The highest maximum penalty for the financial crimes is for money laundering in an amount exceeding $100,000 - which carries a potential 20-year sentence - on that front, Alex Murdaugh has . There was no sign of forced entry into the home, some articles you come across say that the killer entered through an unlocked garage door. 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. It was a match, proving that the same unknown offender had killed all four victims. Jun 2004 - 201612 years. 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. Three members of the Bennett family were brutally killed in their Aurora home. 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. Murders at this level are not just random. There was the sound of children and maybe a woman in the background, which couldve potentially come from a television or some other source. Later autopsies revealed that the Bennetts had died due to blunt force trauma and that their attacker had likely used a hammer. After failing with the EAR, we needed a sidebar showing that the techniques actually work because they do! Constance, her grandmother, immediately set up a vigil (which she kept up for days) as the paramedics, nurses and doctors worked feverishly to save the girls life. 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. He finds his release from the level of pain he inflicts on the victim, the level of violence he is able to achieve. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head- and the murder weapon? District Attorney John Kellner filed the murder charges against Ewing when he headed up the Cold Case Unit in the office. It was a beautiful area, with clean, crisp air and the mountains rising up to the west. Thought to be the work of a serial killer, the crimes have remained unsolved for thirty years. Investigators have been quoted as saying this was a random crime, vicious and random. 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. Theyd been strangled, their throats had been slashed, and rope marks were found on their necks and wrists. 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. Most importantly take the need to judge them and all of your own emotions and personal beliefs out of the picture. The story has a silver lining though on another case we explored with this team, theBrandon Lawsoncase, we were able to not only make a sketchy part of his 911 call understandable, but possibly a major break in the case by preparing for LE some scientific evidence that there was another person present when he disappeared. John Hickenlooper to request Ewings extradition today but the process could take weeks or months depending on a host of legal factors. She was born August 12, 1946 in Mississippi. He took Debras purse and went out the front door, then dumped the contents out onto the snow. He used two methods, and announced a few weeks ago that hed struck out with his first attempt. Immediately she went over the home to investigate. He noticed a gaping wound on the left side of her skull. In 2015, information leaked that there was important clue found at the Bennett scene. He said the detectives who have worked it over the years, in particular Detective Steve Conner, the departments cold case investigator, never quit on. 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. 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. Patricia Smith had been laid straight, her arms crossed over her chest as if on display in a funeral home. The very famous, more than three decades old case of Bennet family murders has recently been in the news. She suffered severe injuries to her head, jaw, and neck. Full cooperation from Nevada Law Enforcement led to a confirmation of the DNA match. 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. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. 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. The victim was fifty-year-old Patricia Louise Smith. Bruce was 27 years old and Debra was 26 in 1984. 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. 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 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. The large hammer was recovered, still on the seat of the car where the attacker had left it. Prosecutors said they will ask Gov. Thank you listeners! She was also raped. Amazing!!!!!!!! We move long-haul and short-haul loads to anywhere in the lower 48 states for commercial and government entities. 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. Police later linked the murder of the Bennett family with another rape and murder that happened just less than a week before. In just two days,. Chris Harris has been a senior true crime reporter for PEOPLE since late 2015. October 21st, 1982 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. One of those techniques was an innovative imaging tool by Parabon Nanolabs which provides an approximation of what they offender mightve looked like at both the time of the crimes and in the current day. He then found the couples oldest daughter, 7 year old Melissa, who tragically suffered the same terrible fate as her mother. Headquartered in McDonough, Georgia, Bennett Family of Companies provides innovative logistics and transportation for companies across America. Bruce Bennett tried to climb the staircase several times in an attempt to ward off the perpetrator and save his young family. 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. It is deeper than that. 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. Other Information No immediate leads could be generated in the case. Toward the end of that series and during the murders, he began experimenting with different types of bindings plastic ties, twine, drapery cord, etc. Required fields are marked *. I just read this article and Im completely blown away so much of what you speculated turned out to be spot on. It was taken in Arizona 11 days after the attack. The last family member left around 9:00 PM. Aurora police Chief Nick Metz said the case has haunted the families involved. He also discarded the knife hed used to kill Bruce. 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. Dr. Bennett's office is located at UH Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH. While closure and peace may be forever out of reach, the panelists hope for a sense of justice among those affected. There was no sign of the couple and theyve never been found. The crime spree known as the Colorado Hammer murders seemed to begin in Aurora in the early morning hours of January 4th, 1984. They need renewed media attention. It was later determined to be the murder weapon. 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. The press conference panel continually emphasized the destruction that this case has left on the lives of those affected. 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. Dont you think the police could have gotten the guy long ago had they given you the evidence they had? July 5, 1985 Survivor In Sierra Madre. does anyone think they are actually looking though? View the map. For years the case was cold, until in 2018 a DNA profile from semen the killer left at the scene was matched to Ewing. 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? Two young boys were asleep in other rooms in the house. On the night of Jan. 15, 1984, the Bennett family left their garage door open. 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. Thankfully, this community, these families and everyone impacted by the horrific crimes now knows this defendant will never hurt anyone ever again.". Vanessa, now 38 years old, received a call from the Aurora sheriffs department informing her that her parents killer had been identified as 57 year old Alexander Christopher Ewing. During sentencing Aug. 17, members of the Bennett and Large families submitted impact statements and came to the courtroom. Peck Funeral Home assisted the family . Caller: Hi, its me again. The results (if any) of the tests run on the current evidence is currently unknown. Bruce Bennett tried to climb the staircase several times in an attempt to ward off the perpetrator and save his young family. The Colorado killings followed two other attacks near Denver that either involved or were suspected of involving a hammer. Coincidence is just an illusion that we all tell ourselves myself included, when we are unable to explain how something actually came to be. According to property records, the couple stayed in the same house after the attack. Her head was constantly swimming with thoughts of her parents. 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 Its believed that the EAR bought his shoelaces new from the store or from some other source. 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. Yvonne Woods was on the stand for more than three hours . 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. Victim #24received a call from a voice that she identified as the EARs. Its also interesting to note that the first incidence of violence, the Snelling murder, didnt stop him, but he did seem to be gradually slowing down after what appears on the surface to be the 1975 peak. 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. A neatly-folded Winnie the Pooh comforter lay under her, a portion of it obscuring her head. 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.. 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. It was Monday evening, January 9th, 1984. 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. The mandatory minimum sentence for each count is life with possibility of parole after 20 years, according to the prosecution. 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. First published on August 17, 2021 / 3:31 PM. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Bruce Alan Bennett was twenty-seven years old. Both survived. The scene in the home traumatized the daughter and grandchildren for life. Powered by WordPress 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. 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. Investigators noted there was evidence of a struggle at the house. It was a case that they were not giving up on and were continuing to move forward on, he said. There were reportedly no signs of robbery or sexual assault both women were clothed and their purses were still with 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. The other victim murdered in the terrifying crime spree. Her parents, Bruce and Deborah Bennett, were also killed. A life sentence feels too light, but that is the most the justice system can offer. The husband ran outside but he was gone. 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. 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. James Haubenschild suffered a fractured skull, and his wife had a concussion. Calls Toyota Celica was found at a river overlook several hours after he and Hailey went on their first date. Her bra was wrapped around one of her wrists, and her clothing was found on the bank nearby. The Associated Press contributed to this report. This killer is indiscriminate in terms of who he kills, attacks or rapes. Required fields are marked *. Ewing was not identified as a suspect until a DNA hit in July 2018 linked him to semen left at the crime scene. The truck was in a designated parking area with the radio and windshield wipers turned on. 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. Furthermore, the loving grandmother had been sexually assaulted. Atlanta, GA. Fri, Sep 8, 2023 08:00 PM. Donna pulled into the driveway, hit the remote to open the garage, and pulled her car in. All three were beaten to death with a claw 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. Fourth Crime Scene 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. The family had been celebrating Melissas birthday that night. 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. 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. A man accused of murdering a mother and three children has also been charged with raping one of the victims, who was 11. He tossed it onto the seat of the car and began pulling her from the vehicle. The same night he escaped, he broke into yet another couples house and attacked the male of the home. In fact, there was a string of unsolved crimes in the area that took place just days apart from each other. Matthew Nicholas, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, January 20, after being found guilty of 10 counts of sexual assault of a child under 13. Unfortunately, they verified one by one that each family member was deceased. "I lost the person who I was supposed to be. Denver Post Archive Aurora Coroner's officers and police officers remove one of the three bodies from house at. Hed been in the Navy, where he worked on high-tech sonar equipment at Pearl Harbor. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and the murder weapon? 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. I didnt just lose my parents and my sister, she said. Its quite possible that she wasnt even conscious for any of it. She was also sexually assaulted and the intruder left a small hammer near her body. Ronald worked as a pilot. Why did they have to get murdered? Vanessa Benn. Why was she the lone survivor? We wanted to know if there was any way that we could determine whether the voices matched or not. All rights reserved. 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. The house of Safdar Ali, who is allegedly a close aide of Atiq Ahmad, was demolished by the administration. 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. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. Ewing, then 23, was arrested again two days later about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away by park rangers at Lake Mead. Weve been given a hi-resolution copy to share, which you can view by clicking below: Around this time, on this very night 38 years ago, the EAR/GSK beganlaying siege to Goleta, California. Alexander was not identified as a suspect until a DNA hit in July 2018 linked him to semen left at the crime scene. He faced six . 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. The case lacked any apparent motive. The money was never claimed. She was murdered on Jan 10, 1984 by an, at that time, unknown person who raped and killed her inside her Lakewood home. The cases are commonly known as the 1984 Colorado Hammer Murders. You got the age closer than the fbi and police you described exactly what the guy was feeling when he was killing them. Third Crime Scene What are Dr. Bennett's areas of care? Become a Patreon Supporter for bonus content! On Friday, August 10th, 2018 at 10:00 AM Mountain Time, a press conference was held to announce that two different jurisdictions in Colorado were filing charges against a man named Alex Christopher Ewing for the Patricia Smith and Bennett family homicides. 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. I wouldtear everything down and start over with the evidence, the crime scene and so on. Recently, the Sun-Gazette has reported that Joseph DeAngelo, the man arrested for the Visalia Ransacker / Golden State Killer crimes, has been added to the suspect list. ", She added: "I lost my sanity. James, who posts online from time to time, discusses how vividly the case still haunts him even to this day. I was a drug addict for so many years. This killers only motive was to kill. When he did use something at the scene (electrical cord, towel, husbands shoelaces, necktie) it was only to supplement the ligatures that he had brought himself. DENVER- The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. Bruce had been attacked with a knife and hit in the head several times with a hammer or blunt object. A photo of the Bennett family. 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. Reporters and detectives subsequently learned that very little of the evidence from the scenes had been combed through using modern forensic technology, including DNA testing. 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. This horrific and cold case of Aurora, Colorado has kept everyone wondering about the culprit while this horrendous incident kept sending chills to the bones of people all around the world. The Attack happened between midnight and 6 a.m. on Jan. 16, 1984. He also isnt killing with this level of violence often enough to track. Again, info is given only about the phone calls where the offender spoke. If you are just simply looking at it, you miss the most critical and important clues. Ron kept vigil and kept guard in her hospital room day and night. He was brought to Colorado to face trial for the deaths of the Bennett family. Remember me? The father, Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes, immediately became the prime suspect, as he abruptly disappeared after the . She was found bludgeoned with a hammer, with about 17 wounds to the head. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But what about his second? The wheels were put into motion to submit dozens of pieces of evidence to the FBI lab. A hammer. 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. She made her way to the bedroom and went to bed. This mans only motive was to inflict as much pain as possible and kill his victims. Detective Steve Conner has investigated this case for many years, taking over from an investigator named Marv Brandt. He raced inside and quickly found Donna in the middle of the blood-soaked bed. The family was discovered by Constance Bennett who has since raised little Vanessa. 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. These crimes in Colorado are this killers first stages at killing a human. Juliana Kenney, 75, her husband Clayton Kenney, 83, and Mrs. Kenney's 44- year-old daughter, Adrienne Arnot, were beaten and stabbed to . The world turned a painful red and Donna began to lose consciousness. There was no way, given the samples that we have, to determine whether the voices match or not. This case impacted not just the victims, but it also terrorized an entire community, he said. 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. 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. I write about old, unsolved cases from the pre-DNA era. 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. There was evidence of a struggle in the bedroom. Minneapolis and Crystal, MN. 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. Blood near the front door sent him into a panic. 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. Patricia still wore her sweater and boots, but her jeans were pulled down. This is a very unique activity, and it helps tie the EARONS crimes together based on M.O. The severity of her injuries cant be understated. He kept the hammer. The intruder, apparently thinking she was dead, began to make his escape. The jury found Ewing guilty on. The killer had doused the vehicle with fuel in an apparent attempt to incinerate the crime scene, but apparently failed to start a fire. Date: April 9th/10th, 1988 Lauer and Phelps disappeared on Labor Day weekend while on their way to Virginia Beach. James and Kim divorced divorced in the fall of 1987. About six weeks later, hunters came upon their bodies in a remote location in the woods near a logging road. 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. De Ligonnes Family. Broderick was denied parole for a second time just this past January. Tabernacle. In 2002, Arapahoe County filed a John Doe arrest warrant for the perpetrator of the Bennet murders based on the DNA profile. From 1987 to 1991, a serial offender known as Mr Cruel abducted children around Melbourne, Australia. They remain married to this day. An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. How can you describe what he feels during the crime? It begins with a woman killed with a hammer in Lakewood and, a week later, a family killed the same way in Aurora. 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. The FAIR School, Minneapolis Public Schools and West Metro Education Program. Let us know all the details about yourself and send us a message. Your email address will not be published. Dont forget to follow Generation Why on FB [X] , Instagram [X] and Twitter [X]. On November 7, 2014, police announced they had arrested Charles "Chase" Merritt, Joseph . 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
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