Bruce Alan Bennett was twenty-seven years old. This case impacted not just the victims, but it also terrorized an entire community, he said. It seems that Debra was the next victim, and she may have even been approached and incapacitated in the middle of Bruces struggle with the killer. DENVER- The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. They had recently purchased a new home in Aurora for their young family, consisting of Melissa and a younger sister who was 3 years old. He usually held his victims captive for a period of time and then released them, but hes suspected of abducting and murdering13-year-oldKarmein Chan in 1991. It begins with a woman killed with a hammer in Lakewood and, a week later, a family killed the same way in Aurora. Nevada court records show a jury found Ewing, under the name Alex C. Ewing, was guilty of escaping from the custody of two Arizona sheriffs deputies at a gas station in Henderson, Nevada, southeast of Las Vegas on Aug. 9, 1984, and entering an unlocked home and severely beating a woman and her husband with an ax handle in their bedroom. 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. It could be the store they all shopped in, the road that they all traveled daily to and from work, school, library they attended etc. The Ramsey family, who originally bought the . Long Prairie, Minn. Long Prairie is a town of about 3,000 people in central Minnesota's Todd County. While everyone is looking for a motive it was always looking right back at investigators. All three were beaten to death with a claw hammer. 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. 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). The Bennett family. He faced six . 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. He then found the couples oldest daughter, 7 year old Melissa, who tragically suffered the same terrible fate as her mother. Lightening the speech with a quasi-political jab at Al Gores inventing the internet, he went on to describe cooperation from Clark County Nevada and Mojave County Arizona, which were other jurisdictions whod had Ewing pass through their systems. It was Colorado Bureau of Investigation Director John Camper who got to break the news to Aurora PD that there had been a DNA match. But some states were slow to add DNA to CODIS and the Damn ACLU had to butt its nose into it and doesnt like how some states collect DNA beyond certain felony charges or convictions. The press conference began with Aurora Chief Nicholas Metz, who recognized the hard work and dedication of many investigators who worked this case over the years. This call occurred over a month after her attack. This phone call occurred 25 years after the attack. Bruce, his wife Debra and 7-year-old Melissa were found dead. bennett family murders addressithaca high school lacrosse roster. If you were living in La Jolla in the early 80s, you knew the Brodericks. Thankfully, this community, these families and everyone impacted by the horrific crimes now knows this defendant will never hurt anyone ever again., 2022 - DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE 18 JUDICIAL DISTRICT, Murderer of Auroras Bennett family sentenced to life in prison, Victim Impact Statement and Restitution Information, Bad Check Restitution Program DISCONTINUED, Senior Law & Safety Summit: May 21, 2022, Peace Officer Credibility Disclosure Notification. Dont you feel cheated a little? Sometimes to get a more clear picture of the criminal, one must see him or her as a human being, see him or her as they truly are, feel what they feel, know what they know, feel the wants, needs and desires of that person. Prosecutors said they will ask Gov. Not only was she left with physical injuries and scars as a reminder of the attack, she was also left with ADHD, PTSD and bipolar disorder. At least, until they came to Vanessas bed. Sadly, technology was not as advanced in the mid-eighties as it is today, and the case went cold, remaining that way for over 30 years. 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. An autopsy found that Debra died from blunt force trauma. Begins: Fri, 03/03/23 10:00 AM EST.
Closing arguments begin in hammer attack murder trial The killer was practicing, he was unsure of himself and he was unsure of the weapon he would eventually use. 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. As she turned to leave the car, she felt a tremendous blow on the left side of her head.
Suspect in long-unsolved, brutal Aurora hammer murders has been in After failing with the EAR, we needed a sidebar showing that the techniques actually work because they do! A brief question and answer session involved the police asking any residents or witnesses to come forward with anything they might know in relation to these crimes so that the prosecution can continue to build its case. But thanks to modern technology and the incredible talent and dedication of several individuals, it seems this case has finally been solved. She was quickly and carefully taken to the hospital in an ambulance. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and the murder weapon? These crimes, which took place in January 1984, were part of a series of assaults that tore through the Denver area and have remained unsolved for thirty-four years. The womens bodies were found inside Thomas vehicle. There were reportedly no signs of robbery or sexual assault both women were clothed and their purses were still with them. They need renewed media attention. Whatever the case, this person was in and around this area for at least the first part of January and most likely stayed in the area during that time. 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. We move long-haul and short-haul loads to anywhere in the lower 48 states for commercial and government entities. Victims: Daniel Lauer (21) and Annamaria Phelps (18). The house was not ransacked, but the contents of her purse were strewn about.
Alex Ewing Ordered To Serve 3 Life Sentences For 1984 Murder - CBS News Three members of the Bennett family were brutally killed in their Aurora home. Theyd moved there around Thanksgiving from another place a few miles away, and had so far enjoyed their quiet, developing neighborhood. The Military also submits DNA for specific types of crimes committed by its members. March 14, 2022 5:04pm Updated The Murdaugh family property where a mother and son were found dead lists for $3.9 million. He then found the couples oldest daughter, 7 year old Melissa, who tragically suffered the same terrible fate as her mother. The severity of her injuries cant be understated. There was no sign of forced entry.
Keith Hunter Jesperson - Wikipedia Hed been in the Navy, where he worked on high-tech sonar equipment at Pearl Harbor. Atlanta, GA. Fri, Sep 8, 2023 08:00 PM. She was also sexually assaulted and the intruder left a small hammer near her body. While closure and peace may be forever out of reach, the panelists hope for a sense of justice among those affected. Bruce's mother would discover the family the next day inside the home, after no one answered calls to their landline. When they did, they noticed that the garage door was still open. Not only was she left with physical injuries and scars as a reminder of the attack, but she was also left with ADHD, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. 2019 Sentinel Colorado. Dr. Bennett's office is located at UH Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH. Most importantly take the need to judge them and all of your own emotions and personal beliefs out of the picture. This killer strikes with such violence that it is difficult to understand, see or know of a possible motive. "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. If it were me, I would explore other possibilities in terms of profiling my suspect here, explore past just some guy who was currently working construction in the area or druggies who killed in a drug fueled rage. Additionally, an audio expert associated with an upcoming television show that were a part of was able to isolate the background sounds of the Gonna Kill You phone call, and there was a tiny bit of a surprise in there. The killer pummeled and sexually assaulted his 26-year-old wife, Debra, and 7-year-old daughter, Melissa. I would not limit the list to any type of profession or lack of any type of profession until suspects can be eliminated. Dont profile by LOOKING AT the behavior in an attempt to findclues to his or her psychology in an effort toaid in capturing a criminal. 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. Her clothes were tossed everywhere. The killer murdered two parents - Bruce and Debra Bennett - and their 7-year-old, Melissa, and left their other child severely injured.
The Bennett Family Murders ~ Aurora, Colorado - thecrimeshop Bruce and Debra Bennett lived with their daughter Melissa and younger daughter, Vanessa. Victim #14received a phone call from a man who whispered Remember when we played? She positively identified the man as the voice of the East Area Rapist.
Defendants jailed in Bristol for offences against children Youve done this with other cases to. On November 7, 2014, police announced they had arrested Charles "Chase" Merritt, Joseph .
Bennett family murders: Verdict reached in hammer murder trial | 9news.com In Aug 2018, Alexander Christopher Ewing was accused and charged in both cases. The hammer struck her in the jaw, shattering the bone which splintered in an explosion of small fragments that punctured her windpipe. How do you feel knowing this case was solved? The Vampire Diaries Wiki Explore Main Page Discuss He took Debras purse and went out the front door, then dumped the contents out onto the snow. Then in 2010, cold case investigators, who long theorized that the person who killed Patricia Smith in Lakewood was the same person who had committed the crimes in Aurora, compared the DNA from the Patricia Smith murder to the DNA found at the Bennett household. So I guess Ill be the first to post. As one of the investigations were doing for the book,we hired an audio expert to do some work on the three recordings attributed to EAR: The dumb fuckers call, the Is Ray there? call, and the Gonna Kill You call. 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. Ewing would not stop hitting her the entire time and eventually the woman realized that she would have to play dead in order to get him to stop. Currently all 50 states have to collect DNA for certain types of Felony crimes and submit it to CODIS. The blow was so severe that her jaw was shattered and her skull was fractured in several places. The police found footprints in the snow that led up to and away from other homes in the same area and on the same street, leading them to believe that the offender was simply looking for an easy opportunity to lash out. The victim was fifty-year-old Patricia Louise Smith. Ewing has been behind bars in Nevada since the summer of 1984 after he escaped there while being transported to Kingman, Arizona, from St. George, Utah, for a court appearance on attempted murder and burglary charges. Police later linked the murder of the Bennett family with another rape and murder that happened just less than a week before. He was arrested for the crime but went on to escape from prison transport during a gas station break. There is no innocent explanation for how you explain all of the evidence.. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. The Visalia Ransacker, a unique brand of offender who terrorized a very small area of California for a period of over two years, caught my attention a long time ago due to the cases possible association with the East Area Rapist. 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. She was also left with a shattered pelvis and fell into in a coma. I believe he killed again no way he stopped. Special recognition was given to Detective Steve Conner from the Major Crimes Unit who, incidentally was at the scene of the Bennett crime as a young deputy, and who has worked the case for many, many years. I write about old, unsolved cases from the pre-DNA era. In the papers, the most attention is paid to the last state witness, the DNA analyst at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. At some point, either when the intruder entered the couples bedroom or before, Bruce was alerted to the intruders presence and a tremendous struggle took place. It was a case that they were not giving up on and were continuing to move forward on, he said. Donna underwent several operations.
Who Were Alex Ewing's Victims? Where is He Now? - The Cinemaholic He went on to continually beat the mans wife as she attempted to shield her husband from the blows of an ax handle while simultaneously on the phone to 911. They were Holly Chromey, 49, and her children, Katie Zapzalka, 18, and Jared Zapzalka, 16. This is a harsh, cold fact profilers must learn if they are to more accurately profile. It begins with a woman killed with a hammer in Lakewood and, a week later, a family killed the same way. Nevada inmate accused of Colorado murders says he'll fight extradition. This phone call came just two days after the breaking news that the East Area Rapist crimes had been tied by DNA to the murders in Southern California. There are some instances where a strange phone call was received, but its not thought to be the offender. The family had been celebrating Melissas birthday that night. He then tries to strangle her with a telephone . They saw her parents killer as a boogeyman who would attack and them and kill them if they went anywhere near little Vanessas home for parties or play dates. Thank you listeners! There were reportedly signs of a struggle in the first case, and there may be workable DNA evidence from up to three of the scenes. The Bennett family was attacked either the night of Jan. 15 or the morning of Jan. 16. Apparently, although the authorities never followed up on this, there were a series of murders just like this across the country just off of I-70. Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Twelve Twenty-Six Seventy-Five by Tony Reid, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Amazingly, it was thought that spending so many hours naked on the garage floor in the freezing temperatures may have kept her from bleeding to death. One lab felt that the letters were RICHAR. Another lab felt that it said PETAW C, with a space or fold between the W and the C and perhaps another fold in there as well. They are more likely to begin work before sunup rather than stay much after sundown. The perpetrator left with both weapons. Bruce Bennett tried to climb the staircase several times in an attempt to ward off the perpetrator and save his young family. Evidence that an aristocrat has gone missing--and was possibly murdered--near Sandringham House sets Queen Elizabeth II on the path to discover unsavory family secrets and much more in this new installment of the series the New York Times Book Review calls "sheer entertainment." Queen Elizabeth II is looking forward to a traditional Christmas gathering with her family in . A hammer. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head- and the murder weapon? Add some text book, some psychological profiling and presto, they have a profile. Im your biggest fan. 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. Investigators did not forget about the hammer murders, however, nor did the town of Aurora.
Unsolved: The Bennett family murders | 12news.com As blood poured out of her body, he lifted her up from the bed, unknowingly leaving an imprint from his shirt on her blood-soaked pajamas. 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. A life sentence feels too light, but that is the most the justice system can offer.
bennett family murders address - leopardi.store Despite the trauma of the attack and losing an incredible amount of blood, the doctors and nurses were able to save her life. As an adult, she developed a drug habit and became an addict.
Bennett Family Murders: three life sentences - Defrosting Cold Cases