His attacker slit his throat before eventually delivering a final fatal blow with a hammer. Were happy to at least have a little bit of science behind us on this and it was worth exploring, even though the result was inconclusive. 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. 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. A murder inquiry has been launched, and one man - a 31-year-old from Killamarsh, who was known to the family - is in custody. On the 4th of January James and Kimberly Haubenschild were also attacked with a hammer at their home in Aurora, but both survived. 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. Nothing else appeared to be missing. I also believe he continued to kill peeps because he is so violent he couldnt have just stopped. The intruder, apparently thinking she was dead, began to make his escape. Camper explained that the CBI does a nightly check of all of their profiles against the CODIS system, and at that point, in early July, there was a match. 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. The Bennett family. Furthermore, the loving grandmother had been sexually assaulted. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Victims: Richard Keith Call (20) and Cassandra Lee Hailey (18) It was believed that the main garage door was left open throughout the night and that the door leading from the garage to the house was possibly left unlocked. If you were living in La Jolla in the early 80s, you knew the Brodericks. He faced six . Second Crime Scene Again, info is given only about the phone calls where the offender spoke. During the winter in Colorado its difficult to find a construction crew working well into the night. The mandatory minimum sentence for each count is life with possibility of parole after 20 years, according to the prosecution. He also isnt killing with this level of violence often enough to track. 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. 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. Evidence of wounds caused by a blade revealed that Bruce attempted to defend himself as the intruder swiped and slashed at him with a knife. 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. 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. The Colorado killings followed two other attacks near Denver that either involved or were suspected of involving a hammer. De Ligonnes Family. Investigators have been quoted as saying this was a random crime, vicious and random. The womens bodies were found inside Thomas vehicle. He was known as the "Happy Face Killer" because he drew smiley faces on his many letters to the media and authorities. 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. She was also raped. Tarot Spread To Ask A Question; Peut On Boucher La Vue D'un Voisin; Thirty Eight Snub Meaning 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 couples youngest daughter, 3 year old Vanessa, was also attacked by the hammer wielding assailant. Debra was savagely beaten to death with a hammer. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Copyright 2023 On the night of January 16th, 1984 a gruesome discovery was made at a house on 16300 East Center Drive, Aurora. 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. At the press conference, they informed the public that when authorities in Nevada went back and retroactively began swabbing and entering their inmates DNA into CODIS, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation got a hit and thats whats led to the development in this case. Date: September 19th/22nd, 1987 From 1987 to 1991, a serial offender known as Mr Cruel abducted children around Melbourne, Australia. 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. He attacked the couple with a hammer, bludgeoning them with it and leaving them for dead. Bruce finally succumbed to his injuries and the family was left vulnerable. Lakewood Chief Dan McCasky was among those echoing those sentiments, and mentioned that the Smith family members will be releasing a statement later in the day. He then tries to strangle her with a telephone . Bruce and Debra were brutally attacked and killed inside their home, Melissa was killed and also raped. 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. Vanessa, after a wait of 3 decades received a call from the Aurora sheriffs department informing her that her parents killer had been identified as 57-year-old Alexander Christopher Ewing. 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 . 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. Required fields are marked *. He may have been in the system at some point but it is difficult to determinewhether it would have been on felony charges or misdemeanor because his crimes may have stopped altogether. Seemingly, nothing they did showed investigators any reason someone would want to kill them. Add some text book, some psychological profiling and presto, they have a profile. Forensic evidence was hard to retrieve due to the decomposed state of the bodies, but its been reported that the two may have been stabbed to death. These crimes, which took place in January 1984, were part of a series of assaults that tore through the Denver area and have remained unsolved for thirty-four years. Order your tickets today to see Small Town Murder in Atlanta, GA. 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. He went on to continually beat the mans wife as she attempted to shield her husband from the blows of an ax handle while simultaneously on the phone to 911. Theyd been strangled, their throats had been slashed, and rope marks were found on their necks and wrists. He could have found other ways to feed the need. 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 Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. ~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. Become a Patreon Supporter for bonus content! In the papers, the most attention is paid to the last state witness, the DNA analyst at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Part of our book involves some very in-depth detective and forensic work. She was naked, curled up in a fetal position and groaning. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. It was determined that she had been killed sometime between the hours of 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. This was the last time the Bennetts were seen alive. Now She's Speaking Out, Mass. He took Debras purse and went out the front door, then dumped the contents out onto the snow. . 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. Prosecutors said they will ask Gov. He didnt hate his victims and quite frankly he didnt know any of them personally, he just wanted to kill. DENVER- The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. Here are the days of the week the alleged killer struck each victim (s). Bruce had been attacked with a knife and hit in the head several times with a hammer or blunt object. He raced inside and quickly found Donna in the middle of the blood-soaked bed. Law enforcement today is actually better than it was then. "I lost the person who I was supposed to be. Her head was constantly swimming with thoughts of her parents. 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. The bludgeoned bodies of husband and wife, Bruce and Debra Bennett, were discovered and it soon became evident that they had both attacked with a knife and beaten to death. John Hickenlooper to request Ewings extradition today but the process could take weeks or months depending on a host of legal factors. Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Murders at this level are not just random. The victims may not have ever known one another but the killer found them somehow, it was not random although it appears that way. As she turned to leave the car, she felt a tremendous blow on the left side of her head. Before exiting the vehicle, she turned to grab her flight attendant uniform, which was hanging in the back. He said the detectives who have worked it over the years, in particular Detective Steve Conner, the departments cold case investigator, never quit on. 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. 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. There is no innocent explanation for how you explain all of the evidence.. There, lying on the floor next to the couch and just a few feet away from the front door, was the carefully posed body of their grandmother. All four family members were assaulted, only one survived. Coincidence is just an illusion that we all tell ourselves myself included, when we are unable to explain how something actually came to be. Theyd moved there around Thanksgiving from another place a few miles away, and had so far enjoyed their quiet, developing neighborhood. Why was she the lone survivor? In 2015, information leaked that there was important clue found at the Bennett scene. I would not limit the list to any type of profession or lack of any type of profession until suspects can be eliminated. Upon the capture of a suspect in the Golden State Killer case, Conner again turned to genealogical databases. 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 four of them lived together in a townhome off of West Bayaud Avenue. Serve as lead administrator of a K-3, 9-12 urban site . Over 200 Million Downloads! 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. 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. "I didn't just lose my parents and my sister," Vanessa opened up. On Jan. 4, 1984, a couple in Aurora woke up to see a man in their bedroom who hit each of them with a hammer before fleeing. His attacker slit his throat before eventually delivering a final fatal blow with a hammer. At least, until they came to Vanessas bed. This case impacted not just the victims, but it also terrorized an entire community, he said. In just two days, Melissa would turn 8 years old. The Investigation kept ongoing. 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. At some point, either when the intruder entered the couples bedroom or before, Bruce was alerted to the intruders presence and a tremendous struggle took place. 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. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and the murder weapon? He is more introverted when he is sober and an extrovert when he isnt. About a week later, a different hammer was used to kill the Bennetts and their 7-year-old daughter Melissa in Aurora. They are more likely to begin work before sunup rather than stay much after sundown. Blood near the front door sent him into a panic. 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. This killeris more the type that would self medicate more than likely be a heavy drinker as opposed to taking medication. This killer is indiscriminate in terms of who he kills, attacks or rapes. Required fields are marked *. 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. An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. Its believed that the EAR bought his shoelaces new from the store or from some other source. In fact, there was a string of unsolved crimes in the area that took place just days apart from each other. This murder, which has sat on the cold case shelves for far too long, is in desperate need of this new media attention and the new investigative resources. The jury found Ewing guilty on Aug. 6 of killing three members of the Bennett family with a hammer. There were very few leads to go on only a hazy physical description from Kim. 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. 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. 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. 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. A hammer. Even to this day, she has absolutely no recollection of the next several hours. The suspect list shrinks or worse, the profile was so off an accurate suspect list from the get go is of no help and never will be. Police are still looking for information on the cases connected to Ewing and are asking the public for help. Her body was found in a basement . She suffered severe injuries to her head, jaw, and neck. There wasnt anything notable stolen from the scene, and the attack had all the hallmarks of a random crime. Its quite possible that she wasnt even conscious for any of it. Alexander Christopher Ewing is already behind bars, serving 40 years for two counts of attempted murder in the state of Nevada. Many of his victims were sex workers and transients who had no connection to him. Bruce Bennett tried to climb the staircase several times in an attempt to ward off the perpetrator and save his young family. His sentence runs through 2037 but he would be eligible for parole in 2021. On the other side of the coin, while all of these calls are believed to be genuine, theres a chance that some of them might be coincidence or pranks. Although she had no memory of the attack, what happened that night in 1984 would negatively impact the rest of her life. Evidence of wounds caused by a blade revealed that Bruce attempted to defend himself as the intruder swiped and slashed at him with a knife. As blood poured out of her body, he lifted her up from the bed, unknowingly leaving an imprint from his shirt on her blood-soaked pajamas. Juliana Kenney, 75, her husband Clayton Kenney, 83, and Mrs. Kenney's 44- year-old daughter, Adrienne Arnot, were beaten and stabbed to . 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. What are Dr. Bennett's areas of care? 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. 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. Bruce's mother would discover the family the next day inside the home, after no one answered calls to their landline. 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. He knew he was going to kill the family, Father, Mother and Children, so he clearly wasnt afraid to go after a man and thought he would be able to easily kill a man. 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. Now we know that Patricia's murder is connected to the Bennett Family murders in Aurora, Colorado. She was born August 12, 1946 in Mississippi. Here are the Small Town Murder show particulars: Small Town Murder. He kept the hammer. I write about old, unsolved cases from the pre-DNA era. Her purse was found nearby some money had been stolen from it. The 1982 call is important, because the offender hadnt killed for over a year, and it was thought that he mightve been incarcerated. So I guess Ill be the first to post. Ewing was not identified as a suspect until a DNA hit in July 2018 linked him to semen left at the crime scene. 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. Police later linked the murder of the Bennett family with another rape and murder that happened just less than a week before. Murderer of Aurora's Bennett family sentenced to life in prison August 17, 2021 It took 37 years, but on Tuesday, the families of Bruce and Debra Bennett saw justice served. 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. 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. In 2002, Arapahoe County filed a John Doe arrest warrant for the perpetrator of the Bennet murders based on the DNA profile. 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. On the night of Jan. 15, a stranger broke into their home and viciously assaulted and attacked the family. He fed the need. He assured the public that theyll move with all appropriate speed.. Why did they have to get murdered? DENVER- The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. Sometime between 1990 and 1992 He viciously struck the young child in the head with a hammer. Thought to be the work of a serial killer, the crimes have remained unsolved for thirty years. He then found the couples oldest daughter, 7 year old Melissa, who tragically suffered the same terrible fate as her mother. Police examining the scene were able to reconstruct the basic chain of events. 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. Two young boys were asleep in other rooms in the house. The Military also submits DNA for specific types of crimes committed by its members. Ewings DNA profile was entered into CODIS (the FBIs database) in 2018 and his profile was matched to the DNA found at the crime scenes of both the Bennett family and Patricia Smith. The Bennett family was attacked either the night of Jan. 15 or the morning of Jan. 16. ~ Jan. 4, 1984, a man snuck into an Aurora home and used a hammer to beat James and Kimberly Haubenschild. Listen and Subscribe to The Generation Why Podcast! Three members of the Bennett family were brutally killed in their Aurora home. No services are scheduled at this time. Almost six days later, tragedy struck Aurora once again. The crime spree known as the Colorado Hammer murders seemed to begin in Aurora in the early morning hours of January 4th, 1984. Prosecutors alleged Ewing raped Melissa Bennett before killing her. During the rape series, he primarily used shoelaces. Let us have a look at this unforgettable case of the Bennet family murders. 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. Ewing, 57, has also been charged with murder for the slaying of a Lakewood grandmother a few weeks prior to the Bennett killings, a crime police linked to the Bennett murders in 2010 through DNA. A murder probe has opened after four people were found dead at the address yesterday, with . 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. 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. Unfortunately, they verified one by one that each family member was deceased. As of December 2021, the Boulder Police Department has processed more than 1,500 pieces of evidence related to the murder of JonBenet Ramsey. 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. According to property records, the couple stayed in the same house after the attack. The Bennetts didnt show up for work on Monday. This is a very unique activity, and it helps tie the EARONS crimes together based on M.O. ': 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. 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. Its probably nothing that will move the case forward, but that show is coming out pretty soon so youll be able to find out what that is in just a couple months! The killer pummeled and sexually assaulted his 26-year-old wife, Debra, and 7-year-old daughter, Melissa. They were living in Aurora and planned to make a life together there. George Brauchler, District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District (which includes Aurora), emphasized that this individual is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law. 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.
His attacker slit his throat before eventually delivering a final fatal blow with a hammer. Were happy to at least have a little bit of science behind us on this and it was worth exploring, even though the result was inconclusive. 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. 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. A murder inquiry has been launched, and one man - a 31-year-old from Killamarsh, who was known to the family - is in custody. On the 4th of January James and Kimberly Haubenschild were also attacked with a hammer at their home in Aurora, but both survived. 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. Nothing else appeared to be missing. I also believe he continued to kill peeps because he is so violent he couldnt have just stopped. The intruder, apparently thinking she was dead, began to make his escape. Camper explained that the CBI does a nightly check of all of their profiles against the CODIS system, and at that point, in early July, there was a match. 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. The Bennett family. Furthermore, the loving grandmother had been sexually assaulted. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Victims: Richard Keith Call (20) and Cassandra Lee Hailey (18) It was believed that the main garage door was left open throughout the night and that the door leading from the garage to the house was possibly left unlocked. If you were living in La Jolla in the early 80s, you knew the Brodericks. He faced six . Second Crime Scene Again, info is given only about the phone calls where the offender spoke. During the winter in Colorado its difficult to find a construction crew working well into the night. The mandatory minimum sentence for each count is life with possibility of parole after 20 years, according to the prosecution. He also isnt killing with this level of violence often enough to track. 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. 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. Evidence of wounds caused by a blade revealed that Bruce attempted to defend himself as the intruder swiped and slashed at him with a knife. 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. 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. The Colorado killings followed two other attacks near Denver that either involved or were suspected of involving a hammer. De Ligonnes Family. Investigators have been quoted as saying this was a random crime, vicious and random. The womens bodies were found inside Thomas vehicle. He was known as the "Happy Face Killer" because he drew smiley faces on his many letters to the media and authorities. 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. She was also raped. Tarot Spread To Ask A Question; Peut On Boucher La Vue D'un Voisin; Thirty Eight Snub Meaning 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 couples youngest daughter, 3 year old Vanessa, was also attacked by the hammer wielding assailant. Debra was savagely beaten to death with a hammer. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Copyright 2023 On the night of January 16th, 1984 a gruesome discovery was made at a house on 16300 East Center Drive, Aurora. 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. At the press conference, they informed the public that when authorities in Nevada went back and retroactively began swabbing and entering their inmates DNA into CODIS, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation got a hit and thats whats led to the development in this case. Date: September 19th/22nd, 1987 From 1987 to 1991, a serial offender known as Mr Cruel abducted children around Melbourne, Australia. 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. He attacked the couple with a hammer, bludgeoning them with it and leaving them for dead. Bruce finally succumbed to his injuries and the family was left vulnerable. Lakewood Chief Dan McCasky was among those echoing those sentiments, and mentioned that the Smith family members will be releasing a statement later in the day. He then tries to strangle her with a telephone . Bruce and Debra were brutally attacked and killed inside their home, Melissa was killed and also raped. 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. Vanessa, after a wait of 3 decades received a call from the Aurora sheriffs department informing her that her parents killer had been identified as 57-year-old Alexander Christopher Ewing. 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 . 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. Required fields are marked *. He may have been in the system at some point but it is difficult to determinewhether it would have been on felony charges or misdemeanor because his crimes may have stopped altogether. Seemingly, nothing they did showed investigators any reason someone would want to kill them. Add some text book, some psychological profiling and presto, they have a profile. Forensic evidence was hard to retrieve due to the decomposed state of the bodies, but its been reported that the two may have been stabbed to death. These crimes, which took place in January 1984, were part of a series of assaults that tore through the Denver area and have remained unsolved for thirty-four years. Order your tickets today to see Small Town Murder in Atlanta, GA. 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. He went on to continually beat the mans wife as she attempted to shield her husband from the blows of an ax handle while simultaneously on the phone to 911. Theyd been strangled, their throats had been slashed, and rope marks were found on their necks and wrists. He could have found other ways to feed the need. 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 Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. ~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. Become a Patreon Supporter for bonus content! In the papers, the most attention is paid to the last state witness, the DNA analyst at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Part of our book involves some very in-depth detective and forensic work. She was naked, curled up in a fetal position and groaning. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. It was determined that she had been killed sometime between the hours of 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. This was the last time the Bennetts were seen alive. Now She's Speaking Out, Mass. He took Debras purse and went out the front door, then dumped the contents out onto the snow. . 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. Prosecutors said they will ask Gov. He didnt hate his victims and quite frankly he didnt know any of them personally, he just wanted to kill. DENVER- The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. Here are the days of the week the alleged killer struck each victim (s). Bruce had been attacked with a knife and hit in the head several times with a hammer or blunt object. He raced inside and quickly found Donna in the middle of the blood-soaked bed. Law enforcement today is actually better than it was then. "I lost the person who I was supposed to be. Her head was constantly swimming with thoughts of her parents. 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. The bludgeoned bodies of husband and wife, Bruce and Debra Bennett, were discovered and it soon became evident that they had both attacked with a knife and beaten to death. John Hickenlooper to request Ewings extradition today but the process could take weeks or months depending on a host of legal factors. Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Murders at this level are not just random. The victims may not have ever known one another but the killer found them somehow, it was not random although it appears that way. As she turned to leave the car, she felt a tremendous blow on the left side of her head. Before exiting the vehicle, she turned to grab her flight attendant uniform, which was hanging in the back. He said the detectives who have worked it over the years, in particular Detective Steve Conner, the departments cold case investigator, never quit on. 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. 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. There is no innocent explanation for how you explain all of the evidence.. There, lying on the floor next to the couch and just a few feet away from the front door, was the carefully posed body of their grandmother. All four family members were assaulted, only one survived. Coincidence is just an illusion that we all tell ourselves myself included, when we are unable to explain how something actually came to be. Theyd moved there around Thanksgiving from another place a few miles away, and had so far enjoyed their quiet, developing neighborhood. Why was she the lone survivor? In 2015, information leaked that there was important clue found at the Bennett scene. I would not limit the list to any type of profession or lack of any type of profession until suspects can be eliminated. Upon the capture of a suspect in the Golden State Killer case, Conner again turned to genealogical databases. 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 four of them lived together in a townhome off of West Bayaud Avenue. Serve as lead administrator of a K-3, 9-12 urban site . Over 200 Million Downloads! 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. 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. "I didn't just lose my parents and my sister," Vanessa opened up. On Jan. 4, 1984, a couple in Aurora woke up to see a man in their bedroom who hit each of them with a hammer before fleeing. His attacker slit his throat before eventually delivering a final fatal blow with a hammer. At least, until they came to Vanessas bed. This case impacted not just the victims, but it also terrorized an entire community, he said. In just two days, Melissa would turn 8 years old. The Investigation kept ongoing. 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. At some point, either when the intruder entered the couples bedroom or before, Bruce was alerted to the intruders presence and a tremendous struggle took place. 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. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and the murder weapon? He is more introverted when he is sober and an extrovert when he isnt. About a week later, a different hammer was used to kill the Bennetts and their 7-year-old daughter Melissa in Aurora. They are more likely to begin work before sunup rather than stay much after sundown. Blood near the front door sent him into a panic. 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. This killeris more the type that would self medicate more than likely be a heavy drinker as opposed to taking medication. This killer is indiscriminate in terms of who he kills, attacks or rapes. Required fields are marked *. 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. An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. Its believed that the EAR bought his shoelaces new from the store or from some other source. In fact, there was a string of unsolved crimes in the area that took place just days apart from each other. This murder, which has sat on the cold case shelves for far too long, is in desperate need of this new media attention and the new investigative resources. The jury found Ewing guilty on Aug. 6 of killing three members of the Bennett family with a hammer. There were very few leads to go on only a hazy physical description from Kim. 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. 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. 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. 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. A hammer. Even to this day, she has absolutely no recollection of the next several hours. The suspect list shrinks or worse, the profile was so off an accurate suspect list from the get go is of no help and never will be. Police are still looking for information on the cases connected to Ewing and are asking the public for help. Her body was found in a basement . She suffered severe injuries to her head, jaw, and neck. There wasnt anything notable stolen from the scene, and the attack had all the hallmarks of a random crime. Its quite possible that she wasnt even conscious for any of it. Alexander Christopher Ewing is already behind bars, serving 40 years for two counts of attempted murder in the state of Nevada. Many of his victims were sex workers and transients who had no connection to him. Bruce Bennett tried to climb the staircase several times in an attempt to ward off the perpetrator and save his young family. His sentence runs through 2037 but he would be eligible for parole in 2021. On the other side of the coin, while all of these calls are believed to be genuine, theres a chance that some of them might be coincidence or pranks. Although she had no memory of the attack, what happened that night in 1984 would negatively impact the rest of her life. Evidence of wounds caused by a blade revealed that Bruce attempted to defend himself as the intruder swiped and slashed at him with a knife. As blood poured out of her body, he lifted her up from the bed, unknowingly leaving an imprint from his shirt on her blood-soaked pajamas. Juliana Kenney, 75, her husband Clayton Kenney, 83, and Mrs. Kenney's 44- year-old daughter, Adrienne Arnot, were beaten and stabbed to . 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. What are Dr. Bennett's areas of care? 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. 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. Bruce's mother would discover the family the next day inside the home, after no one answered calls to their landline. 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. He knew he was going to kill the family, Father, Mother and Children, so he clearly wasnt afraid to go after a man and thought he would be able to easily kill a man. 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. Now we know that Patricia's murder is connected to the Bennett Family murders in Aurora, Colorado. She was born August 12, 1946 in Mississippi. Here are the Small Town Murder show particulars: Small Town Murder. He kept the hammer. I write about old, unsolved cases from the pre-DNA era. Her purse was found nearby some money had been stolen from it. The 1982 call is important, because the offender hadnt killed for over a year, and it was thought that he mightve been incarcerated. So I guess Ill be the first to post. Ewing was not identified as a suspect until a DNA hit in July 2018 linked him to semen left at the crime scene. 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. Police later linked the murder of the Bennett family with another rape and murder that happened just less than a week before. Murderer of Aurora's Bennett family sentenced to life in prison August 17, 2021 It took 37 years, but on Tuesday, the families of Bruce and Debra Bennett saw justice served. 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. 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. In 2002, Arapahoe County filed a John Doe arrest warrant for the perpetrator of the Bennet murders based on the DNA profile. 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. On the night of Jan. 15, a stranger broke into their home and viciously assaulted and attacked the family. He fed the need. He assured the public that theyll move with all appropriate speed.. Why did they have to get murdered? DENVER- The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. Sometime between 1990 and 1992 He viciously struck the young child in the head with a hammer. Thought to be the work of a serial killer, the crimes have remained unsolved for thirty years. He then found the couples oldest daughter, 7 year old Melissa, who tragically suffered the same terrible fate as her mother. Police examining the scene were able to reconstruct the basic chain of events. 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. Two young boys were asleep in other rooms in the house. The Military also submits DNA for specific types of crimes committed by its members. Ewings DNA profile was entered into CODIS (the FBIs database) in 2018 and his profile was matched to the DNA found at the crime scenes of both the Bennett family and Patricia Smith. The Bennett family was attacked either the night of Jan. 15 or the morning of Jan. 16. ~ Jan. 4, 1984, a man snuck into an Aurora home and used a hammer to beat James and Kimberly Haubenschild. Listen and Subscribe to The Generation Why Podcast! Three members of the Bennett family were brutally killed in their Aurora home. No services are scheduled at this time. Almost six days later, tragedy struck Aurora once again. The crime spree known as the Colorado Hammer murders seemed to begin in Aurora in the early morning hours of January 4th, 1984. Prosecutors alleged Ewing raped Melissa Bennett before killing her. During the rape series, he primarily used shoelaces. Let us have a look at this unforgettable case of the Bennet family murders. 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. Ewing, 57, has also been charged with murder for the slaying of a Lakewood grandmother a few weeks prior to the Bennett killings, a crime police linked to the Bennett murders in 2010 through DNA. A murder probe has opened after four people were found dead at the address yesterday, with . 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. 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. Unfortunately, they verified one by one that each family member was deceased. As of December 2021, the Boulder Police Department has processed more than 1,500 pieces of evidence related to the murder of JonBenet Ramsey. 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. According to property records, the couple stayed in the same house after the attack. The Bennetts didnt show up for work on Monday. This is a very unique activity, and it helps tie the EARONS crimes together based on M.O. ': 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. 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. Its probably nothing that will move the case forward, but that show is coming out pretty soon so youll be able to find out what that is in just a couple months! The killer pummeled and sexually assaulted his 26-year-old wife, Debra, and 7-year-old daughter, Melissa. They were living in Aurora and planned to make a life together there. George Brauchler, District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District (which includes Aurora), emphasized that this individual is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law. 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. Munger Place Church Lgbtq,
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