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. Let us have a look at this unforgettable case of the Bennet family murders. He likes that violent way of killing so going from a hammer to a gun would be a jump for this killer and simply would not be the first choice for him. She slumped over onto the passenger seat. 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. . He also discarded the knife hed used to kill Bruce. 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. Why was she the lone survivor? 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. It was a beautiful area, with clean, crisp air and the mountains rising up to the west. Most importantly take the need to judge them and all of your own emotions and personal beliefs out of the picture. Bennett Family Murders: the prosecution rests - Defrosting Cold Cases If you were living in La Jolla in the early 80s, you knew the Brodericks. The fact that the murders took place between Highline Canal and the Alameda Corridor is curious, in fact, I am drawn to this fact about the case more so than any other fact. 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. Obviously, this guy was looking for his next target. Miraculously, both of them survived the assault, though James suffered from a fractured skull and his wife suffered a concussion. Minneapolis and Crystal, MN. After failing with the EAR, we needed a sidebar showing that the techniques actually work because they do! Kevin Bennett - Senior Program Officer and Racial Equity Lead - GHR She suffered severe injuries to her head, jaw, and neck. Its bloody, painful for the victim and brutal. 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. She was also sexually assaulted and the intruder left a small hammer near her body. Investigators believed the killers attacks escalated from just beating someone with a hammer to actually murdering them. His attacker slit his throat before eventually delivering a final fatal blow with a hammer. Unfortunately, they verified one by one that each family member was deceased. Here are the days of the week the alleged killer struck each victim (s). The youngest girl, Vanessa, only three years old until March, was also struck violently in the face with the hammer. ': 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. It, and the floor around it, was soaked in blood. Ron showed his commitment to Donna by marrying her in May 1984, just a few months after the ghastly attack and before she was even fully recovered. 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. But new technology is getting detectives closer and closer to solving the brutal mystery. The 3-year-old sister, Vanessa, was the only survivor. Evidence that an aristocrat has gone missing--and was possibly murdered--near Sandringham House sets Queen Elizabeth II on the path to discover unsavory family secrets and much more in this new installment of the series the New York Times Book Review calls "sheer entertainment." Queen Elizabeth II is looking forward to a traditional Christmas gathering with her family in . He was brought to Colorado to face trial for the deaths of the Bennett family. July 5, 1985 Survivor In Sierra Madre. Or any of the other angles he was pursuing? They immediately knew something was wrong. The family had been celebrating Melissas birthday that night. As she got older, unresolved anger issues caused Vanessa to clash with her grandmother who had become her primary caretaker after the death of her parents. Immediately she went over the home to investigate. This killer strikes with such violence that it is difficult to understand, see or know of a possible motive. A photo of the Bennett family. On the night of January 16th, 1984 a gruesome discovery was made at a house on 16300 East Center Drive, Aurora. 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. A typical way one would see this is that he likes control, that is wrong. The hammer struck her in the jaw, shattering the bone which splintered in an explosion of small fragments that punctured her windpipe. About six weeks later, hunters came upon their bodies in a remote location in the woods near a logging road. Alex Ewing guilty in 1984 "Hammer Killer" murders of Aurora family Not only was he hanging on the situation for any sign of improvement, but he was afraid that the killer would find out that she survived, might be able to identify him, and might come back to attack her again. January 16, 1984: Bennett family is attacked in their Aurora, Colorado home with 3 out of the 4 family members murdered by an intruder wielding a hammer. 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. Sometime between 9:00 PM on the 15th and 10:00 AM on the 16th (most likely between midnight and six), an intruder entered the Bennett home. With time, multiple surgeries, and the support of her extended family, Vanessa began to recover from her physical injuries but living a normal life after losing both her parents to a murderer who had yet to be captured and convicted made childhood difficult. 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. Would you like to contribute as an editor or a writer on our site? First published on August 17, 2021 / 3:31 PM. 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. Forensic Yard The press conference panel continually emphasized the destruction that this case has left on the lives of those affected. I would re-profile the killer, re-examine the details of each victims daily life, re-examine the suspect pool, re-examine the crime scenes without any emotion whatsoever. Dr. Bennett's office is located at UH Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH. This killer is indiscriminate in terms of who he kills, attacks or rapes. Your email address will not be published. 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. The FAIR School, Minneapolis Public Schools and West Metro Education Program. Murderer of Aurora's Bennett family sentenced to life in prison All three were beaten to death with a claw hammer. This was the end of the first day of what would become a futile week-long dig for the body of Keith Bennett, who was 12 years old in 1964 when he was killed by the Moors murderers, Ian Brady and . A life sentence feels too light, but that is the most the justice system can offer. Fourth Crime Scene Is it not true that you usually get police closer to a suspect faster than they ever could without using dna? She recently gave an interview, which you can view here (link).. The family got a ride from someone else. It would also be a really good idea to look at troubled or violent teens in the area because I do not believe the killer was over the age of 25. Victim Tearfully Tells Night Stalker Jurors of Attack in Bedroom Before Donna Dixon was even found, another crime had taken place 26 miles to the west in the city of Lakewood. She was quickly and carefully taken to the hospital in an ambulance. 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 . Blood was all over the garage floor. 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. 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. 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. She was happy to be home for a while, and eagerly awaiting the next day when her boyfriend, Ronald Holm, would be home. 3 Shocking Murders That Rocked La Jolla - LaJolla.com 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. Its our hope that something can come from this new push that will finally solve it. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Dont profile by. All rights reserved. The father, Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes, immediately became the prime suspect, as he abruptly disappeared after the . If they were used shoelaces, youd expect to find a vast array of particles and wear-and-tear. Survivor of 1984 Bennett Family hammer murders shares story ~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. Years later, strides would start to be made in the crime lab. The sprawling Colorado home where 6-year-old beauty pageant contestant JonBenet Ramsey was murdered in 1996 is listed for sale for a cool $7 million. The husband ran outside but he was gone. It helps bring the other EAR phone escapades into the fold. A coworker informed Bruces mother, Constance, about their absence. 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. Darkness had just fallen. That is what drove him into such an uncontrollable frenzy so fast and that is precisely what stopped the attacks so fast. Sometime between 1990 and 1992 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 shouted her name, but she could only groan in response. Alexander "Hammer Killer" Ewing Charged with 1984 Bennett Family Murders The Bennett family was your average middle class family living the American dream. 21-year-old Polish national, Julia Faustyna, claims to be Madeleine McCann- the story so far, CCTV Footage from New Jersey Gas Station Shows Woman Escaping Alleged Captor, Two men arrested in connection with the 1975 murder of Indiana teenager Laurel Jean Mitchell. 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. Bruce and Debra were both probably dead by the time the killer entered Melissas bedroom. Donna pulled into the driveway, hit the remote to open the garage, and pulled her car in. Channel 2 sports director Zach Klein is at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where. 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. For an overview of the case, you can review my extensive post from yesterday which covered many of the details. Prosecutors alleged Ewing raped Melissa Bennett before killing her. Bruce was 27 years old and Debra was 26 in 1984. Add some text book, some psychological profiling and presto, they have a profile. I didnt just lose my parents and my sister, she said. Never profile someone using the box as your guide. Law enforcement today is actually better than it was then. He tossed it onto the seat of the car and began pulling her from the vehicle. During the winter in Colorado its difficult to find a construction crew working well into the night. 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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. 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. The colossal 1,772-acre South Carolina hunting farm where Maggie and Paul. The couple's 3-year-old daughter Vanessa was also beaten but survived with permanent injuries. They need renewed media attention. Broderick was denied parole for a second time just this past January. I hurt myself. The Bennett Family Murders | Audio Length: 52:47 "The Crown prosecutor who is prosecuting my case in September seems like a dog with a . At least, until they came to Vanessas bed. 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. He either got turned on by the prospect of killing or used the rapes as a way to cover up the true motive which was to murder. Sometimes it works, sometimes its sort of right, sometimes not even close. Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. The rapes are secondary crimes. On August 7th, 2018, it was announced that there were significant new developments in the Smith/Bennett case, and that a news conference would be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, August 10th with more information. A hammer. The victim was fifty-year-old Patricia Louise Smith. Special recognition was given to Detective Steve Conner from the Major Crimes Unit who, incidentally was at the scene of the Bennett crime as a young deputy, and who has worked the case for many, many years. Bennett Family Then, just as the community was reeling from this attack, 50-year-old Patricia Smith became a murder victim at her Lakewood, Colorado, home on January 10, 1984. 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. Investigators said he also sexually assaulted Melissa before she died from being beaten. 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. Nevada inmate accused of Colorado murders says he'll fight extradition. The Colonial Parkway is a scenic highway in Virginia that runs through historic areas like Yorktown, Williamsburg, and Jamestown. Alexander was not identified as a suspect until a DNA hit in July 2018 linked him to semen left at the crime scene. Full cooperation from Nevada Law Enforcement led to a confirmation of the DNA match. Dont you feel cheated a little? The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head- and the murder weapon? Both survived. His use of ligatures were fairly distinct and helped tie a lot of the crimes together. Patricia Smith had been laid straight, her arms crossed over her chest as if on display in a funeral home. Sadly technology was not as advanced in the mid-eighties as it is today, and the case went cold, remaining that way for over 30 years. So I guess Ill be the first to post. Bruce and the intruder fought up and down the stairwell, and at some point Bruce was struck multiple times by a hammer. Please keep them and their families in your thoughts tonight. 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. Dotted with impressive bridges and blanketed by thick trees, it usually provides year-round beauty and convenience for travelers. The blow shed felt was the attacker striking her head with a hammer. 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. Jason Bennett, who is understood to be the father of two of the. It seems that Debra was the next victim, and she may have even been approached and incapacitated in the middle of Bruces struggle with the killer. Almost six days later, tragedy struck Aurora once again. 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. This call is important because not only did it occur during an EAR quiet period, but this attack is connected by DNA. The investigators looked at everything from construction workers to drug addicts in the areas around the attacks because at the time a lot of construction was happening, they looked at the fact that the attacks happened around the holidays so maybe that was a trigger for this killer, even looked at the possibility that the killer was in some sort of drug fueled rage. The police found her posed with her arms crossed over her chest, as if she was in a coffin. The world turned a painful red and Donna began to lose consciousness. Nevada court records show a jury found Ewing, under the name Alex C. Ewing, was guilty of escaping from the custody of two Arizona sheriffs deputies at a gas station in Henderson, Nevada, southeast of Las Vegas on Aug. 9, 1984, and entering an unlocked home and severely beating a woman and her husband with an ax handle in their bedroom. One lab felt that the letters were RICHAR. Another lab felt that it said PETAW C, with a space or fold between the W and the C and perhaps another fold in there as well. There was blood all over the car. ", She added: "I lost my sanity. There were reportedly signs of a struggle in the first case, and there may be workable DNA evidence from up to three of the scenes. He attacked the couple with a hammer, bludgeoning them with it and leaving them for dead. Famous Unsolved Murders of Families - Ranker The court heard how . 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.
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