Baseball Player Remembers His Late Wife, Who Was Killed Along With Her Baby

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

American baseball player Blake Bivens remembered his late wife Emily Bivens on her birthday. The young mother would have turned 25 on Thursday, but she was killed along with her 1-year-old baby Cullen and her mother Joan in August. Emily's brother - and Blake's brother-in-law - Matthew Bernard, 19, was arrested and faces charges of the triple murder.

"Happy 25th birthday to you in heaven my love. I thank God every day for allowing me to have had you with me, even for a short time,”he wrote on Instagram along with a photo with his wife and baby in happy times. “Your love and your nobility have impacted so many people. I miss you so much. Give our bear a kiss from me,”he added of his late son Cullen. "I love them both so much and I really want to see them again."

The family was killed at their home in Keeling in the state of Virginia. All three were found dead after a neighbor called the police. Bivens, 24, is a pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays organization who played for the Montgomery Biscuits affiliate team in Alabama. Both teams offered their condolences and messages of support to the player after the tragedy.

It is not yet known whether Bernard will plead innocent or guilty to murdering his mother, sister, and nephew. Her attorney, James Martin, did not respond to or comment on PEOPLE. Bernard will have to appear before a judge and will have his preliminary hearing on November 6.

The baseball player also wrote a heartbreaking message days after losing his wife and son. "Two days ago my heart turned to ashes," he said on Instagram after the tragedy. “My life from before was destroyed. The pain my family and I feel is excruciating and cannot be described in words. I tremble just thinking about a future without them.” May they rest in peace.