Patricia missed her husband Oliver, who stayed behind in Nebraska, but she loved being with her daughter and two grandchildren in a bustling city. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. Immediately she went over the home to investigate. The prints taken from the Bennett crime scene were fuzzy and not usable, the concrete floor they took that had a footprint would be unusable at this point. Dixon survived. They lived on the other side of the Denver metro area, but their home and Smith's home were both near a main east-west road, Alameda Avenue, leading investigators to suspect the killer used that route. 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. Alexander Ewings list of seemingly endless violent crimes are described throughout the many articles published about him since he has been identified as the man behind the murder of the Bennett family. Bruce had mentioned wanting to run to the store before bed. It was later determined to be the murder weapon. He also isnt killing with this level of violence often enough to track. He shouted her name, but she could only groan in response. for sure the les should listen to what you say and take another look this is a refreshing take on profiles. Date: April 9th/10th, 1988 One of the most terrifying aspects of the case is the sketch of his mask, made with the assistance of survivors who caught a glimpse of him. ': Ohio Man Sentenced for Murdering Family of 8, Accused Stockton Serial Killer Charged with 4 More Murders, Bringing Total to 7, She Saw Her Family Murdered by a Hammer-Wielding Stranger When She Was 3. We often times want answers that fit into a box and I am sorry to say in this case we will not get them. The next thing Donna remembered was waking up naked in the garage. That is what drove him into such an uncontrollable frenzy so fast and that is precisely what stopped the attacks so fast. Later autopsies would reveal that the Bennetts had died due to blunt force trauma and that their attacker had likely used a hammer. 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. Family medicine doctors are primary-care physicians trained. does anyone think they are actually looking though? This call occurred over a month after her attack. On night of January 16th, 1984 a gruesome discovery was made at a house on 16300 East Center Drive, Aurora, Colorado. Murders at this level are not just random. alone. The force of the impact threw her head into the steering wheel. 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. Other attacks had occurred off of this main road, and its believed that the killer couldve entered the area from that point. This article in the Denver post describes how after he murdered the Bennetts he went on to enter the house of a man in Kingman, Arizona and attempted to bludgeon the man to death with a 20lb rock. Investigators believed the killers attacks escalated from just beating someone with a hammer to actually murdering them. The Colorado killings followed two other attacks near Denver that either involved or were suspected of involving a hammer. 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. Currently all 50 states have to collect DNA for certain types of Felony crimes and submit it to CODIS. Alexander was not identified as a suspect until a DNA hit in July 2018 linked him to semen left at the crime scene. 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. An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. At the conclusion of his comments, he introduced his former boss, Peter Weir. Prosecutors said they will ask Gov. 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. Many of his victims were sex workers and transients who had no connection to him. & The other kids at school would tease her, telling her the hammer man was going to come and finish her off. Ewing, then 23, was arrested again two days later about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away by park rangers at Lake Mead. 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. Designed by The victims may not have ever known one another but the killer found them somehow, it was not random although it appears that way. I dont I think they are just waiting on a dna match thats all they ever do. Because of these phone calls, we can start to determine whether the offender was incarcerated or not at certain times (most likely he wasnt), and even where he lived due to the locations of the victims during the time period that he called them. The killer then ascended the staircase and entered the couples bedroom where attacked Bruces wife, 26 year old Debra, who he raped before bludgeoning to death. He was among many who worked the case tirelessly for many years and is directly responsible for using some of the innovative DNA technologies, such as the Parabon Nanolabs imaging that came out a few years ago. The jury found Ewing guilty on Aug. 6 of killing three members of the Bennett family with a hammer. 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. A coworker informed Bruces mother, Constance, about their absence. The hammer struck her in the jaw, shattering the bone which splintered in an explosion of small fragments that punctured her windpipe. The case got very little press, and unfortunately, it was never solved. 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. 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. He tossed it onto the seat of the car and began pulling her from the vehicle. A 3-year-old daughter, Vanessa, was injured and survived. He was immediately alarmed at the scene in the garage her clothes, purse, and even some of the mail was by her car. Arapahoe County District Judge Darren Vahle spoke directly to Ewing before announcing the sentence. We offer a suite of trucking and specialized logistics services, from flatbed and step deck trucking, driveaway, manufactured housing transport and RV delivery to 3PL/4PL logistics, customs brokerage . 2019 Sentinel Colorado. The Bennett family was attacked in their home in Aurora, Colorado in Jan. 16,1984. As an adult, she developed a drug habit and became an addict. Dont profile by. Despite the trauma of the attack and losing an incredible amount of blood, the doctors and nurses were able to save her life. 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. Look at the area, the artery that the crimes were committed along. They were almost always in good shape/new condition, and lab analysis revealed almost nothing about them except the occasional hair. The Investigation kept ongoing. Its also safe to assume that up until the Bennett murders his weapon of choice was a blunt object, after those murders he quite possibly changed the weapon of choice if he had that overwhelming urge to kill again. DNA at both the Bennett crime Scene and the Smith crime scene were matched to the same killer in 2010. This call is important because not only did it occur during an EAR quiet period, but this attack is connected by DNA. They need renewed media attention. For an overview of the case, you can review my extensive post from yesterday which covered many of the details. Date: September 5th, 1989 Bennett Family Then, just as the community was reeling from this attack, 50-year-old Patricia Smith became a murder victim at her Lakewood, Colorado, home on January 10, 1984. 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. He assured the public that theyll move with all appropriate speed.. It was a blitz attack for no reason, said Marvin Brandt, who investigated the case as a homicide detective between 1984 and when he retired from the Aurora Police Department in 2002. He said the detectives who have worked it over the years, in particular Detective Steve Conner, the departments cold case investigator, never quit on. This mans only motive was to inflict as much pain as possible and kill his victims. A typical way one would see this is that he likes control, that is wrong. All four of them were attacked inside the home that night, only Vanessa survived. 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. That, and the knots he used, provide a link among several scenes. The Colonial Parkway is a scenic highway in Virginia that runs through historic areas like Yorktown, Williamsburg, and Jamestown. Third Crime Scene In 2002, Arapahoe County filed a John Doe arrest warrant for the perpetrator of the Bennet murders based on the DNA profile. While closure and peace may be forever out of reach, the panelists hope for a sense of justice among those affected. In the papers, the most attention is paid to the last state witness, the DNA analyst at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Prosecutors alleged Ewing raped Melissa Bennett before killing her. The family got a ride from someone else. For over thirty years, this killer has remained unidentified. An autopsy found that Debra died from blunt force trauma. Here are the Small Town Murder show particulars: Small Town Murder. Photo: 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office, Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images, Inside Idaho Murder Suspect's Alleged Chat Room Posts: I Can Do 'Whatever I Want with Little Remorse', Chilling Details Revealed as Probable Cause Affidavit is Released in University of Idaho Murder Case, 'Why Did You Kill My Daddy? Wedged between the bed and the wall was three-year-old Vanessa, choking of fragments of her own jaw bone and barely clinging to life. 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. If you were living in La Jolla in the early 80s, you knew the Brodericks. Bruce Bennett tried to climb the staircase several times in an attempt to ward off the perpetrator and save his young family. There wasnt anything notable stolen from the scene, and the attack had all the hallmarks of a random crime. Are you suggesting that initially investigators missed certain details based off the profile of the dude? John Hickenlooper to request Ewings extradition today but the process could take weeks or months depending on a host of legal factors. 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. Aurora police Chief Nick Metz said the case has haunted the families involved. Later autopsies revealed that the Bennetts had died due to blunt force trauma and that their attacker had likely used a hammer. There are potentially other crimes that Ewing could be charged for, and Brauchler emphasized that he wont prosecute a crime that he cant ethically prove theres a high standard for evidence in these types of cases. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Copyright 2023 Perhaps one of the most famous murders in La Jolla history, the story of Daniel and Linda Broderick's death in 1989 shocked the seaside community and reverberated throughout San Diego. 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 killer also may have completely changed his MO from victim type to weapon used, to less grisly murdering, became better at leaving no DNA behind Because he committed the murders in Colorado during his learning phase if you will it is difficult to determine what he went on to be if anything. DNA evidence ties Ewing to the crime. WordPress. 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. 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. You called it in a recent case again how did you know? He raced inside and quickly found Donna in the middle of the blood-soaked bed. 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. Your email address will not be published. There are some instances where a strange phone call was received, but its not thought to be the offender. During the winter in Colorado its difficult to find a construction crew working well into the night. Here are a few of the notable phone calls: January 15th, 1979 They didnt feel that he forced his way into the home as she entered it herself due to the television, wig, and Wendys receipt being located upstairs. 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. District Attorney John Kellner said the murders had shocked the community, adding that he was glad to see justice for the victims after 37 long years. Most importantly take the need to judge them and all of your own emotions and personal beliefs out of the picture. Ewing is arrested and incarcerated. Atlanta, GA. Fri, Sep 8, 2023 08:00 PM. See them as the killer did, see the victims as the killer did at that moment. Patricia had only been living in Lakewood for about three and a half months, having moved there from Nebraska with her daughter, who was recently divorced. I only do research and leave active investigation of these cases to professionals. One of the interesting parts of the East Area Rapists MO was that he seemingly made many, many hang-up phone calls to victims, usually in the weeks before an attack, but sometimes afterward as well. He also shattered the face of Bruce Bennetts 3-year-old daughter, Vanessa. 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. Investigators were able to determine that the girl had died by drowning, but at first they couldnt agree on whether it had been accidental or whether there was foul play involved. Furthermore, the loving grandmother had been sexually assaulted. Or any of the other angles he was pursuing? 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. 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. 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. The 1982 call is important, because the offender hadnt killed for over a year, and it was thought that he mightve been incarcerated. The family had been celebrating Melissas birthday that night. Ewing massacred a family but left a key to his identity, Chief Deputy District Attorney Garrik Storgaard told the jury. On the night of January 16th, 1984 a gruesome discovery was made at a house on 16300 East Center Drive, Aurora. Victim #42received a call that she identified as the EAR. The very famous, more than three decades old case of Bennet family murders has recently been in the news. She was also left with a shattered pelvis and fell into in a coma. Ewing, who was convicted of the murders on Aug. 6, broke into the family's new home the night of the killings. Family photo Police say DNA evidence links Alex Ewing to the 1984 murders of three members of Bruce and Debra Bennett and their 7-year-old daughter Melissa, left. She slumped over onto the passenger seat. One of the signature trademarks of an EAR/GSK attack was the use of ligatures. The bodies of John Paul Bennett, 13, Lacey Bennett, 11, their mother Terri Harris, 35, and Lacey's friend Connie Gent, 11, were discovered at the property near Sheffield, on Sunday morning.. Expand the list of suspects because on this case it was always bigger than investigators thought it was and the killer was always the least obvious or least likely to stand out. 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. Some of the ligatures matched across scenes. But thanks to modern technology and the incredible talent and dedication of several individuals, it seems this case has finally been solved. "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.". 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. She too survived the attack, although she was first in a coma for some time. Ronald worked as a pilot. I look in the mirror every day and look at myself and I hate who I am. Dr. Robert Offerman and Dr. Debra Manning were young and had bright futures. 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The Military also submits DNA for specific types of crimes committed by its members. 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. 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. The results (if any) of the tests run on the current evidence is currently unknown. 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. Alexander Christopher Ewing is already behind bars, serving 40 years for two counts of attempted murder in the state of Nevada. Forensic Yard Your email address will not be published. His sentence runs through 2037 but he would be eligible for parole in 2021. This killers only motive was to kill. Hed been in the Navy, where he worked on high-tech sonar equipment at Pearl Harbor. The other kids at school would tease her, telling her the hammer man was going to come and finish her off. Caller: Hi, its me again. She survived. He took her to the floor and sexually assaulted her. Both survived. He finds his release from the level of pain he inflicts on the victim, the level of violence he is able to achieve. 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. He then found the couples oldest daughter, 7 year old Melissa, who tragically suffered the same terrible fate as her mother. This is a harsh, cold fact profilers must learn if they are to more accurately profile. 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. "This case impacted not just the victims, but it also terrorized an entire community," Kellner said in a statement. The jury found Ewing guilty on all counts. Its believed that the EAR bought his shoelaces new from the store or from some other source. Her parents, Bruce and Deborah Bennett, were also killed. Umesh Pal murder case: Bulldozer action against Atiq Ahmad's close aides continues in Uttar Pradesh. There was blood all over the car. Tabernacle. No immediate leads could be generated in the case. ", She added: "I lost my sanity. Laid out in this manner, not only can you see the ratio of prowlings to ransackings, but you can get a feel for any patterns that mightve occurred, and you can clearly see when he was most active and when he was dormant. Like all of the EARONS victims, they were taken from this earth far too soon. Bruce finally succumbed to his injuries and the family was left vulnerable. The crime spree known as the Colorado Hammer murders seemed to begin in Aurora in the early morning hours of January 4th, 1984. Thought to be the work of a serial killer, the crimes have remained unsolved for thirty years. He usually tied them so tightly that circulation was restricted, used the same types of knots, and would often have the wife tie up the husband (and then retie the husband himself). Ewing was convicted of killing 27-year-old Bruce and 26 year-old Debra Bennett, as well as their 7-year-old daughter Melissa, in Aurora. Begins: Fri, 03/03/23 10:00 AM EST. It was a case that they were not giving up on and were continuing to move forward on, he said. <p>Bruce Bennett, 27, was fatally stabbed and bludgeoned. The truck was in a designated parking area with the radio and windshield wipers turned on. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. There are a few very notable ones, particularly because they occurred during quiet periods where the offender wasnt attacking. The killer was practicing, he was unsure of himself and he was unsure of the weapon he would eventually use. The mandatory minimum sentence for each count is life with possibility of parole after 20 years, according to the prosecution. 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 investigators looked at everything from construction workers to drug addicts in the areas around the attacks because at the time a lot of construction was happening, they looked at the fact that the attacks happened around the holidays so maybe that was a trigger for this killer, even looked at the possibility that the killer was in some sort of drug fueled rage. Debra Marie Bennett, twenty-six years old, had married Bruce before his Navy deployment in 1976. He also shattered the face of Bruce Bennetts 3-year-old daughter, Vanessa. 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. Vanessa Bennett was shocked to receive the phone call identifying the man who murdered her entire family and attempted to murder her in 1984and admits it hasnt quite sunk in. They pledged to continue to support the families via their victim services organizations. Become a Patreon Supporter for bonus content! For the first time, Stetson Bennett is publicly addressing his January arrest for public intoxication in Texas. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. EAR brought his own ligatures to almost every attack he didnt rely exclusively on what was found at the scene. 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. January 10th, 1984 started just like any other day, with Patricia dropping off her daughter and grandkids at work/school. The previous week, on the 10th of January, a woman 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 minutes drive from Bennets home in Aurora. The backyard of the home was the only one in the area without a fence, and it backed up to a dark and lonely portion of Alameda Avenue. He attacked the couple with a hammer, bludgeoning them with it and leaving them for dead. Now She's Speaking Out, Mass. You got the age closer than the fbi and police you described exactly what the guy was feeling when he was killing them. James and Kim divorced divorced in the fall of 1987. They are more likely to begin work before sunup rather than stay much after sundown. He stayed on the prosecution team with Storgaard and Senior Deputy District Attorney Megan Brewer. </p> She recently gave an interview, which you can view here (link).. Alex Ewing on trial for the murder of three members of the Bennett family (credit: Aurora Sentinel). The caller whispered harshly into the phone, saying You know who this is or Do you know who this is? The victim was on the line with him for about a minute. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. ~ Jan. 4, 1984, a man snuck into an Aurora home and used a hammer to beat James and Kimberly Haubenschild. 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. Listen and Subscribe to The Generation Why Podcast! 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. Patricia Smith had been laid straight, her arms crossed over her chest as if on display in a funeral home. Would you like to contribute as an editor or a writer on our site? In addition to photos and a summary of information, the following points are worth going over: Its also worth noting that the EAR seemed to, at times, receive gratification from tying and retying his victims.