On the night of Jan. 15, 1984, the Bennett family left their garage door open. The four of them lived together in a townhome off of West Bayaud Avenue. The other kids at school would tease her, telling her the hammer man was going to come and finish her off. Police said in a Friday morning press conference that they linked Ewing to the crimes this year shortly after Nevada authorities uploaded his DNA to a national database. 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. If you are just simply looking at it, you miss the most critical and important clues. Even to this day, she has absolutely no recollection of the next several hours. 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. Shippers choose our flatbed, step deck, RGN or other specialized trailers to move freight that is too large to be James, who posts online from time to time, discusses how vividly the case still haunts him even to this day. Murders at this level are not just random. Police later linked the murder of the Bennett family with another rape and murder that happened just less than a week before. What happened to Vanessa Bennett's family? People - Sportskeeda He picked all of his victims for a reason, something about them attracted him to them, they all had one common denominator that drew him to those specific individuals. Its unfortunate le didnt get him back then. ~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. 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. Fourth Crime Scene Murder Most Royal - (her Majesty The Queen Investigates) By Sj Bennett As an adult, she developed a drug habit and became an addict. He is more introverted when he is sober and an extrovert when he isnt. Alex Ewing Ordered To Serve 3 Life Sentences For 1984 Murder Of - MSN They had recently purchased a new home in Aurora for their young family, consisting of Melissa and a younger sister who was 3 years old. 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. Thieves like to hit them for the tools the guys leave at the sites overnight. The news that the killer had been identified this year left Metz elated, he said. The family had been celebrating Melissas birthday that night. 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. 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. Safdar Ali was allegedly involved in selling weapons to gang members of Atiq Ahmed. Currently all 50 states have to collect DNA for certain types of Felony crimes and submit it to CODIS. This is a very unique activity, and it helps tie the EARONS crimes together based on M.O. After failing with the EAR, we needed a sidebar showing that the techniques actually work because they do! Even though Vanessas jaw was crushed, sending jagged bones into her windpipe, she survived after her grandmother, Constance Bennett, checked on the family later that morning when they didnt show up to work at a family-owned furniture store. The first sign of trouble came in the afternoon, when Patricia failed to pick them up. The hammer stuck her in the jaw, shattering the bone which splintered in an explosion of small fragments that punctured her windpipe. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Copyright 2023 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. The jury found Ewing guilty on Aug. 6 of killing three members of the Bennett family with a hammer. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The couples youngest daughter, 3 year old Vanessa, was also attacked by the hammer wielding assailant. The Murder of Jaye Potter Mintz Feb 23, 1987 Leland N.C. A Catastrophic Cyber Event in the Next 2-Years. Kevin Bennett - Senior Program Officer and Racial Equity Lead - GHR Law enforcement today is actually better than it was then. 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. 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. 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. Vanessa was saved, though she went on the live with permanent physiological affects from the assault. Victims: David Knobling (20) and Robin Edwards (14) 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. If they were used shoelaces, youd expect to find a vast array of particles and wear-and-tear. Thankfully, this community, these families and everyone impacted by the horrific crimes now knows this defendant will never hurt anyone ever again., 2022 - DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE 18 JUDICIAL DISTRICT, Murderer of Auroras Bennett family sentenced to life in prison, Victim Impact Statement and Restitution Information, Bad Check Restitution Program DISCONTINUED, Senior Law & Safety Summit: May 21, 2022, Peace Officer Credibility Disclosure Notification. The husband then got a lock for the gate and made sure their house was locked and secure. 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. Alex Ewing on trial for the murder of three members of the Bennett family (credit: Aurora Sentinel). The jury found Ewing guilty on all counts. Perhaps one of the most famous murders in La Jolla history, the story of Daniel and Linda Broderick's death in 1989 shocked the seaside community and reverberated throughout San Diego. April 6th, 2001 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. Suspect in long-unsolved, brutal Aurora hammer murders has been in 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. Years later, strides would start to be made in the crime lab. Ewing massacred a family but left a key to his identity, Chief Deputy District Attorney Garrik Storgaard told the jury. The police found her posed with her arms crossed over her chest as if she was in a coffin. The next thing Donna remembered was waking up naked in the garage. On the night of January 16th, 1984 a gruesome discovery was made at a house on 16300 East Center Drive, Aurora. 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. Victim #7received a phone call, and she recognized the voice on the other end as the voice of the rapist. The family overall lead a very quiet and peaceful life. The force of the impact threw her head into the steering wheel. 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. 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. January 10th, 1984 started just like any other day, with Patricia dropping off her daughter and grandkids at work/school. 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. She made her way to the bedroom and went to bed. We didnt just look for all three to match, but also looked for a Ray to Gonna Kill You match, a Ray to Dumb Fuckers match, etc. 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. In Aug 2018, Alexander Christopher Ewing was accused and charged in both cases. Sandra G. Bennett | Obituaries | decaturdaily.com Patricia Smith had been laid straight, her arms crossed over her chest as if on display in a funeral home. Add some text book, some psychological profiling and presto, they have a profile. The bodies of John Paul Bennett, 13, Lacey Bennett, 11, their mother Terri Harris, 35, and Lacey's friend Connie Gent, 11, were discovered at the property near Sheffield, on Sunday morning.. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. "A life sentence feels too light, but that is the most the justice system can offer. They are asking tipsters who know anything about the Aurora case to call 303-739-6400 and the Lakewood case to call 303-763-6800. There are potentially other crimes that Ewing could be charged for, and Brauchler emphasized that he wont prosecute a crime that he cant ethically prove theres a high standard for evidence in these types of cases. In just two days,. Denver Post Archive Aurora Coroner's officers and police officers remove one of the three bodies from house at. Bruce, his wife Debra and 7-year-old Melissa were found dead. Victim #42received a call that she identified as the EAR. The family had been celebrating Melissas birthday that night. 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. I lost the person who I was supposed to be.. Investigators have been quoted as saying this was a random crime, vicious and random. Its believed that the EAR bought his shoelaces new from the store or from some other source. The Bennett family. Bennett Family Murders: the prosecution rests - Defrosting Cold Cases This guy is not going to be easy to find because he can easily change his MO and would change it if need be. After a string of several burglaries and escalating events on this night, the offender crossed the line to murder and he never looked back. 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. Bruce Bennett tried to climb the staircase several times in an attempt to ward off the perpetrator and save his young family. 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. 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. 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. The Ramsey family, who originally bought the . He said the detectives who have worked it over the years, in particular Detective Steve Conner, the departments cold case investigator, never quit on. After investigating, the police found similarities between the attack at the Bennett home and nearby random attacks that happened days earlier along the Highline Canal and Alameda Avenue corridor. Unsolved: The Bennett family murders | king5.com Bruce had been attacked with a knife and hit in the head several times with a hammer or blunt object. 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. It begins with a woman killed with a hammer in Lakewood and, a week later, a family killed the same way. He took Debras purse and went out the front door, then dumped the contents out onto the snow. Date: April 9th/10th, 1988 The life sentences will be served consecutively. In 2015, information leaked that there was important clue found at the Bennett scene. does anyone think they are actually looking though? 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. Later autopsies would reveal that the Bennetts had died due to blunt force trauma and that their attacker had likely used a hammer. 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. He also appealed to other district attorneys and lawmakers who might be watching (singling out Montana briefly) to change their DNA collection laws and practices and to begin participating in CODIS. Thought to be the work of a serial killer, the crimes have remained unsolved for thirty years. During the rape series, he primarily used shoelaces. Its our hope that something can come from this new push that will finally solve it. An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. 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. Powered by WordPress There was evidence of a struggle in the bedroom. In 2002, Arapahoe County filed a John Doe arrest warrant for the perpetrator of the Bennet murders based on the DNA profile. Hecontinued to attack the child causing severe injuries, but the 3 years old held on to her life and was alive the next morning when she was discovered by her grandmother. Prosecutors alleged Ewing raped Melissa Bennett before killing her. He is awaiting extradition to Colorado, police and prosecutors announced Friday. Police later linked the murder of the Bennett family with another rape and murder that happened just less than a week before. Umesh Pal murder case: Bulldozer action against Atiq Ahmad's close aides continues in Uttar Pradesh. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. John Hickenlooper to request Ewings extradition today but the process could take weeks or months depending on a host of legal factors. 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. bennett family murders address - vivaseuamor.fun As she turned to leave the car, she felt a tremendous blow on the left side of her head. Dont profile by. The Bennett Family Murders ~ Aurora, Colorado ~ January 16, 1984 The Bennett family was your average middle class family living the American dream. Second Crime Scene Kevin Vaughan on Twitter: "NEW TONIGHT: #9WantsToKnow has obtained this mugshot of Alex Christopher Ewing, the suspect in two 1984 hammer murders. His attacker slit his throat before eventually delivering a final fatal blow with a hammer. SOMERVILLE Sandra G. Bennett, 76, died March 2, 2023. She was naked, curled up in a fetal position and groaning. She was numb and cold, and somehow was able to get to her feet and go inside the house. I dont believe this killers blood lust was sated after all these acts of violence leading up to these murders; unless he was somehow killed (or committed suicide) soon after, my guess is he ended up in jail for something unrelated or something that somehow wasnt linked, like a violent rape. During the winter in Colorado its difficult to find a construction crew working well into the night. "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.".