Other attacks had occurred off of this main road, and its believed that the killer couldve entered the area from that point. He was currently working at a family-owned furniture store, but was taking classes at the local college and would soon be working as an air traffic controller. Figuring out anyone who was laid off or working less hours on a construction site back then, if the list doesnt exist right now may be difficult at best. Upon the capture of a suspect in the Golden State Killer case, Conner again turned to genealogical databases. Before exiting the vehicle, she turned to grab her flight attendant uniform, which was hanging in the back. 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. I should also note that the data becomes a bit skewed in that month because of the fact that the Snelling murder, being a homicide investigation, resulted in a much more thorough sweep of the area and more prowling incidents were recorded that wouldve otherwise been left unreported. Forensic evidence was hard to retrieve due to the decomposed state of the bodies, but its been reported that the two may have been stabbed to death. Amazing!!!!!!!! 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This killer strikes with such violence that it is difficult to understand, see or know of a possible motive. The Colonial Parkway is a scenic highway in Virginia that runs through historic areas like Yorktown, Williamsburg, and Jamestown. The killer pummeled and sexually assaulted his 26-year-old wife, Debra, and 7-year-old daughter, Melissa. We move long-haul and short-haul loads to anywhere in the lower 48 states for commercial and government entities. While everyone is looking for a motive it was always looking right back at investigators. Currently all 50 states have to collect DNA for certain types of Felony crimes and submit it to CODIS. You got the age closer than the fbi and police you described exactly what the guy was feeling when he was killing them. Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. Again, info is given only about the phone calls where the offender spoke. 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. Ax Handle Attacker Alex Ewing Named Suspect in Bennett Family Murders. Debra Marie Bennett, twenty-six years old, had married Bruce before his Navy deployment in 1976. When he arrived in Aurora almost four years ago Metz said he spoke to detectives about the citys cold cases and this one, which he said shocked the conscience of the community, stuck with him. Thank you listeners! The killer then ascended the staircase and entered the couples bedroom where he attacked Bruces 26 years old wife, Debra, simultaneously he raped and killed her. Let us have a look at this unforgettable case of the Bennet family murders. Or any of the other angles he was pursuing? The police swarmed through the residence, quickly assessing the condition of each family member as they cordoned off certain areas of the home to gather evidence. Connie's son Bruce, his wife Debra and 7-year-old Melissa were found dead.. The family got a ride from someone else. Peck Funeral Home assisted the family . It begins with a woman killed with a hammer in Lakewood and, a week later, a family killed the same way. A hammer was used to kill Patricia Louise Smith, 50, in Lakewood Jan. 10, 1984. Your email address will not be published. JonBenet was 6 years old when she was reported missing on Dec. 26, 1996, after her family reported finding a ransom note inside their home in the 700 block of 15th Street. The killer murdered two parents - Bruce and Debra Bennett - and their 7-year-old, Melissa, and left their other child severely injured. 26 miles away from the Smith murder, but very close to the other incidents, the Bennett family was still settling into their new home on East Center Drive in Aurora, Colorado. Sometime between 1990 and 1992 A neatly-folded Winnie the Pooh comforter lay under her, a portion of it obscuring her head. During the winter in Colorado its difficult to find a construction crew working well into the night. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. He is more introverted when he is sober and an extrovert when he isnt. Blood was all over the garage floor. This call is important because not only did it occur during an EAR quiet period, but this attack is connected by DNA. It was believed that the main garage door was left open throughout the night and that the door leading from the garage to the house was possibly left unlocked. From 1987 to 1991, a serial offender known as Mr Cruel abducted children around Melbourne, Australia. I look in the mirror every day and look at myself and I hate who I am. Third Crime Scene Victims: Daniel Lauer (21) and Annamaria Phelps (18). He didnt hate his victims and quite frankly he didnt know any of them personally, he just wanted to kill. The Bennetts didnt show up for work on Monday. The wheels were put into motion to submit dozens of pieces of evidence to the FBI lab. Add some text book, some psychological profiling and presto, they have a profile. Furthermore, the loving grandmother had been sexually assaulted. He faced six counts of first-degree murder. He further explained the nature of the coordinated and combined effort that contributed to the identification of this suspect, and the initial ease at which the system has thus far moved. Nothing else appeared to be missing. They were Holly Chromey, 49, and her children, Katie Zapzalka, 18, and Jared Zapzalka, 16. Hecontinued to attack the child causing severe injuries, but the 3 year old held on to life and was alive the next morning when she was discovered by her grandmother. July 5, 1985 Survivor In Sierra Madre. Her clothes were tossed everywhere. Those were the sentencing rules in 1984, and since these crimes were committed at that time, Ewing is grandfathered into those standards. 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. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. They immediately connected it with the Donna Dixon case from January 9th, and recognized that a serial offender was working the area. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Fourth Crime Scene 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. Atlanta, GA. Fri, Sep 8, 2023 08:00 PM. 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. Bruce and Debra were brutally attacked and killed inside their home, Melissa was killed and also raped. The guy here fit the profile you provided over that of the fbi. I write about old, unsolved cases from the pre-DNA era. The other kids at school would tease her, telling her the hammer man was going to come and finish her off. 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. Ewing is arrested and incarcerated. Headquartered in McDonough, Georgia, Bennett Family of Companies provides innovative logistics and transportation for companies across America. There was no sign of Lauer or Phelps. At approximately 2:00 AM on January 4th, 1984, an intruder came through an unlocked garage door. The house was not ransacked, but the contents of her purse were strewn about. The husband ran outside but he was gone. Prosecutors alleged Ewing raped Melissa Bennett before killing her. In 2015, information leaked that there was important clue found at the Bennett scene. On the night of Jan. 15, a stranger broke into their home and viciously assaulted and attacked the family. ", She added: "I lost my sanity. First published on August 17, 2021 / 3:31 PM. Im your biggest fan. Part of our book involves some very in-depth detective and forensic work. 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. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Both men were fiercely dedicated to seeing this case solved, and Conner started an effort to use every technology available to him to identify the offender. 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. On the night of Jan. 15, 1984, the Bennett family left their garage door open. 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. Three members of the Bennett family were brutally killed in their Aurora home. The killer was never brought to justice. View the map. KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) _ Two men were arrested Friday in the killing of an elderly man and his wife, a crime whose brutality traumatized this small town and went unsolved for more than a year. Before Donna Dixon was even found, another crime had taken place 26 miles to the west in the city of Lakewood. "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. The couple, especially Ron, wanted to show that their love was truly for better or for worse and that it would survive any challenge. The Bennett family, consisting of Bruce (27), Debra (26), and their two young daughters, Melissa (7) and Vanessa (3), were all attacked inside their Aurora home by a serial killer named Alex. Onsale to General Public. 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. Dr. Bennett's office is located at UH Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH. The family had been celebrating Melissas birthday that night. Debra was savagely beaten to death with a hammer. Youve done this with other cases to. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Copyright 2023 His use of ligatures were fairly distinct and helped tie a lot of the crimes together. Only the calls or phone events where the caller was believed to be the rapist are included. Never profile someone using the box as your guide. They lived on the other side of the Denver metro area, but their home and Smiths home were both near a main east-west road, Alameda Avenue, leading investigators to suspect the killer used that route. 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. A hammer. She had no idea how she got there and she didnt feel any pain. Lakewood Chief Dan McCasky was among those echoing those sentiments, and mentioned that the Smith family members will be releasing a statement later in the day. It took 37 years, but on Tuesday, the families of Bruce and Debra Bennett saw justice served. The garage door was still open. Family medicine doctors are primary-care physicians trained. 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. Not one part of this familys life would indicate such a violent predator was going to kill them. The police after searching the home believe that the intruder brought his own weapon, a hammer or some other type of blunt object yet, he took a knife from the kitchen which is what he used to slash and cut Bruce with. Full cooperation from Nevada Law Enforcement led to a confirmation of the DNA match. Would you like to contribute as an editor or a writer on our site? He faced six . He raced inside and quickly found Donna in the middle of the blood-soaked bed. I was a drug addict for so many years. The last family member left around 9:00 PM. A 3-year-old daughter, Vanessa, was injured and survived. After investigating, the police found similarities between the attack at the Bennett home and nearby random attacks that happened days earlier along the Highline Canal and Alameda Avenue corridor. Now She's Speaking Out, Mass. Residents here have lived under a dark cloud since Monday, when police found three residents dead in their home. 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. All rights reserved. Safdar Ali was allegedly involved in selling weapons to gang members of Atiq Ahmed. The jury found Ewing guilty on all counts. Weve published this page today to show you the details and origin of the ligatures used in the EAR/GSK attacks. 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. Bruce Bennett tried to climb the staircase several times in an attempt to ward off the perpetrator and save his young family. All four family members were assaulted, only one survived. 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. He was currently working at a family-owned furniture store, but was taking classes at the local college and would soon be working as an air traffic controller. He said the detectives who have worked it over the years, in particular Detective Steve Conner, the departments cold case investigator, never quit on. The cases are commonly known as the 1984 Colorado Hammer Murders. Ewings DNA profile was entered into CODIS (the FBI's database) this year (2018 as I write this) and the following morning his profile was matched to the DNA found at the crime scenes of both the Bennett family and Patricia Smith. Autor do artigo Por ; Data do artigo estranged from family and happy; benson funeral home worthington, mn obituaries em bennett family murders address em bennett family murders address More details will be forthcoming in the case as more is learned about the alleged killer and an affidavit is circulated containing the evidence used to charge him with these crimes. 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. She was happy to be home for a while, and eagerly awaiting the next day when her boyfriend, Ronald Holm, would be home. He went into the process of requesting extradition of the suspect, with the request soon going to the governors office and the process taking up to a couple of months. I would not limit the list to any type of profession or lack of any type of profession until suspects can be eliminated. The previous week, on the 10th of January,awoman in her fifties named Patricia Smith had also been murdered in her own home in a townhouse in Green Mountain, Lakewood, which is just a 25 minute drive from the Bennetts home in Aurora. Here are the days of the week the alleged killer struck each victim (s). Alex Ewing on trial for the murder of three members of the Bennett family (credit: Aurora Sentinel). His wife, Debra, was sexually assaulted and bludgeoned. 28 year old Bruce Bennett had jumped into action when the attacker entered the family home and a struggle broke out between the two as Bennett attempted to protect his family. The youngest girl, Vanessa, only three years old until March, was also struck violently in the face with the hammer. Your email address will not be published. Mendelian Genetics | Mendelian Theory, Principles & Applications, The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973: Composition & Important Sections, Indian Penal Code, 1860: Amendments, Composition & Provisions, Difference Between Autonomous vs Automate Process With Examples, Indian Evidence Act, 1872: Amendments & Important Sections. 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. Bizberg Themes, Forensic Science and Cyber Forensics Quiz (Free). Become a Patreon Supporter for bonus content! If you were living in La Jolla in the early 80s, you knew the Brodericks. "I didn't just lose my parents and my sister," Vanessa opened up. He attacked the couple with a hammer, bludgeoning them with it and leaving them for dead. 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. File photo Editor's note: At an August 10 press conference, authorities revealed that Nevada inmate Alex Ewing has been named in an arrest warrant for the. The same night he escaped, he broke into yet another couples house and attacked the male of the home. In just two days,. Date: September 5th, 1989 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. DNA evidence ties Ewing to the crime. 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. Not only was he hanging on the situation for any sign of improvement, but he was afraid that the killer would find out that she survived, might be able to identify him, and might come back to attack her again. They need renewed media attention. But he isnt going to talk about this crime to just a friend or bar mate. Thankfully, this community, these families and everyone impacted by the horrific crimes now knows this defendant will never hurt anyone ever again.". Prosecutors said they will ask Gov. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and the murder weapon? Evidence of wounds caused by a blade revealed that Bruce attempted to defend himself as the intruder swiped and slashed at him with a knife. When she first woke up, she had the mentality of a two-year old. She had to relearn how to talk and couldnt speak a full sentence for almost six months. 21-year-old Polish national, Julia Faustyna, claims to be Madeleine McCann- the story so far, CCTV Footage from New Jersey Gas Station Shows Woman Escaping Alleged Captor, Two men arrested in connection with the 1975 murder of Indiana teenager Laurel Jean Mitchell. The prosecution compared the Bennett family murders to another murder where a woman, Patricia Smith of Lakewood, was also murdered with a hammer earlier that same month. January 10th, 1984 started just like any other day, with Patricia dropping off her daughter and grandkids at work/school. The Bennett family was attacked either the night of Jan. 15 or the morning of Jan. 16. Designed by The killer had doused the vehicle with fuel in an apparent attempt to incinerate the crime scene, but apparently failed to start a fire. The 3-year-old sister, Vanessa, was the only survivor. alone. Man Gets Life in Prison for 2016 Killing of Google Employee Vanessa Marcotte, Lone Survivor of 1984 Colorado Hammer Killer Attack Misses the Family He Stole: 'Inside I Cry Every Day', Man Sentenced for 1982 Ax Murder of His Wife After the Case Went Unsolved for Nearly 40 Years, Colo. Woman Applied for Restraining Order Against Ex Days Before He Allegedly Killed Her Family Members, JonBent Ramsey's Father Is Optimistic DNA Advances Will Catch Daughter's Killer, Slams Boulder Police, Man Who Shot Lady Gaga's Dog Walker During Dognapping Sentenced to 21 Years: 'I Do Forgive You', N.C. Man Killed Girlfriend's Daughter, 3, with Chloroform in Attempt to Get Her to Sleep. There was no way, given the samples that we have, to determine whether the voices match or not. The court heard how . The Ramsey family, who originally bought the . She was last seen at about 8:30 PM while on her way to meet friends. 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.
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