Latest news with #DanielSerafini
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Dan Serafini, former Chicago Cubs pitcher, convicted of murder in the 2021 shootings of his wife's parents
AUBURN, Calif. — Retired MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini has been convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder in the shootings of his wife's parents at their home four years ago near Lake Tahoe in California. A Placer County jury on Monday found Serafini guilty of killing his father-in-law, Gary Spohr, and severely wounding his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood, on June 5, 2021, at their home on the lake's west shore. Serafini, 51, also was convicted of first-degree burglary. Serafini entered the Spohrs' Lake Tahoe home June 5, 2021, where prosecutors said he secretly waited with a .22 caliber gun for several hours for the victims to return before ambushing them. Two children, ages 3 years and 8 months, were in the home at the time. According to evidence presented at trial, when the Spohrs arrived, Serafini shot both of them in the head and fled the house. Wood survived and called 911. She died by suicide in 2023. Two years later police arrested Serafini and his nanny-turned-lover, Samantha Scott, 33. Scott pleaded guilty in February to an accessory charge. Serafini's motive centered on a $1.3 million dispute over the renovation of a horse ranch, according to prosecutors. Serafini, prosecutors said, hated his in-laws and had written 'I'm gonna kill them one day' in a text message mentioning $21,000, according to ABC News Sacramento affiliate KXTV. The victims had given $90,000 to Serafini's wife, Erin, the day of the shootings. 'It's been four years since my mom and dad were shot, and it's been four years of just hell,' Adrienne Spohr, the victims' daughter and Serafini's sister-in-law, said after the verdict. Adrienne was heard gasping and crying along with others in the courtroom when the verdict was read aloud, according to KXTV. Serafini shook his head in disagreement. The mandatory minimum for first-degree murder with a firearm enhancement is 25 years to life, but could increase to 35 years depending on how the charges are applied. The Minnesota Twins made Serafini their first-round draft pick in 1992 out of Junipero Serra High in San Mateo, Calif., the same school all-time home run king Barry Bonds attended. Serafini made his big-league debut in 1996 with the Twins and pitched in parts of seven seasons with the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies. Serafini pitched in Japan from 2004-07 before returning to the U.S. He was suspended for 50 games in 2007 for using performance-enhancing drugs that he blamed on medication he took in Japan. He also pitched for Italy in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. On June 28, 2015, Serafini's bar in Sparks, Nev., was featured on an episode of Bar Rescue. The bar's named was changed from The Bullpen Bar to The Oak Tavern as part of the makeover, but not before his financial woes were described as blowing through $14 million in career earnings and taking a $250,000 loan from his parents. Serafini's sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 18. He will remain in custody without bail until then.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini is convicted of murder in the 2021 shootings of his wife's parents
AUBURN, Calif. (AP) — Retired MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini has been convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder in the shootings of his wife's parents during a burglary at their home four years ago near Lake Tahoe in California. A Placer County jury on Monday found the 51-year-old guilty of killing his father-in-law, Gary Spohr, and severely wounding his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood, on June 5, 2021, at their home on the lake's west shore. Wood received extensive rehabilitation but died a year after the shooting. Serafini also was convicted of first-degree burglary. Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Miller, who prosecuted the case, told jurors that Serafini hated his wife's wealthy parents and was heard saying he was willing to pay $20,000 to have them killed, the Sacramento Bee reported. A left-hander, Serafini was drafted in 1992 by the Minnesota Twins. He also played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies. The jury was shown transcripts of angry emails and text messages between Serafini and his in-laws in which they were involved in a heated, ongoing dispute over a $1.3 million loan to help fund his wife's fledgling horse ranch business, the Bee reported. Defense attorney David Dratman argued that there was no physical evidence linking Serafini to the crime scene, noting that security camera footage showed a masked intruder entering the couple's home who appeared to be younger with a smaller body frame than the former baseball player. Dratman told the jury that although his client had a rocky relationship with his in-laws, the couple was generous with Serafini and his wife, loaning them money and treating them to lavish vacations. 'Does that provide a motive for murder? That's killing the golden goose,' Dratman said in his closing argument. Dratman declined to comment about the verdict. Serafini faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced Aug. 18.
UPI
4 days ago
- UPI
Ex-MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini guilty of father-in-law's 2021 murder
July 15 (UPI) -- A jury convicted ex-MLB player Daniel Serafini in the four-year-old murder of his father-in-law and attempted killing of his mother-in-law at their California home. On Monday, jurors in Placer County found Serafini, 51, guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder and burglary in the community of Homewood on the west shore of Lake Tahoe where he shot the couple in June 2021. Robert Spohr, 70, was shot and killed execution-style, according to investigators. His wife, 70-year-old Wendy Wood, was shot in the head twice but survived. However, she died a year later. Following a two-year investigation, Serafini was arrested in October 2023 with his nanny-turned-lover Samantha Scott, 33. Scott admitted to driving Serafini to his in-laws home. In February, she pleaded guilty after the fact to accessory but was released from custody and awaits sentencing. Serafini's wife, Erin Spohr, testified during the trial that she had an open marriage with her husband but still trusted him. Richard Miller, the assistant chief deputy DA who prosecuted Serafini, told jurors that Serafini hated his wife's well-off parents and allegedly told other people that he was willing to pay $20,000 to get them killed, the Sacramento Bee reported. Adrienne Spohr, her sister, has been pushing for justice in the case since the deadly attack. She commented Monday that the Placer County DA and sheriff's office "never gave up." "It's been four years since my mom and dad were shot, and it's been four years of just hell," she told CBS outside the courthouse. Serafini is a San Francisco-born native and in 1992 got selected by the Minnesota Twins in that year's MLB draft. In addition to a tour in Italy during the 2013 World Baseball Classic, he played for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies and in August 2003 was signed to join the Cincinnati Reds. He has a scheduled sentencing on August 18 and faces a max sentence of life in prison without a chance of parole.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Did ex-MLB star Daniel Serafini murder his father-in-law over his wealth despite earning over $14 million?
Daniel Serafini has been convicted for murdering his father in law in 2021.(Image via Alamy) Daniel Serafini, once considered to be one of the most talented and popular players in the MLB, has now found himself in a huge scandal related to the deaths of his in laws. Now, the criminal case against him has taken a turn and Daniel Serafini has been convicted of first degree murder and attempted murder related to the deaths of his wife's parents. Daniel Serafini has been convicted of killing his wealthy in laws and the motive has been speculated to be their wealth In 2021, Daniel Serafini's father in law, Robert Gary Spohr, died when he was shot and his mother in law, Wendy Louise Wood, was severely injured in the shooting. The elderly couple were at their luxurious house near Lake Tahoe in California when the tragedy struck. While initially it was believed to be an intruder, further investigations into the case made authorities suspicious of the former MLB star player, Daniel Serafini. While Daniel Serafini's father in law, Robert Gary Spohr, died within seconds of being shot, his mother in law, Wendy Louise Wood, did survive the shooting but was critically injured. A year later, in an unfortunate turn of events, Daniel Serafini's mother in law, Wendy Louise Wood, committed suicide and passed away. Daniel Serafini also had an accomplice along with him In 2023, Daniel Serafini was finally charged with child enDanielgerment, burglary, first degree murder and attempted murder. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cách giao dịch ETH/USD mà không cần nắm giữ Ether IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The authorities had also found an accomplice, Samantha Scott, with Daniel Serafini, who turned out to be a close associate of his and his wife. Apparently, the motive has found to be related to money. According to the Sacramento Bee, Daniel Serafini's in laws, Robert Gary Spohr died and Wendy Louise Wood were pretty wealthy and lead a luxurious lifestyle; something that did not sit well with the former MLB player. Did Daniel Serafini murder his father in law because of money? The prosecutor of the case, Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Miller, has revealed that Daniel Serafini 'hated' his in-laws and wanted them to be killed for $20,000. At one point in his successful career in the MLB, Daniel Serafini had earned more than $14 million, but due to poor decisions, he ended up losing most of it and was $300,000 in debt. Once considered to be a star player in the MLB, Daniel Serafini is all set to be behind bars for the majority of his life now. Also Read: What happened to Trevor Bauer? The Dodgers fired him over sexual assault claims but his accuser was later charged with fraud Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
The Independent
5 days ago
- The Independent
Former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini is convicted of murder in the 2021 shootings of his wife's parents
Retired MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini has been convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder in the shootings of his wife's parents during a burglary at their home four years ago near Lake Tahoe in California. A Placer County jury on Monday found the 51-year-old guilty of killing his father-in-law, Gary Spohr, and severely wounding his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood, on June 5, 2021, at their home on the lake's west shore. Wood received extensive rehabilitation but died a year after the shooting. Serafini also was convicted of first-degree burglary. Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Miller, who prosecuted the case, told jurors that Serafini hated his wife's wealthy parents and was heard saying he was willing to pay $20,000 to have them killed, the Sacramento Bee reported. A left-hander, Serafini was drafted in 1992 by the Minnesota Twins. He also played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies. The jury was shown transcripts of angry emails and text messages between Serafini and his in-laws in which they were involved in a heated, ongoing dispute over a $1.3 million loan to help fund his wife's fledgling horse ranch business, the Bee reported. Defense attorney David Dratman argued that there was no physical evidence linking Serafini to the crime scene, noting that security camera footage showed a masked intruder entering the couple's home who appeared to be younger with a smaller body frame than the former baseball player. Dratman told the jury that although his client had a rocky relationship with his in-laws, the couple was generous with Serafini and his wife, loaning them money and treating them to lavish vacations. 'Does that provide a motive for murder? That's killing the golden goose,' Dratman said in his closing argument. Dratman declined to comment about the verdict. Serafini faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced Aug. 18.
