Brother Who Killed Five Family Members In Brutal Oklahoma Stabbings Given Five Life Sentences

An Oklahoma teen who fatally stabbed his parents and three of his siblings was hit Thursday with five consecutive life sentences behind bars.

Michael Bever, 18, committed the horrifying murders on July 22, 2015, when he was just 16. His brother, 18-year-old Robert Bever, also took part in the attacks, pleading guilty last year to his role in the murders, according to KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City. Robert Bever is currently serving a life sentence.

Michael Bever was also sentenced to 28 years for an assault on his sister, who survived the attack. Each life sentence handed down includes the possibility of parole, according to the Tulsa World, but since the terms run consecutively, the only way for Michael Bever to go free is through the appeals process.

When he was found guilty in May, half of the 12 jurors sent the judge a letter asking that Michael Bever get the chance to go free one day.

Altogether, Michael Bever was given 253 years. In terms of calculating parole, a life sentence is considered 45 years, according to the Tulsa World. Prisoners must serve 85 percent of each sentence to be considered eligible for release. Because his sentences are consecutive, he'll die in prison before he gets the chance. Had they been concurrent, he'd be eligible for parole in 2053 at age 54.

The boys apparently planned the murders for weeks or months, according to court documents. Police said Robert Bever wanted to be famous for being a serial killer. They were going to commit the murders a month later than they did, according to court documents, but Robert Bever had a large shipment of ammunition arriving at the house the next day and he didn't want any interference.

The murders started when the 13-year-old sibling was summoned into the boys' room, according to the Tulsa World, and told to look at something on the computer. Robert Bever then tried to slit her throat, but she escaped and ran for help while telling her younger siblings to hide in bathrooms. Michael Bever chased her and dragged her back and choked her until he heard a "gurgle," but she survived. The boys' killed their parents and police said Michael Bever lured the younger siblings out of the locked rooms by telling them he was in danger, and then he stabbed them to death.

Police found the bodies of David Bever, 52, April Bever, 44, a 5-year-old boy, a 7-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy. A 2-year-old was also in the house but she wasn't killed because the brothers forgot about her, police said.

Michael Bever was emotional and spoke during the hearing, the Tulsa World reported.

“I don’t understand what happened. I wake up in the middle of the night and look over thinking that I’m going to go ask one of my little brothers a question," he said. "Even three years later, I can’t believe that it actually happened.”

He also told the judge that he hopes he wouldn't be in prison for the rest of his life.

“I want to have a normal life someday,” he said.

[Photo: Broken Arrow Police Department]