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New warrants target LinkedIn, phone records in Bevers murder

MIDLOTHIAN -- Almost a month after the crime, police have released new search warrants in the murder of Terri "Missy" Bevers.

<p>Missy Bevers</p>

MIDLOTHIAN -- Almost a month after the crime, police have released new search warrants in the murder of Terri "Missy" Bevers.

Police have previously said Bevers was targeted when she was killed inside Creekside Church early April 18. The 45-year-old mother of three had arrived before 5 a.m. to teach a fitness boot camp. Surveillance images captured her suspected killer inside the church, dressed in SWAT-like tactical gear.

The search warrants made public on Thursday show that police looked into several LinkedIn accounts so they could read conversations people were having with Bevers, a frequent user of the site.

However, legal experts -- including two former assistant district attorneys in Dallas County -- wonder whether it will help or hurt the investigation to reveal so many specifics.

"If [police] know things about the crime that have not been released yet, they can use that to build their case. If it's all been released, they lose that opportunity to really get somebody on details they shouldn't know," said Pete Schulte, a Dallas attorney and former police officer.

The warrants reveal that Midlothian police requested over seven weeks’ worth of phone records from Bevers and eight others identified as “target numbers” that may have been in contact with Bevers in the weeks leading up to the murder.

The “target numbers” were obtained through tips from the public based on surveillance video that shows the suspect inside the church in the hours before Bevers was murdered. Among the numbers, were several of Bevers' relatives and a fitness instructor and his wife.

The warrant states police wanted to investigate two persons of interest.

A friend of Bevers told police that a man unknown to them messaged Bevers just days before the murder, and said they found his message to be "creepy and strange."

Police also looked at another person of interest they believe was having "flirtatious and familiar" conversations with Bevers.

However, sources told WFAA they investigated each of the eight individuals and currently do not consider them suspects.

"What they're looking for is that one tip from the public that somebody said something, they know something that will tie this all together," Schulte said. "I think they'll get it solved it's just a matter of when."

In one warrant, police believe the suspect may have also been in contact with any of the “target numbers” in regards to the murder -- possibly even confirming updated workout times Bevers posted to social media.

The warrant lists “using smartphone capabilities to photograph, record, and/or video the victim and the murderous act,” but sources told News 8 there is not currently reason to believe the murder was recorded on a cell phone.

The warrant also exposes problems in Bevers' marriage.

Text messages on her and her husband's cell phone showed "ongoing financial and martial struggle" and "relationships external to the marriage."

Schulte anticipates more warrants in the coming days for Bevers' Facebook and Twitter accounts, and even Tolltag data. Police will also determine whether she had life insurance.

It's all part of a wide net investigators are casting in their search for a suspect and motive.

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