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. & 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. His attacker slit his throat before eventually delivering a final fatal blow with a hammer. Designed by She was found bludgeoned with a hammer, with about 17 wounds to the head. <p>Bruce Bennett, 27, was fatally stabbed and bludgeoned. 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. During the winter in Colorado its difficult to find a construction crew working well into the night. Not one part of this familys life would indicate such a violent predator was going to kill them. At around 8:00 PM on January 10th, 1984, her boyfriend Ron Holm arrived home. 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. Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. 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. 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. Ronald worked as a pilot. He faced six counts of first-degree murder. Suspect in long-unsolved, brutal Aurora hammer murders has been in Nevada prison Grandview placed on accidental lockdown Tuesday morning, Police say man shot in the leg Thursday in Aurora knew, IN THE BLUE: Aurora cop disciplined but not charged for stalking, All hands on deck: Aurora police leaders say agency still prioritizing, Former APS superintendent Rico Munn honored with Congressional resolution, Two Americans arrested on charges of selling tech to Russia, Carbon dioxide emissions reached a record high in 2022, SpaceX launches US, Russia, UAE astronauts to space station, Lilly plans to slash some insulin prices, expand cost cap, China says TikTok ban reflects US insecurities, EDITORIAL: Allowing APD to hire cheaters and liars undermines its goal, PERRY: Refusing to hide its crazy, Colorado GOP gathers to elect, Hasan Minhaj ready to lean into silliness at Spirit Awards, Review: Operation Fortune is a by-the-numbers spy caper, Everything you need to know about the 2023 Academy Awards, TikTok sets new default time limits for minors, Hate your signature? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. 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. Here are the Small Town Murder show particulars: Small Town Murder. He picked all of his victims for a reason, something about them attracted him to them, they all had one common denominator that drew him to those specific individuals. Theres no such thing as coincidence. She made her way to the bedroom and went to bed. 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, a stranger broke into their home and viciously assaulted and attacked the family. 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. Only the calls or phone events where the caller was believed to be the rapist are included. Hed been in the Navy, where he worked on high-tech sonar equipment at Pearl Harbor. She suffered severe injuries to her head, jaw, and neck. He didnt hate his victims and quite frankly he didnt know any of them personally, he just wanted to kill. 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. Currently all 50 states have to collect DNA for certain types of Felony crimes and submit it to CODIS. 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. Even after he was struck and injured severely, Bruce continued to struggle valiantly with his attacker, and it seems he climbed the stairs after him even after the intruder thought that he was unconscious or dead. Forensic Yard Apparently, although the authorities never followed up on this, there were a series of murders just like this across the country just off of I-70. Bruce and Debra Bennett lived with their daughter Melissa and younger daughter, Vanessa. 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. 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. 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. My best friend lived around the corner from the Bennetts, and that previous night (or night of) after dinner when she was cleaning the kitchen, she saw a man staring at her through the window. Im going to come over and fuck you again. 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. Part of our book involves some very in-depth detective and forensic work. Yvonne Missy Woods, a DNA analyst at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), was the last of 25 prosecution witnesses called to the stand in Ewings trial on multiple counts of first-degree murder in the hammer killings of Bruce and Debra Bennett and their daughter, Melissa. Darkness had just fallen. 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. Miraculously, both of them survived the assault, though James suffered from a fractured skull and his wife suffered a concussion. This killers only motive was to kill. District Attorney John Kellner filed the murder charges against Ewing when he headed up the Cold Case Unit in the office. 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. Alex Christopher Ewing Arapahoe County District Judge Darren Vahle sentenced Alex Christopher Ewing, 61, for killing the couple and their 7-year-old daughter in 1984. No services are scheduled at this time. Bruce, his wife Debra and 7-year-old Melissa were found dead. Read more true crime, cold cases and unsolved mysteries from meHERE<<. In just two days,. DNA evidence ties Ewing to the crime. The Ramsey family, who originally bought the . There was evidence of a struggle in the bedroom. Denver Post Archive Aurora Coroner's officers and police officers remove one of the three bodies from house at. CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) - A judge sentenced Alex Ewing to three life sentences on Tuesday after he was found guilty in the 1984 murders of three people in Aurora. Patricia Smith had been laid straight, her arms crossed over her chest as if on display in a funeral home. There were very few leads to go on only a hazy physical description from Kim. The last family member left around 9:00 PM. In 2015, information leaked that there was important clue found at the Bennett scene. Arapahoe County District Judge Darren Vahle spoke directly to Ewing before announcing the sentence. Three members of the Bennett family were brutally killed in their Aurora home. Ewing, then 23, was arrested again two days later about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away by park rangers at Lake Mead. Rather than wait until 2019 when the book will be published, we thought wed at least share the results with you. Apparently when the killer lifted Melissa Bennett, an imprint from his shirt was made in the blood that had resulted from his assault on her. 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. 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. 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. This call is important because not only did it occur during an EAR quiet period, but this attack is connected by DNA. A life sentence feels too light, but that is the most the justice system can offer. For a twelve-day period in January 1984, the cities of Aurora and Lakewood Colorado were preyed upon by one of the most terrifying breeds of killers a man who would attack strangers, rape the women and children, and bludgeon them to death. 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. 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 . Ewing massacred a family but left a key to his identity, Chief Deputy District Attorney Garrik Storgaard told the jury. This is a harsh, cold fact profilers must learn if they are to more accurately profile. Why was she the lone survivor? They were Holly Chromey, 49, and her children, Katie Zapzalka, 18, and Jared Zapzalka, 16. It begins with a woman killed with a hammer in Lakewood and, a week later, a family killed the same way in Aurora. This killer did in fact re-offend, the issuehe was in the learning phase of actually killing humans during this time frame in Colorado. Police said in a Friday morning press conference that they linked Ewing to the crimes this year shortly after Nevada authorities uploaded his DNA to a national database. This phone call occurred 25 years after the attack. 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. I just read this article and Im completely blown away so much of what you speculated turned out to be spot on. Try plastic surgery for autographs, No cow needed: Oat and soy can be called milk, FDA, Fowl-free: McDonalds debuts plant-based McNuggets, Study hints healthier school lunch can reduce obesity, New Mexico considers roasted chile as official state aroma, Cloud-like meringues offer simple path to French royalty, MLB sets up local media group, could broadcast 17 teams, including, Mercer has goal, 3 assists as Devils beat Avalanche 7-5, Flurry of NHL trades continue with Avs, Canes making moves, Avalanche take winning streak into home matchup against the Devils, Jokic has 100th triple-double; Nuggets down Rockets 133-112, BRANDON JOHANSSON: A labor of love and angst ends covering the best news town ever for the Sentinel, Black Vietnam vet at last getting his due: Medal of Honor, Alex Murdaugh gets life in prison in murder of wife, son. The killer murdered two parents - Bruce and Debra Bennett - and their 7-year-old, Melissa, and left their other child severely injured. Alexander Christopher Ewing is now the behind bars, serving 40 years for two counts of attempted murder in the state of Nevada. is finished: Fri, 09/08/23 09:00 PM EDT. The killer was practicing, he was unsure of himself and he was unsure of the weapon he would eventually use. Thieves like to hit them for the tools the guys leave at the sites overnight. He utilized the bindings in another distinct way he almost always forced his penis into his victims bound hands. 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. 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. On the 4th of January James and Kimberly Haubenschild were also attacked with a hammer at their home in Aurora, but both survived. The family had been celebrating Melissas birthday that night. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. One of the signature trademarks of an EAR/GSK attack was the use of ligatures. The Bennett family was your average middle class family living the American dream. He said the detectives who have worked it over the years, in particular Detective Steve Conner, the departments cold case investigator, never quit on. On the night of Jan. 15, 1984, the Bennett family left their garage door open. The first sign of trouble came in the afternoon, when Patricia failed to pick them up. The family was discovered by Constance Bennett who has since raised little Vanessa. He tore her clothes off, tossed them about the garage, and then he raped her on the concrete floor. Order your tickets today to see Small Town Murder in Atlanta, GA. This killeris more the type that would self medicate more than likely be a heavy drinker as opposed to taking medication. January 10th, 1984 started just like any other day, with Patricia dropping off her daughter and grandkids at work/school. Tarot Spread To Ask A Question; Peut On Boucher La Vue D'un Voisin; Thirty Eight Snub Meaning 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. She had no idea how she got there and she didnt feel any pain. He took her to the floor and sexually assaulted her. She survived. I was a drug addict for so many years. Its my hope that this can help folks gain a better understanding of how prolific this offender was, and that insights can be gained as to perhaps why he was active at the times that he was, and why he mightve laid low during some of the quieter times. In just two days, Melissa would turn 8 years old. I didnt just lose my parents and my sister, she said. Third Crime Scene This call occurred over a month after her attack. Date: September 19th/22nd, 1987 Victim #24received a call from a voice that she identified as the EARs. 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. Additionally, an audio expert associated with an upcoming television show that were a part of was able to isolate the background sounds of the Gonna Kill You phone call, and there was a tiny bit of a surprise in there. Between 1986 and 1989 though, a crime spree took place that left three pairs of travelers missing and another pair of travelers gone without a trace.