Late on Jan. 9 or early on Jan 10, a flight attendant was beaten, possibly with a hammer, and sexually assaulted after she pulled into the garage of her home in Aurora. DNA evidence ties Ewing to the crime. The attacker retrieved a butcher knife from the kitchen and began stabbing Bruce in various places on his upper body, and once Bruce was incapacitated again the offender used the knife to slit his throat from ear to ear. January 16, 1984: Bennett family is attacked in their Aurora, Colorado home with 3 out of the 4 family members murdered by an intruder wielding a hammer. Smith was attacked in the condo she shared with her daughter and grandchildren and the hammer was left behind. During the rape series, he primarily used shoelaces. Almost six days later, tragedy struck Aurora once again. I have seen all kinds of evil and wickedness nothing compares to the level of depravity that your actions show in this case, Vahle told Ewing. Amazing!!!!!!!! The childs skull was caved in on the right side of her forehead and a metal plate was inserted to reshape the skull. Only the youngest daughter survived, with life-threatening injuries. Your email address will not be published. The other victim murdered in the terrifying crime spree. He shouted her name, but she could only groan in response. Police are still looking for information on the cases connected to Ewing and are asking the public for help. Between 9 p.m. January 15, 1984 and 10 a.m. January 16, 1984, twenty-seven year old Bruce Bennett, his twenty-six year old wife, Debra and their seven year old daughter Melissa, were brutally murdered inside their home located in the 16300 Block of East Center Drive. Dont profile by. Ewing, who was convicted of the murders on Aug. 6, broke into the family's new home the night of the killings. With time, multiple surgeries and the support her extended family, Vanessa began to recover from her physical injuries, but living a normal life after losing both her parents to a murderer who had yet to be captured and convicted made childhood difficult. The Bennett family was your average middle class family living the American dream. Look at the area, the artery that the crimes were committed along. He took Debras purse and went out the front door, then dumped the contents out onto the snow. Its probably nothing that will move the case forward, but that show is coming out pretty soon so youll be able to find out what that is in just a couple months! is finished: Fri, 09/08/23 09:00 PM EDT. This call is important because not only did it occur during an EAR quiet period, but this attack is connected by DNA. The crimes appeared to be sexually motivated, judging by the assaults that occurred on Debra and Melissa. Im your biggest fan. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? ~Then on Jan. 10, 1984, someone used a hammer to strike 50-year-old Patricia Louise Smith several times in the head in her Lakewood home thus killing her sometime between 3pm and 5pm. Vanessa Bennett sat under a picnic shelter on a muggy Arizona morning and talked for the first time about the physical and emotional toll she bears as the only surviving victim of one of. Dotted with impressive bridges and blanketed by thick trees, it usually provides year-round beauty and convenience for travelers. I lost the person who I was supposed to be.. After a string of several burglaries and escalating events on this night, the offender crossed the line to murder and he never looked back. Both district attorneys addressed the possibility of capital punishment being on the table, discussing that 1984 laws do seem to allow the possibility, and that its the hardest decision that a DA has to make and it wont be one thats made lightly. Even to this day, she has absolutely no recollection of the next several hours. Most importantly take the need to judge them and all of your own emotions and personal beliefs out of the picture. The case got very little press, and unfortunately, it was never solved. The jury found Ewing guilty on. So I guess Ill be the first to post. Although she had no memory of the attack, what happened that night in 1984. I didnt hear it mentioned in the press conference, but forensic genealogist incidentally identified the correct surname of the alleged killer: Ewing. This information was released in an episode of On the Case with Paula Zahn earlier this year. Prosecutors said they will ask Gov. Before Donna Dixon was even found, another crime had taken place 26 miles to the west in the city of Lakewood. They were Holly Chromey, 49, and her children, Katie Zapzalka, 18, and Jared Zapzalka, 16. The FAIR School, Minneapolis Public Schools and West Metro Education Program. The sprawling Colorado home where 6-year-old beauty pageant contestant JonBenet Ramsey was murdered in 1996 is listed for sale for a cool $7 million. Years later, strides would start to be made in the crime lab. Investigators said he also sexually assaulted Melissa before she died from being beaten. There wasnt anything notable stolen from the scene, and the attack had all the hallmarks of a random crime. Yvonne Woods was on the stand for more than three hours . Never profile someone using the box as your guide. Ewing has been locked up since. A 61-year-old man learned this week he'll die behind prison bars after being sentenced to three consecutive life sentences for the 1984 murders of a Colorado couple and their 7-year-old daughter, PEOPLE confirms. At approximately 2:00 AM on January 4th, 1984, an intruder came through an unlocked garage door. Prosecutors brought their case against Alex Christopher Ewing to a close using a detailed walkthrough of genetic evidence to show that his DNA was found inside the home where three members of an Aurora family were murdered in January 1984. Powered by WordPress There was no sign of forced entry. Another resident, Donna Dixon, was also struck with a hammer. As an adult, she developed a drug habit and became an addict. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head- and the murder weapon? It would also be a really good idea to look at troubled or violent teens in the area because I do not believe the killer was over the age of 25. He may have been in the system at some point but it is difficult to determinewhether it would have been on felony charges or misdemeanor because his crimes may have stopped altogether. It took 37 years, but on Tuesday, the families of Bruce and Debra Bennett saw justice served. We wanted to know if there was any way that we could determine whether the voices matched or not. Patricia still wore her sweater and boots, but her jeans were pulled down. Is it not true that you usually get police closer to a suspect faster than they ever could without using dna? He was immediately alarmed at the scene in the garage her clothes, purse, and even some of the mail was by her car. Medical professionals werent sure if the hammer attack would leaveVanessa with permanent brain damage or not, but the girls family held on to the hope that she would make a full recovery. The 2001 call didnt happen too long ago and makes it a little too close for comfort, though theres something positive to be said for the idea that the offender could still be alive and could still face justice for his crimes. While meeting with the families in regards to this case reopened many old wounds and horrific memories, the Aurora Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the 18th Judicial District, and the 1st Judicial District is committed to seeing that justice is served in this case. Upon the capture of a suspect in the Golden State Killer case, Conner again turned to genealogical databases. A murder inquiry has been launched, and one man - a 31-year-old from Killamarsh, who was known to the family - is in custody. The childs skull was caved in on the right side of her forehead and a metal plate was inserted to reshape the skull, she suffered severe injuries to her head, jaw and neck. Photo: 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office A 61-year-old man learned this week he'll die behind prison bars after being sentenced to three consecutive life sentences. Ewing is arrested and incarcerated. View the map. Bruce finally succumbed to his injuries and the family was left vulnerable. Become a Patreon Supporter for bonus content! Police felt that the killer brought his own weapon to the scene it didnt appear that any of the tools or hammers at the home had been rifled through. For some reason the killer had to or wanted to be near this artery more so than the major arteries through and around Denver at that time. But new technology is getting detectives closer and closer to solving the brutal mystery. The scene in the home traumatized the daughter and grandchildren for life. He faced six counts of first-degree murder. Keith Hunter Jesperson (born April 6, 1955) is a Canadian-American serial killer who murdered at least eight women in the United States during the early 1990s. This murder, which has sat on the cold case shelves for far too long, is in desperate need of this new media attention and the new investigative resources. The husband then got a lock for the gate and made sure their house was locked and secure. In just two days, Melissa would turn 8 years old. Here are the days of the week the alleged killer struck each victim (s). Its quite possible that she wasnt even conscious for any of it. Your email address will not be published. Keep in mind that the offenders last known murder was in 1986, which makes the last few particularly creepy. On the night of November 15th, 1974, a fifteen-year-old Visalia-area girl named Jennifer Lynn Armour disappeared while on her way to a local football game. Only 3-year-old Vanessa, at. Required fields are marked *. He took her to the floor and sexually assaulted her. Her nude body was found over a week later in the Friant-Kern Canal near Woodlake an area located northeast of Visalia and a fair distance away from where shed disappeared. George Brauchler, District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District (which includes Aurora), emphasized that this individual is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law. The life sentences will be served consecutively. He either got turned on by the prospect of killing or used the rapes as a way to cover up the true motive which was to murder. There was no way, given the samples that we have, to determine whether the voices match or not. Its believed that the EAR bought his shoelaces new from the store or from some other source. Here we have a chart that I created showing the types of incidents (mere prowling, a burglary/ransacking, and the two violent confrontations) attributed to the Visalia Ransacker throughout his known criminal career (1973-1976). On the night of Jan. 15, a stranger broke into their home and viciously assaulted and attacked the family. When they arrived home, they found it very odd that Patricias car was still there and that the television appeared to be on in the upstairs bedroom. Debra was savagely beaten to death with a hammer. In 2011, Agnes Dupont de Ligonnes and her four children, ages 13 to 21, were shot and killed with a .22 rifle with a silencer on it while asleep in their beds in Western France, along with their two Labradors. He tore her clothes off, tossed them about the garage, and then he raped her on the concrete floor. This case impacted not just the victims, but it also terrorized an entire community, he said. Constance entered the home, encountered the grisly scene, and immediately dialed the authorities. The same night he escaped, he broke into yet another couples house and attacked the male of the home. Most importantly take the need to judge them and all of your own emotions and personal beliefs out of the picture. Since they could find no signs of forced entry, police felt that the killer entered through the unlocked door and attacked her. She was quickly and carefully taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Weve published this page today to show you the details and origin of the ligatures used in the EAR/GSK attacks. Investigators did not forget about the hammer murders, however, nor did the town of Aurora; for years the authorities and true crime sleuths never gave up trying to identify the sick individual responsible for the murders and assaults that happened that year. This call occurred over a month after her attack. These crimes in Colorado are this killers first stages at killing a human. Determine the level of organization/disorganization of each crime scene. She made her way to the bedroom and went to bed. Miraculously, both of them survived the assault, though James suffered from a fractured skull and his wife suffered a concussion. Dixon survived. For years the case was cold, until in 2018 a DNA profile from semen the killer left at the scene was matched to Ewing. The garage door was still open. It was determined that she had been killed sometime between the hours of 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. They are more likely to begin work before sunup rather than stay much after sundown. He then tries to strangle her with a telephone . Her body was found in a basement . In June 2002, former Arapahoe County Colorado, District Attorney Jim Peters obtained a John Doe arrest warrant in the Bennett killings based on the DNA. "This case impacted not just the victims, but it also terrorized an entire community," Kellner said in a statement. It was a case that they were not giving up on and were continuing to move forward on, he said. Murderer of Aurora's Bennett family sentenced to life in prison August 17, 2021 It took 37 years, but on Tuesday, the families of Bruce and Debra Bennett saw justice served. There are a few very notable ones, particularly because they occurred during quiet periods where the offender wasnt attacking. I also believe this is the killers first stint at killing humans he most likely as with most serial killers did in fact kill animals earlier in life. The Deadly Night of Incident For Bennet Family On the night of January 16 th, 1984 a gruesome discovery was made at a house on 16300 East Center Drive, Aurora. The force of the impact threw her head into the steering wheel. Constance Bennett, the mother of murder victim Bruce Bennett, is questioned defense attorney Katherine Powers Spengler during Alex Ewing's murder trial, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in an Arapahoe County Court in Centennial, Colo. Ewing is accused of killing Bruce and Debra Bennett and their 7-year-old daughter Melissa in Aurora in January 1984. Onsale to General Public. I look in the mirror every day and look at myself and I hate who I am. Shed left the garage door open and most likely left the door unlocked as she went upstairs, removed her wig, and turned the television on. The 1982 call is important, because the offender hadnt killed for over a year, and it was thought that he mightve been incarcerated. Channel 2 sports director Zach Klein is at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where. Read more true crime, cold cases and unsolved mysteries from meHERE<<. They immediately knew something was wrong. The cases are commonly known as the 1984 Colorado Hammer Murders. About a week later, a different hammer was used to kill the Bennetts and their 7-year-old daughter Melissa in Aurora. Its unfortunate le didnt get him back then. We didnt just look for all three to match, but also looked for a Ray to Gonna Kill You match, a Ray to Dumb Fuckers match, etc. At the press conference, they informed the public that when authorities in Nevada went back and retroactively began swabbing and entering their inmates DNA into CODIS, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation got a hit and thats whats led to the development in this case. One thing that hasnt been said would be that during the winter in Colorado construction slows and sometimes between Jan-March it slows to a crawl, a lot of guys get laid off or work inconsistently during the week. His sentence runs through 2037 but he would be eligible for parole in 2021. The Bennett family. Darkness had just fallen. The wheels were put into motion to submit dozens of pieces of evidence to the FBI lab. Now She's Speaking Out, Mass. Alexander Christopher Ewing, who is serving a prison sentence in Nevada for beating a couple there with an axe handle, has been charged with killing Bruce and Debra Bennett and their 7-year-old daughter, as well as trying to kill their 3-year-old daughter, as well as a charge for sexual assault. The couples youngest daughter, 3-year-old Vanessa, was also attacked by the hammer-wielding assailant. Nothing else appeared to be missing. ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - It was 1984 when Connie Bennett found her family murdered in their Aurora home. By far, easier prey lay in wait just north which would be Colfax Ave and at the time might not have hit the news like the murder of the Bennett family did had the crime occurred in a neighborhood more near Colfax. Full cooperation from Nevada Law Enforcement led to a confirmation of the DNA match. Perhaps, though put in tp the system (and hopefully still there, maybe for good), his DNA was never taken to match the DNA from the crime scenes. Which is why a more beneficial profile from the onset is more important in fact, its critical. She was happy to be home for a while, and eagerly awaiting the next day when her boyfriend, Ronald Holm, would be home. Shippers choose our flatbed, step deck, RGN or other specialized trailers to move freight that is too large to be Caller: Do you want fuck? My best friend lived around the corner from the Bennetts, and that previous night (or night of) after dinner when she was cleaning the kitchen, she saw a man staring at her through the window. The killer had doused the vehicle with fuel in an apparent attempt to incinerate the crime scene, but apparently failed to start a fire. Theyd moved there around Thanksgiving from another place a few miles away, and had so far enjoyed their quiet, developing neighborhood. On August 7th, 2018, it was announced that there were significant new developments in the Smith/Bennett case, and that a news conference would be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, August 10th with more information. The results (if any) of the tests run on the current evidence is currently unknown. Here are a few of the notable phone calls: January 15th, 1979 Alexander Christopher Ewing is now the behind bars, serving 40 years for two counts of attempted murder in the state of Nevada. Or any of the other angles he was pursuing? The next thing Donna remembered was waking up naked in the garage. This killeris more the type that would self medicate more than likely be a heavy drinker as opposed to taking medication. I dont believe that. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. There is no punishment that is too harsh for you and I will do everything in my power to make sure you never draw a free breath ever again.. Bruce Bennett tried to climb the staircase several times in an attempt to ward off the perpetrator and save his young family. DNA at both the Bennett crime Scene and the Smith crime scene were matched to the same killer in 2010. I dont I think they are just waiting on a dna match thats all they ever do. That is very clear. Youre going to suck my cock again.. The blow shed felt was the attacker striking her head with a hammer. Bruce and Debra were both probably dead by the time the killer entered Melissas bedroom. July 23, 1993. There was no sign of Lauer or Phelps. The money was never claimed. The victim was fifty-year-old Patricia Louise Smith. She left her hometown and moved to Arizona, at one point spending half a year homeless, living under a bridge. Bruce and Debra were brutally attacked and killed inside their home, Melissa was killed and also raped. "I have seen all kinds of evil and wickedness nothing compares to the level of depravity that your actions show in this case," Vahle told Ewing. Advancements in DNA evidence led investigators to a match with Ewing and samples collected from the crime scene as well as one of the victims 34 years later. . He also discarded the knife hed used to kill Bruce. Bruce and Debra Bennett lived with their daughter Melissa and younger daughter, Vanessa. It was later determined to be the murder weapon. On the other side of the coin, while all of these calls are believed to be genuine, theres a chance that some of them might be coincidence or pranks. Patricia had come home from work for lunch, stopping at Wendys on the way. He tossed it onto the seat of the car and began pulling her from the vehicle. Before exiting the vehicle, she turned to grab her flight attendant uniform, which was hanging in the back. He finds his release from the level of pain he inflicts on the victim, the level of violence he is able to achieve. The following tests were performed on the EAR calls: Long story short inconclusive. The Military also submits DNA for specific types of crimes committed by its members. HE had to get knife in addition to the hammer just to ward off Bruce who was trying to protect his family. Im going to come over and fuck you again. The husband ran outside but he was gone. Murdaugh, 54, is accused of shooting his wife Maggie, 52, and youngest son, Paul, 22, at the kennels of their 1,800-acre hunting estate in Moselle, South Carolina on the night of June 7, 2021. January 27, 1984: Ewing attacks a man in Kingman, Arizona in his home; beats man's head with a hammer. She was found bludgeoned with a hammer, with about 17 wounds to the head. July 5, 1985 Survivor In Sierra Madre. Victim #7received a phone call, and she recognized the voice on the other end as the voice of the rapist. The Bennett family was attacked either the night of Jan. 15 or the morning of Jan. 16. It would be nearly twenty-four hours total before she was found. He then proceeded to charge John Doe with 18 counts, including three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of sexual assault, first-degree assault and two counts of sexual assault on a child and burglary. They ended up determining that Armour had been killed, and the Fresno Bee (along with the Fresno Guarantee Savings and Loan Association) set aside $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of her killer. The McStay family murders occurred on or near February 4, 2010, after the family disappeared from their home in Fallbrook, California, United States; their bodies were found in the desert near Victorville, California, on November 13, 2013. A hammer. Investigators were able to piece together the details of the horrendous ordeal through study of the evidence and the crime scene. Being able to track the victim down (the call occurred at her workplace) meant that most likely, he was a free man and had stopped killing of his own volition. The 3-year-old sister, Vanessa, was the only survivor. What we do know is that he likes the level of violence a blunt object signifies. According to some sources, they were able to match a shoe print from the Bennett household to a shoe print found in the garage at the Donna Dixon assault. Bruce Bennett tried to climb the staircase several times in an attempt to ward off the perpetrator and save his young family. Read on to learn about the devastation and challenges faced in this crime series, the investigative leads that were undertaken, and the tremendous news that closure is within reach. My heart hurts that this happened! There was evidence of a struggle in the bedroom. How can you describe what he feels during the crime? She had no idea how she got there and she didnt feel any pain. With time, multiple surgeries, and the support of her extended family, Vanessa began to recover from her physical injuries but living a normal life after losing both her parents to a murderer who had yet to be captured and convicted made childhood difficult. SOMERVILLE Sandra G. Bennett, 76, died March 2, 2023. The Investigation kept ongoing. EAR brought his own ligatures to almost every attack he didnt rely exclusively on what was found at the scene. The bludgeoned bodies of husband and wife, Bruce and Debra Bennett, were discovered and it soon became evident that both were attacked with a knife and beaten to death. There, lying on the floor next to the couch and just a few feet away from the front door, was the carefully posed body of their grandmother. The hammer struck her in the jaw, shattering the bone which splintered in an explosion of small fragments that punctured her windpipe. Date: September 19th/22nd, 1987 From 1987 to 1991, a serial offender known as Mr Cruel abducted children around Melbourne, Australia. Thank you listeners! A man accused of murdering a mother and three children has also been charged with raping one of the victims, who was 11. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Copyright 2023 Some of the ligatures matched across scenes. At the conclusion of his comments, he introduced his former boss, Peter Weir. Here are the Small Town Murder show particulars: Small Town Murder. He also isnt killing with this level of violence often enough to track. These were quite commonplace, but as folks who havent read my book are learning, there were quite a few instances where he actually spoke with victims, potential victims, or even Law Enforcement. The Bennetts didnt show up for work on Monday. This killers only motive was to kill. Report of July 5, 2022 officer-involved shooting in Report of July 21, 2022 officer-involved shooting in Jury returns guilty verdict in mass shooting at Aurora man sentenced to decades in prison for Man sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for Parolee and former Scout leader with history of Lone Tree bowling alley shooter sentenced to 23 Report of March 3, 2022 officer-involved shooting in Colorado District Attorneys Council honors trial team for Jury finds man guilty in former CU football Report of July 5, 2022 officer-involved shooting in Aurora, Report of July 21, 2022 officer-involved shooting in Englewood, Man sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for murdering couple who responded to advertisement for used car. Her bra was wrapped around one of her wrists, and her clothing was found on the bank nearby. Ewing, 23 at the time, killed the 27-year-old husband and his 26-year-old wife, as well as their daughter, inside their Aurora home. Two different crime labs analyzed the fuzzy imprint, and they came up with different results. Sometime between 1990 and 1992 She was also left with a shattered pelvis and fell into in a coma. The killer was practicing, he was unsure of himself and he was unsure of the weapon he would eventually use. No services are scheduled at this time. According to property records, the couple stayed in the same house after the attack. On Sunday, January 15th, 1984, several family members gathered at the Bennett home to have a birthday part for Melissa, who wouldve turned eight on Tuesday. DeAngelo was a police officer in nearby Exeter at the time, and has been confirmed by police to be tied to a string of over 100 burglaries, a murder, and an attempted murder that occurred in Visalia in 1974 and 1975. On Jan. 4, 1984, a couple in Aurora woke up to see a man in their bedroom who hit each of them with a hammer before fleeing. It was a beautiful area, with clean, crisp air and the mountains rising up to the west. Bruce Bennett ~ 27 ~ Found Murdered January 16, 1984, Debra Bennett ~ 26 ~ Found Murdered, Sexually Assaulted January 16, 1984, Melissa Bennett ~7 ~ Found Murdered, Sexually Assaulted January 16, 1984, Vanessa Bennett ~ 3 ~ Found Alive,Jaw Crushed, Severly Beaten About the Face. Those were the sentencing rules in 1984, and since these crimes were committed at that time, Ewing is grandfathered into those standards. A day or two after receiving the DNA results, Law Enforcement met with victims and their family members. I would not limit the list to any type of profession or lack of any type of profession until suspects can be eliminated. The killer pummeled and sexually assaulted his 26-year-old wife, Debra, and 7-year-old daughter, Melissa. Learn how your comment data is processed. Patricia Smith had been laid straight, her arms crossed over her chest as if on display in a funeral home. He reminded the public that John Doe warrants had been filed based on the DNA profile of the killer back in 2002, and mentioned that the John Doe charges have been updated to Alex Christopher Ewings name. She screamed because he would have had to go through an open gate into their yard.
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