True Crime Junkie

WITH JOHNNY FLETCHER THE UNSOLVED MURDER OF "MISSY" BEVERS

While no cold case will ever reach the level of interest of the JonBenét Ramsey murder, there's an unsolved homicide from 2016 that is just as mind-boggling and, in some ways, even more disturbing. Particularly because the individual who brutally murdered 45-year-old fitness instructor "Missy" Bevers was seen on tape - over and over again - just prior to the killing. And yet no one has been arrested to date. In fact, police still aren't sure if the suspect is male or female.

But let's back up. A mother of three from Red Oak, Texas, Terri "Missy" Bevers was by all accounts beloved in her community with seemingly no enemies. Not only that, she served as an inspiration for local folks looking to get in shape; her early morning fitness classes - which Bevers often held at a nearby church - were quite popular. But perhaps too well-publicized. Because as she arrived at 4:30 a.m. on April 18, 2016, and began preparing for another class, there was someone inside waiting to pounce - someone who managed to elude identification despite church surveillance cameras repeatedly capturing their movements in the minutes leading up to the murder as they strolled up and down the halls, breaking windows with a hammer and casually attempting to open locked doors. (For those wondering how the killer broke into the church undetected, the outside cameras were reportedly not functioning on that day.) Now, how exactly did this individual keep their identity a secret? By cleverly donning unauthorized police riot gear from head to toe that made it difficult to even determine gender. In addition, they walked with a noticeable bow-legged gait - which at first seemed like a big lead but might have simply been an affectation to throw off investigators. Ultimately, the individual left no real evidence behind. Bevers was found with a head injury and multiple puncture wounds to her chest - but no major clues were discovered, such as valuable DNA. And despite footage of the killer being released to the public - and numerous tips being offered up - the trail went completely cold.

Five years on, the haunting video of the killer walking the church hallways - seemingly without a care in the world, just waiting for Bevers to appear - remains entirely chilling. Frustratingly, there's been no progress in naming a suspect and no real answer as to why the murder took place, apart from the theory that Bevers was involved in an extramarital affair and a jealous spouse sought revenge. Or that she got entangled with a dangerous individual online somehow. But it's all just a guessing game without anything substantial to go on - and altogether baffling. This is without a doubt one of the most bizarre cases in the history of true crime.