Obviously, this guy was looking for his next target. On the night of January 16th, 1984 a gruesome discovery was made at a house on 16300 East Center Drive, Aurora. The Aurora Hammer Slayer SOLVED! | The Theorem Factory But what about his second? Aurora police Chief Nick Metz said the case has haunted the families involved. Later autopsies would reveal that the Bennetts had died due to blunt force trauma and that their attacker had likely used a hammer. There is no punishment that is too harsh for you and I will do everything in my power to make sure you never draw a free breath ever again.. The family was discovered by Constance Bennett who has since raised little Vanessa. It was taken in Arizona 11 days after the attack. The husband ran outside but he was gone. The court heard how . It begins with a woman killed with a hammer in Lakewood and, a week later, a family killed the same way. I dont I think they are just waiting on a dna match thats all they ever do. The house was not ransacked, but the contents of her purse were strewn about. In just two days, Melissa would turn 8 years old. Alex Ewing on trial for the murder of three members of the Bennett family (credit: Aurora Sentinel). The last family member left around 9:00 PM. Add some text book, some psychological profiling and presto, they have a profile. The Colonial Parkway is a scenic highway in Virginia that runs through historic areas like Yorktown, Williamsburg, and Jamestown. Bruce and Debra were brutally attacked and killed inside their home, Melissa was killed and also raped. He viciously struck the young child in the head with a hammer. The intruder, apparently thinking she was dead, began to make his escape. "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. There are a few very notable ones, particularly because they occurred during quiet periods where the offender wasnt attacking. 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. 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. Why was she the lone survivor? I hurt myself. Would you like to contribute as an editor or a writer on our site? Now we know that Patricia's murder is connected to the Bennett Family murders in Aurora, Colorado. Rather than wait until 2019 when the book will be published, we thought wed at least share the results with you. At approximately 2:00 AM on January 4th, 1984, an intruder came through an unlocked garage door. The perpetrator left with both weapons. Unfortunately, they verified one by one that each family member was deceased. Man accused of Killamarsh murders also charged with rape of girl It is deeper than that. I lost the person who I was supposed to be.. The Investigation kept ongoing. 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. Although she had no memory of the attack, what happened that night in 1984 would negatively impact the rest of her life. Late on Jan. 9 or early on Jan 10, a flight attendant was beaten, possibly with a hammer, and sexually assaulted after she pulled into the garage of her home in Aurora. House where JonBenet Ramsey was murdered in 1996 is on the market The father, Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes, immediately became the prime suspect, as he abruptly disappeared after the . The killer then ascended the staircase and entered the couples bedroom where he attacked Bruces 26 years old wife, Debra, simultaneously he raped and killed her. Her body was found in a basement . 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. Order your tickets today to see Small Town Murder in Atlanta, GA. In 2018, a DNA match linked Alex Ewing to the Jan. 15, 1984, killings of Bruce and Debra Bennett, as well as their daughter Melissa. In addition to photos and a summary of information, the following points are worth going over: Its also worth noting that the EAR seemed to, at times, receive gratification from tying and retying his victims. Kevin Bennett - Senior Program Officer and Racial Equity Lead - GHR On the night of Jan. 15, 1984, the Bennett family left their garage door open. Investigators noted there was evidence of a struggle at the house. Colo. Man Sentenced for Killing Family in 1984 with Hammer - Peoplemag His sentence runs through 2037 but he would be eligible for parole in 2021. More details will be forthcoming in the case as more is learned about the alleged killer and an affidavit is circulated containing the evidence used to charge him with these crimes. Like all of the EARONS victims, they were taken from this earth far too soon. The hammer struck her in the jaw, shattering the bone which splintered in an explosion of small fragments that punctured her windpipe. Investigators did not forget about the hammer murders, however, nor did the town of Aurora. 'I apologized to my family:' Stetson Bennett addresses public Bruce Bennett tried to climb the staircase several times in an attempt to ward off the perpetrator and save his young family. Bennett Family Murders: three life sentences - Defrosting Cold Cases Note: We cover the Armour case and the other Visalia Ransacker crimes in our new book, Secret Origin of the Golden State Killer: Visalia Ransacker. About six weeks later, hunters came upon their bodies in a remote location in the woods near a logging road. "I lost the person who I was supposed to be. Bruce's mother would discover the family the next day inside the home, after no one answered calls to their landline. HE had to get knife in addition to the hammer just to ward off Bruce who was trying to protect his family. Colorado Cold Case Files - Case Detail: Bruce Bennett Onsale to General Public. 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. McStay family murders - Wikipedia There were reportedly no signs of robbery or sexual assault both women were clothed and their purses were still with them. The crime scene is the Bennett Family home where 3 out of 4 family members were murdered in January 1984. Another resident, Donna Dixon, was also struck with a hammer. 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. Bruce and the intruder fought up and down the stairwell, and at some point Bruce was struck multiple times by a hammer. If you are just simply looking at it, you miss the most critical and important clues. Victim #14received a phone call from a man who whispered Remember when we played? She positively identified the man as the voice of the East Area Rapist. Bruce worked at the family-owned furniture store and was also taking classes to become an air traffic controller. I was a drug addict for so many years. He reminded the public that John Doe warrants had been filed based on the DNA profile of the killer back in 2002, and mentioned that the John Doe charges have been updated to Alex Christopher Ewings name. 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. 26 miles away from the Smith murder, but very close to the other incidents, the Bennett family was still settling into their new home on East Center Drive in Aurora, Colorado. He assured the public that theyll move with all appropriate speed.. 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. Its our hope that something can come from this new push that will finally solve it. Hed been in the Navy, where he worked on high-tech sonar equipment at Pearl Harbor. Or any of the other angles he was pursuing? The husband then got a lock for the gate and made sure their house was locked and secure. She was happy to be home for a while, and eagerly awaiting the next day when her boyfriend, Ronald Holm, would be home. Closing arguments begin in hammer attack murder trial She made her way to the bedroom and went to bed. While everyone is looking for a motive it was always looking right back at investigators. Atlanta, GA. Fri, Sep 8, 2023 08:00 PM. In that homicide, DNA evidence was found matching Ewing. Victims: Richard Keith Call (20) and Cassandra Lee Hailey (18) Her head was constantly swimming with thoughts of her parents. At least, until they came to Vanessas bed. Twenty-eight-year-old Donna Dixon, fresh off a shift working as a flight attendant, had been out running some errands. Law enforcement today is actually better than it was then. You can also see what seems to be escalation and a frenzy of activity at certain points. He said the detectives who have worked it over the years, in particular Detective Steve Conner, the departments cold case investigator, never quit on. Here are the Small Town Murder show particulars: Small Town Murder. The killer had doused the vehicle with fuel in an apparent attempt to incinerate the crime scene, but apparently failed to start a fire. Bennett family murders: Verdict reached in hammer murder trial | 9news.com Sole survivor of 1984 Aurora hammer attack testifies on opening day of murder trial He could have found other ways to feed the need. It was dusted for prints, but none were found. The mandatory minimum sentence for each count is life with possibility of parole after 20 years, according to the prosecution. So I guess Ill be the first to post. October 21st, 1982 It was Colorado Bureau of Investigation Director John Camper who got to break the news to Aurora PD that there had been a DNA match. In 2002, Arapahoe County filed a John Doe arrest warrant for the perpetrator of the Bennet murders based on the DNA profile. 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. 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. 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. Is it not true that you usually get police closer to a suspect faster than they ever could without using dna? In fact, there was a string of unsolved crimes in the area that took place just days apart from each other. Unsolved: The Bennett family murders | king5.com They are more likely to begin work before sunup rather than stay much after sundown. She said in an interview that she has big plans for the future, and reminds us that "its never too late to achieve big things. About a week later, a different hammer was used to kill the Bennetts and their 7-year-old daughter Melissa in Aurora. They were almost always in good shape/new condition, and lab analysis revealed almost nothing about them except the occasional hair. 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Patricia had only been living in Lakewood for about three and a half months, having moved there from Nebraska with her daughter, who was recently divorced. Peter Weir, District Attorney of the 1st Judicial District, oversees the area where the Smith murder occurred. Dotted with impressive bridges and blanketed by thick trees, it usually provides year-round beauty and convenience for travelers. Detective Steve Conner has investigated this case for many years, taking over from an investigator named Marv Brandt. The 3-year-old sister, Vanessa, was the only survivor. Did you know that one of the most popular places to rob are construction sites? Part of our book involves some very in-depth detective and forensic work. Learn how your comment data is processed. Thieves like to hit them for the tools the guys leave at the sites overnight. 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. The rapes are secondary crimes. Calls Toyota Celica was found at a river overlook several hours after he and Hailey went on their first date. Vanessa was saved, though she went on the live with permanent physiological affects from the assault. I should also note that the data becomes a bit skewed in that month because of the fact that the Snelling murder, being a homicide investigation, resulted in a much more thorough sweep of the area and more prowling incidents were recorded that wouldve otherwise been left unreported. Your email address will not be published. This call occurred over a month after her attack. Now She's Speaking Out, Mass. 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. His use of ligatures were fairly distinct and helped tie a lot of the crimes together. 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. As an adult, she developed a drug habit and became an addict. Patricia still wore her sweater and boots, but her jeans were pulled down. 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. for sure the les should listen to what you say and take another look this is a refreshing take on profiles. He stayed on the prosecution team with Storgaard and Senior Deputy District Attorney Megan Brewer. The house of Safdar Ali, who is allegedly a close aide of Atiq Ahmad, was demolished by the administration. In Aug 2018, Alexander Christopher Ewing was accused and charged in both cases. For years the case was cold, until in 2018 a DNA profile from semen the killer left at the scene was matched to Ewing. Your email address will not be published. The victims may not have ever known one another but the killer found them somehow, it was not random although it appears that way. She too worked at the family-owned furniture store, and was happily helping raise the couples two children, Melissa (seven-years old, about to turn eight) and Vanessa (three years old), with the man that she loved. Vanessa Bennett was shocked to receive the phone call identifying the man who murdered her entire family and attempted to murder her in 1984and admits it hasnt quite sunk in. A hammer. His wife, Debra, was sexually assaulted and bludgeoned. Jun 2004 - 201612 years. Small Town Murder at Tabernacle in Atlanta Sep 8th, 2023 - presale code I believe he killed again no way he stopped. 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 large hammer was recovered, still on the seat of the car where the attacker had left it. District Attorney John Kellner filed the murder charges against Ewing when he headed up the Cold Case Unit in the office. It would be nearly twenty-four hours total before she was found. Before he was sentenced, Ewing declined the chance to speak to the victim's family members, who were present in the courtroom including Vanessa Bennett, who is now 41. RELATED: Bennett family murders: Full coverage of suspect's trial. Murderer of Aurora's Bennett family sentenced to life in prison 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. Investigators have been quoted as saying this was a random crime, vicious and random. Safdar Ali was allegedly involved in selling weapons to gang members of Atiq Ahmed. They remain married to this day. 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. Her bra was wrapped around one of her wrists, and her clothing was found on the bank nearby. "I didn't just lose my parents and my sister," Vanessa opened up. The colossal 1,772-acre South Carolina hunting farm where Maggie and Paul. Powered by WordPress He also shattered the face of Bruce Bennetts 3-year-old daughter, Vanessa. What are Dr. Bennett's areas of care? 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 . I look in the mirror every day and look at myself and I hate who I am. 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. Alexander Christopher Ewing is already behind bars, serving 40 years for two counts of attempted murder in the state of Nevada. Only the youngest daughter survived, with life-threatening injuries. They lived on a peaceful cul-de-sac where most of the houses had recently been finished and were yet to be sold. Most importantly take the need to judge them and all of your own emotions and personal beliefs out of the picture. No immediate leads could be generated in the case. Bruce Alan Bennett was twenty-seven years old. Only the calls or phone events where the caller was believed to be the rapist are included. Donna was rushed to the hospital while police worked the scene. Wedged between the bed and the wall was three-year-old Vanessa, choking of fragments of her own jaw bone and barely clinging to life. Dont you think the police could have gotten the guy long ago had they given you the evidence they had? Jason Bennett described his heartbreak following the deaths of son John and daughter Lacey in Killamarsh. Dont forget to follow Generation Why on FB [X] , Instagram [X] and Twitter [X]. Ewing was not identified as a suspect until a DNA hit in July 2018 linked him to semen left at the crime scene. 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. SOMERVILLE Sandra G. Bennett, 76, died March 2, 2023. But some states were slow to add DNA to CODIS and the Damn ACLU had to butt its nose into it and doesnt like how some states collect DNA beyond certain felony charges or convictions. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Other attacks had occurred off of this main road, and its believed that the killer couldve entered the area from that point. 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. Please keep them and their families in your thoughts tonight. Designed by The Bennett Family Murders | Audio Length: 52:47 If you were living in La Jolla in the early 80s, you knew the Brodericks. Investigators were able to piece together the details of the horrendous ordeal through study of the evidence and the crime scene. Bruce Alan Bennett was twenty-seven years old. For over thirty years, this killer has remained unidentified. She screamed because he would have had to go through an open gate into their yard. His attacker slit his throat before eventually delivering a final fatal blow with a hammer. The killer pummeled and sexually assaulted his 26-year-old wife, Debra, and 7-year-old daughter, Melissa. 3 Shocking Murders That Rocked La Jolla - LaJolla.com You called it in a recent case again how did you know? The backyard of the home was the only one in the area without a fence, and it backed up to a dark and lonely portion of Alameda Avenue. There was no sign of the couple and theyve never been found. He raced inside and quickly found Donna in the middle of the blood-soaked bed. No fingerprints or any other usable evidence could be found at the scene. Sometimes it works, sometimes its sort of right, sometimes not even close. The couple, especially Ron, wanted to show that their love was truly for better or for worse and that it would survive any challenge. Alexander "Hammer Killer" Ewing Charged with 1984 Bennett Family Murders Police later linked the murder of the Bennett family with another rape and murder that happened just less than a week before. She left her hometown and moved to Arizona, at one point spending half a year homeless, living under a bridge. ~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. Later autopsies revealed that the Bennetts had died due to blunt force trauma and that their attacker had likely used a hammer. The Ramsey family, who originally bought the . Weve been given a hi-resolution copy to share, which you can view by clicking below: Around this time, on this very night 38 years ago, the EAR/GSK beganlaying siege to Goleta, California. The press conference panel continually emphasized the destruction that this case has left on the lives of those affected. A man accused of murdering a mother and three children has also been charged with raping one of the victims, who was 11. Ronald worked as a pilot. Here are the days of the week the alleged killer struck each victim (s). Alex Christopher Ewing: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know 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. Peck Funeral Home assisted the family . We move long-haul and short-haul loads to anywhere in the lower 48 states for commercial and government entities. The caller whispered harshly into the phone, saying You know who this is or Do you know who this is? The victim was on the line with him for about a minute. He finds his release from the level of pain he inflicts on the victim, the level of violence he is able to achieve. She was also raped. It was a blitz attack for no reason, said Marvin Brandt, who investigated the case as a homicide detective between 1984 and when he retired from the Aurora Police Department in 2002. Ewing, then 23, was arrested again two days later about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away by park rangers at Lake Mead. After failing with the EAR, we needed a sidebar showing that the techniques actually work because they do! He usually tied them so tightly that circulation was restricted, used the same types of knots, and would often have the wife tie up the husband (and then retie the husband himself). "A life sentence feels too light, but that is the most the justice system can offer. JonBenet Ramsey (Homicide) | City of Boulder Patricia had come home from work for lunch, stopping at Wendys on the way. As one of the investigations were doing for the book,we hired an audio expert to do some work on the three recordings attributed to EAR: The dumb fuckers call, the Is Ray there? call, and the Gonna Kill You call. Hecontinued to attack the child causing severe injuries, but the 3 year old held on to life and was alive the next morning when she was discovered by her grandmother.
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