Colorado Cold Case Files - Case Detail: Bruce Bennett The world turned a painful red and Donna began to lose consciousness. At least, until they came to Vanessas bed. Patricia had come home from work for lunch, stopping at Wendys on the way. 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. JonBenet Ramsey (Homicide) | City of Boulder It was a case that they were not giving up on and were continuing to move forward on, he said. Inside the 1,700-acre Murdaugh family murder farm now on sale for $3.9M Its believed that the EAR bought his shoelaces new from the store or from some other source. 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. The court heard how . He tossed it onto the seat of the car and began pulling her from the vehicle. Alexander was not identified as a suspect until a DNA hit in July 2018 linked him to semen left at the crime scene. ~The very same day, a man using a hammer attacked flight attendant Donna Dixon in the garage of her Aurora home, leaving her in a coma. 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. 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. 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. 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. During the rape series, he primarily used shoelaces. Miraculously, both of them survived the assault, though James suffered from a fractured skull and his wife suffered a concussion. He was brought to Colorado to face trial for the deaths of the Bennett family. Camper reviewed the timeline that led to the arrest, which included a DNA profile from the Bennett case generated in 2001 and uploaded to CODIS (the national FBI DNA database), a profile developed from the Smith case is 2010 that matched the Bennett profile, and the strides that Nevada has made in testing their current prison population, which directly led to Ewings DNA being uploaded into CODIS. Closing arguments begin in hammer attack murder trial Although she had no memory of the attack, what happened that night in 1984 would negatively impact the rest of her life. Donna underwent several operations. Investigators were able to piece together the details of the horrendous ordeal through study of the evidence and the crime scene. 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. Why was she the lone survivor? The jury agreed, and on Aug. 6, 2021, they found Ewing guilty of murder in the three deaths. This generated a buzz of discussion, with victims and family wondering why this information wasnt released sooner, and online sleuths pouring over leads such as previous offenders named Richard, different water company uniforms looked at, and even eyes turned toward folks who were associated with a Canadian town/military base called Petawawa in Ontario. 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. But thanks to modern technology and the incredible talent and dedication of several individuals, it seems this case has finally been solved. Bruce and Debra were brutally attacked and killed inside their home, Melissa was killed and also raped. Bennett family murders: Verdict reached in hammer murder trial | 9news.com 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. 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. Victims were shot to death on the shore of the James River, some distance from Knoblings pickup truck. She too survived the attack, although she was first in a coma for some time. Bennett family murders Remember me? She too worked at the family-owned furniture store, and was happily helping raise the couples two children, Melissa (seven-years old, about to turn eight) and Vanessa (three years old), with the man that she loved. On the night of Jan. 15, 1984, the Bennett family left their garage door open. 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. Unsolved: The Bennett family murders | wqad.com Her purse was found nearby some money had been stolen from it. All four family members were assaulted, only one survived. 2019 Sentinel Colorado. 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. Often times a profilerwill come up with a profile that fits into a box, the box was made from materials that were provided by profiles obtained from past criminals who committed similar crimes, which is a really great place to start. Immediately she went over the home to investigate. 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 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. 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 photo of the Bennett family. You got the age closer than the fbi and police you described exactly what the guy was feeling when he was killing them. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. If the list does exist its worth a look at as well as look at reports of crimes at the local job sites involving missing tools. There was evidence of a struggle in the bedroom. Forensics determined that the hammers used in each of the attacks were different, and that there didnt appear to be anything terribly useful in the way of fingerprints or other evidence. Alex Ewing on trial for the murder of three members of the Bennett family (credit: Aurora Sentinel). The family overall lead a very quiet and peaceful life. Recently, he was exploring forensic genealogy techniques. 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. Investigators had collected and stored the killers DNA from the crime scene back in 1984 and since they did not know the hammer killers identity at the time issued a warrant for the arrest of John Doe on three counts of murder, attempted murder, felony murder, two counts of sexual assault, and two counts of child sexual assault in the hope that technology in the future could aid in identifying the assailant. She said in an interview that she has big plans for the future, and reminds us that "its never too late to achieve big things. Small Town Murder at Tabernacle in Atlanta Sep 8th, 2023 - presale code Is it not true that you usually get police closer to a suspect faster than they ever could without using dna? 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. Shippers choose our flatbed, step deck, RGN or other specialized trailers to move freight that is too large to be That is what drove him into such an uncontrollable frenzy so fast and that is precisely what stopped the attacks so fast. At the conclusion of his comments, he introduced his former boss, Peter Weir. 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. It begins with a woman killed with a hammer in Lakewood and, a week later, a family killed the same way. The life sentences will be served consecutively. DENVER- The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. He was immediately alarmed at the scene in the garage her clothes, purse, and even some of the mail was by her car. Ewing has been locked up since. 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 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. It begins with a woman killed with a hammer in Lakewood and, a week later, a family killed the same way in Aurora. An autopsy found that Debra died from blunt force trauma. 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. 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. </p> KUSA reports that Vanessa recounted for the courtroom how the critical head injuries she survived left her with a lifetime of problems, including depression, anxiety, anger and struggles with heroin abuse. Its bloody, painful for the victim and brutal. 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. RELATED: Bennett family murders: Full coverage of suspect's trial. Murdaugh's double murder trial jury is sent out to find a verdict Theyd moved there around Thanksgiving from another place a few miles away, and had so far enjoyed their quiet, developing neighborhood. 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. 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. 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. 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. This case impacted not just the victims, but it also terrorized an entire community, he said. MPR: Two men charged in Long Prairie, Minneapolis murders Hecontinued to attack the child causing severe injuries, but the 3 years old held on to her life and was alive the next morning when she was discovered by her grandmother. The Bennett Family Murders ~ Aurora, Colorado ~ January 16, 1984 The Bennett family was your average middle class family living the American dream. ~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. 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. Most likely it appears quite small in your browser window simply click on it to enlarge it. A typical way one would see this is that he likes control, that is wrong. This was the last time the Bennetts were seen alive. The mandatory minimum sentence for each count is life with possibility of parole after 20 years, according to the prosecution. Alex Ewing Ordered To Serve 3 Life Sentences For 1984 Murder - CBS News We move long-haul and short-haul loads to anywhere in the lower 48 states for commercial and government entities. 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. I agree with you. No fingerprints or any other usable evidence could be found at the scene. It took 37 years, but on Tuesday, the families of Bruce and Debra Bennett saw justice served. I'm a very strong person, though, but when it comes to my family that was the most important thing to me in the whole world.". Jury finds man guilty in 'hammer killer' murders of Aurora family Even to this day, she has absolutely no recollection of the next several hours. It helps bring the other EAR phone escapades into the fold. Many of his victims were sex workers and transients who had no connection to him. Bruce, his wife Debra and 7-year-old Melissa were found dead. 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. Sometimes it works, sometimes its sort of right, sometimes not even close. 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.. When a telephone call came for Steve Bennett on the afternoon of July 4, 1985, his daughter, Whitney, opened her bedroom window to summon her father, who was outside watering the front yard. "The Crown prosecutor who is prosecuting my case in September seems like a dog with a . She had no idea how she got there and she didnt feel any pain. Its quite possible that he changed his method of killing in an effort to keep police from tying him to these murders on the off chance he was caught for lets say rape. This killeris more the type that would self medicate more than likely be a heavy drinker as opposed to taking medication. The jury found Ewing guilty on. Dixon survived. 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. 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. Dont you think the police could have gotten the guy long ago had they given you the evidence they had? This killer strikes with such violence that it is difficult to understand, see or know of a possible motive. They pledged to continue to support the families via their victim services organizations. 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 . 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. What happened to Vanessa Bennett's family? People - Sportskeeda Only the calls or phone events where the caller was believed to be the rapist are included. July 23, 1993. Family medicine doctors are primary-care physicians trained. Damien Bendall, 31, is now alleged to have raped and murdered Lacey Bennett . Forensic Yard There were reportedly no signs of robbery or sexual assault both women were clothed and their purses were still with them. Her parents, Bruce and Deborah Bennett, were also killed. She was happy to be home for a while, and eagerly awaiting the next day when her boyfriend, Ronald Holm, would be home.
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