Former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini was discovered responsible of first-degree homicide within the 2021 taking pictures that claimed the lifetime of his father-in-law and left his mother-in-law injured.
The victims within the June 5, 2021, assault had been Robert Gary Spohr, 70, who was discovered useless in a house in North Lake Tahoe, California, from a single gunshot. Additionally shot was his spouse, Wendy Wooden, then 68. She recovered from the injures however died by suicide one 12 months later. The household cited the trauma of the assault as the rationale for her demise.
Prosecutors stated the deadly incident concerned a $1.3 million ranch renovation mission and offered textual content message proof of the escalation of the disagreement and premeditation previous to the taking pictures. One textual content message despatched previous to the assault learn, “I will kill them at some point.”
Serafini, 51, and 33-year-old Samantha Scott had been charged as co-defendants final 12 months. In February, Scott pleaded responsible to an adjunct cost and throughout the trial was launched as a detailed pal of one of many Spohrs’ daughters, Erin. Erin was married to Serafini and testified that they’d an open marriage and was conscious that Scott was romantically concerned along with her husband.
Erin Spohr testified that she didn’t consider Serafini murdered her father or shot her mom.
Video surveillance from the house and surrounding space confirmed a person sporting a hood, face protecting and a backpack strolling to the Spohrs’ dwelling earlier than the murder. Proof offered on the trial alleged Serafini was within the dwelling almost three hours earlier than the assault.
Data gathered throughout a two-year investigation led investigators to Serafini and Scott.
Serafini is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 18 in Placer County, California.
The Minnesota Twins chosen Serafini, a local of the San Francisco space, with the No. 26 total choose within the 1992 MLB draft. He made his debut in 1996 and went on to seem in 104 video games (33 begins) with the Twins, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies earlier than his retirement in 2007.
He had a 15-16 file with a 6.04 ERA and one save. He threw 263⅔ innings and struck out 127 batters.