernard Bivens (25), Cullen Micah Bivens (14 mos.) & Joan Denise Jefferson Bernard (62) (August 27, 2019, Pittsylvania) - *Matthew Thomas Bernard (19) (bro of Emily, son of Joan) arrested & charged (8/27/19) & arraigned (9/12/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder & 3 counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. No plea entered. Held with bond. On suicide watch.
8/28/19 Update: Arraignment hearing was cancelled, as Bernard was hospitalized. Arraignment hearing scheduled for 9/5. 9/5/19: Arraignment rescheduled for 9/12. Matthew will be arraigned in Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court. Anything else will take place in Circuit Court. 9/12/19: No plea entered. Judge Brian Turpin approved an order for a competency and sanity evaluation that Bernard's court-appointed attorney James Martin requested. Next hearing has been set for Nov. 6.
11/4/19 Update: Status hearing has been postponement to allow “further review by medical professionals to determine Mr. Bernard’s competency to stand trial. Rescheduled for 1/16/20. 11/6/19 Update: Bernard has been found incompetent to stand trial after a psychological evaluation, but based on other evidence, could be treated to restore his competency. Bernard was to be transferred to a hospital designated by the commissioner.
1/14/20 Update: Status hearing re competency has been rescheduled for 3/18/20.
 
Niner said:
Could not access court this morning - timing out for me... so not sure IF this is going on - if someone finds out - please let me know! It's in Pittsylvania County Circuit Court if you can access VA site. TIA! :)

Wednesday, March 18th:
*Status Hearing (re Competency) (@ 2pm ET) – VA – Emily Marie Bernard Bivens (25), Cullen Micah Bivens (14 mos.) & Joan Denise Jefferson Bernard (62) (August 27, 2019, Pittsylvania) - *Matthew Thomas Bernard (19) (bro of Emily, son of Joan) arrested & charged (8/27/19) & arraigned (9/12/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder & 3 counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. No plea entered. Held with bond. On suicide watch.
8/28/19 Update: Arraignment hearing was cancelled, as Bernard was hospitalized. Arraignment hearing scheduled for 9/5. 9/5/19: Arraignment rescheduled for 9/12. Matthew will be arraigned in Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court. Anything else will take place in Circuit Court. 9/12/19: No plea entered. Judge Brian Turpin approved an order for a competency and sanity evaluation that Bernard's court-appointed attorney James Martin requested. Next hearing has been set for Nov. 6.
11/4/19 Update: Status hearing has been postponement to allow “further review by medical professionals to determine Mr. Bernard’s competency to stand trial. Rescheduled for 1/16/20. 11/6/19 Update: Bernard has been found incompetent to stand trial after a psychological evaluation, but based on other evidence, could be treated to restore his competency. Bernard was to be transferred to a hospital designated by the commissioner.
1/14/20 Update: Status hearing re competency has been rescheduled for 3/18/20.
Click to expand...
Matthew Bernard preliminary hearing delayed

@Niner looks like it was delayed. No reason given and No date set.
 
Matthew Bernard, 19, was set to have his competency review determination hearing Wednesday, but it has been rescheduled for May 13 in Pittsylvania County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, his attorney stated Tuesday afternoon.

Snip

The hearing was continued so that Bernard could seek a “further review of competency restoration treatment,” defense attorney James C. Martin wrote in a news release.

Competency hearing rescheduled for suspect in Keeling triple slaying
 
Momof4RN said:
Matthew Bernard, 19, was set to have his competency review determination hearing Wednesday, but it has been rescheduled for May 13 in Pittsylvania County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, his attorney stated Tuesday afternoon.

Snip

The hearing was continued so that Bernard could seek a “further review of competency restoration treatment,” defense attorney James C. Martin wrote in a news release.

Competency hearing rescheduled for suspect in Keeling triple slaying
Click to expand...

After seeing the video of the capture, I did not feel he would ever pass a competency test.

Thanks for keeping up with. Hope all is well on your part of VA.
 
Minor league pitcher Blake Bivens reveals he learned about his family's murder on FACEBOOK | Daily Mail Online

Bivens, 24, already knew something was wrong last September because he had been urgently summoned home from Chattanooga, where he had been playing a road game for the Montgomery Biscuits, a Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.

'First headline I see is two females and a small child were gone,' Bivens said on a Facebook Live stream from the River Church in Danville, Virginia. 'I immediately knew that was them. I found out my family was gone over a Facebook headline. I just immediately began to scream in the middle of the airport.
 
Triple murder suspect to face competency hearing next week

May 5th 2020

"PITTSYLVANIA Co., Va. (WSET) -- The man charged with killing his mother, sister, and nephew is set to face a judge next week in Pittsylvania County.

Matthew Bernard is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in the murders of Joan Bernard, Emily Bivens, and Cullen Bivens....

A competency review and determination hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 13.

This will determine if Bernard can now go to trial for the murders.

The judge ruled that if Bernard hasn't been restored to competency by six months, the director must indicate whether Bernard should be released into state custody, committed, or certified in the event he is found to be unrestorably incompetent."

Triple murder suspect to face competency hearing next week
 
Simply Southern said:
Pittsylvania County triple murder suspect’s hearing now rescheduled for October

Last week, Matthew Bernard had a March hearing rescheduled for May; however, that now has been pushed back to the fall.

Bernard’s hearing will now be October 29 at 1:30 p.m. in Pittsylvania County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.
Click to expand...

But the article has this in there:

Now, the 19-year-old’s hearing will be on Wednesday, May 13, at 1:30 p.m. in Pittsylvania County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.
 
So - just in case there IS a hearing today - I shall post this - and I can shorten it up a bit.


Wednesday, May 13th:
*Status & Determination Hearing (re Competency) (@ 2pm ET) – VA – Emily Marie Bernard Bivens (25), Cullen Micah Bivens (14 mos.) & Joan Denise Jefferson Bernard (62) (August 27, 2019, Pittsylvania) - *Matthew Thomas Bernard (19) (bro of Emily, son of Joan) arrested & charged (8/27/19) & arraigned (9/12/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder & 3 counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. No plea entered. Held with bond. On suicide watch.
8/28/19 Update: Arraignment hearing was cancelled, as Bernard was hospitalized. Arraignment hearing scheduled for 9/5. 9/5/19: Arraignment rescheduled for 9/12. Matthew will be arraigned in Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court. Anything else will take place in Circuit Court. 9/12/19: No plea entered. Judge Brian Turpin approved an order for a competency and sanity evaluation that Bernard's court-appointed attorney James Martin requested. Next hearing has been set for Nov. 6.
11/4/19 Update: Status hearing has been postponement to allow “further review by medical professionals to determine Mr. Bernard’s competency to stand trial. Rescheduled for 1/16/20. 11/6/19 Update: Bernard has been found incompetent to stand trial after a psychological evaluation, but based on other evidence, could be treated to restore his competency. Bernard was to be transferred to a hospital designated by the commissioner.
1/14/20 Update: Status hearing re competency has been rescheduled for 3/18/20.
3/18/20 Update: Bernard was set to have his competency review determination hearing Wednesday, but it has been rescheduled for May 13 in Pittsylvania County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court. The hearing was continued so that Bernard could seek a “further review of competency restoration treatment. The judge ruled that if Bernard hasn't been restored to competency by six months, the director must indicate whether Bernard should be released into state custody, committed, or certified in the event he is found to be unrestorably incompetent."
 
Triple murder suspect's competency hearing moved to October

May 12, 2020
PITTSYLVANIA Co., Va. (WSET) -- The man charged with killing his mother, sister, and nephew will now face a judge in October after his competency hearing set for May 13 was rescheduled.
[.....]
A competency review and determination hearing is now set for October 29 at 1:30 p.m. in Pittsylvainia County Juvenile and Domestic Court.

This will determine if Bernard can now go to trial for the murders.
 
Cause of death officially released in Pittsylvania County triple murder case

June 6, 2020

PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Roanoke has officially released the cause of death in a Pittsylvania County triple murder case.

The cause of death for Joan Bernard and Cullen Bivens has been determined to be a rifle wound of the head. The cause of death for Emily Bivens has been determined to be rifle wounds of the head and abdomen.
 
Thursday, October 29th:
*Status & Determination Hearing (re Competency) (@ 1:30pm ET) – VA – Emily Marie Bernard Bivens (25), Cullen Micah Bivens (14 mos.) & Joan Denise Jefferson Bernard (62) (August 27, 2019, Pittsylvania) - *Matthew Thomas Bernard (19/now 20) (bro of Emily, son of Joan) arrested & charged (8/27/19) & arraigned (9/12/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder & 3 counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. No plea entered. Held with bond. On suicide watch.
Court info from 8/28/19 thru 1/14/20 reference post #311 here:
https://www33.websleuths.com/forums...ia-murdered-26-aug-2019-arrest.470300/page-16
3/18/20 Update: Bernard was set to have his competency review determination hearing Wednesday, but it has been rescheduled for May 13 in Pittsylvania County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court. The hearing was continued so that Bernard could seek a “further review of competency restoration treatment. The judge ruled that if Bernard hasn't been restored to competency by six months, the director must indicate whether Bernard should be released into state custody, committed, or certified in the event he is found to be unrestorably incompetent."
5/13/20 Update: The status & determination hearing re competency has been moved to 10/29/20.
 
Not too sure IF this is still happening - they have taken him off the court site...

Wednesday, March 31st:
*Preliminary Hearing (@ 1:30pm ET) – VA – Emily Marie Bernard Bivens (25), Cullen Micah Bivens (14 mos.) & Joan Denise Jefferson Bernard (62) (August 27, 2019, Pittsylvania) - *Matthew Thomas Bernard (19/now 20) (bro of Emily, son of Joan) arrested & charged (8/27/19) & arraigned (9/12/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder & 3 counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. No plea entered. Held with bond. On suicide watch.
Court info from 8/28/19 thru 1/14/20 reference post #311 here:
https://www33.websleuths.com/forums...ia-murdered-26-aug-2019-arrest.470300/page-16
3/18/20 Update: Bernard was set to have his competency review determination hearing Wednesday, but it has been rescheduled for May 13 in Pittsylvania County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court. The hearing was continued so that Bernard could seek a “further review of competency restoration treatment. The judge ruled that if Bernard hasn't been restored to competency by six months, the director must indicate whether Bernard should be released into state custody, committed, or certified in the event he is found to be un-restorable incompetent."
5/13/20 Update: The status & determination hearing re competency has been moved to 10/29/20. 10/29/20 Update: Bernard was previously ruled incompetent to stand trial. A court filing stated that he could be rehabilitated to competency “solely on an inpatient basis in a hospital” and stand trial for the murders at a future date. Bernard’s preliminary hearing which was set for Thursday, Oct. 29 has been continued to March 31, 2021.
 
Ah! Got an alert on an article for this case!

Preliminary hearing for man accused of killing 3 family members in Pittsylvania County delayed again | WFXRtv

March 31, 2021
PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) – The preliminary hearing for Matthew Bernard has been delayed again.
[.....]
There have been previous debates over whether or not Bernard would be competent to stand trial.

The court later ruled he could be rehabilitated back to competency through a hospital stay and treatment.

Bernard is now expected to be back in court on Sept. 15.
 
Wednesday, September 15th:
*Preliminary Hearing (@ 1:30pm ET) – VA – Emily Marie Bernard Bivens (25), Cullen Micah Bivens (14 mos.) & Joan Denise Jefferson Bernard (62) (August 27, 2019, Pittsylvania) - *Matthew Thomas Bernard (19/now 20) (bro of Emily, son of Joan) arrested & charged (8/27/19) & arraigned (9/12/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder & 3 counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. No plea entered. Held with bond. On suicide watch.
Court info from 8/28/19 thru 3/18/20 reference post #316 here:
https://www33.websleuths.com/forums...ia-murdered-26-aug-2019-arrest.470300/page-16
5/13/20 Update: The status & determination hearing re competency has been moved to 10/29/20. 10/29/20 Update: Bernard was previously ruled incompetent to stand trial. A court filing stated that he could be rehabilitated to competency “solely on an inpatient basis in a hospital” and stand trial for the murders at a future date. Bernard’s preliminary hearing which was set for Thursday, Oct. 29 has been continued to March 31, 2021.
3/31/21 Update: Hearing has been delayed. Still receiving treatment. Next preliminary hearing on 9/15/21.
 
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