", She added: "I lost my sanity. Taking a good long hard look at the evidence again and compare it to someone who was in and/or around that artery in Denver at the time would help to narrow the suspect list or in this case open it up. 2019 Sentinel Colorado. Denver Post Archive Aurora Coroner's officers and police officers remove one of the three bodies from house at. 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. 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. The victims may not have ever known one another but the killer found them somehow, it was not random although it appears that way. The Bennett family was attacked either the night of Jan. 15 or the morning of Jan. 16. Law enforcement today is actually better than it was then. There was no sign of the couple and theyve never been found. One of the most terrifying aspects of the case is the sketch of his mask, made with the assistance of survivors who caught a glimpse of him. That, and the knots he used, provide a link among several scenes. 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. They saw her parents killer as a boogeyman who would attack and them and kill them if they went anywhere near little Vanessas home for parties or play dates. While meeting with the families in regards to this case reopened many old wounds and horrific memories, the Aurora Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the 18th Judicial District, and the 1st Judicial District is committed to seeing that justice is served 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. He raced inside and quickly found Donna in the middle of the blood-soaked bed. Bruce Alan Bennett was twenty-seven years old. Now She's Speaking Out, Mass. This killer is indiscriminate in terms of who he kills, attacks or rapes. The news that the killer had been identified this year left Metz elated, he said. Which is why a more beneficial profile from the onset is more important in fact, its critical. 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. The police found her posed with her arms crossed over her chest, as if she was in a coffin. He faced six . 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. According to some sources, they were able to match a shoe print from the Bennett household to a shoe print found in the garage at the Donna Dixon assault. 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. 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. Theres no such thing as coincidence. Jun 2004 - 201612 years. Dixon survived. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Copyright 2023 The crime spree known as the Colorado Hammer murders seemed to begin in Aurora in the early morning hours of January 4th, 1984. This mans only motive was to inflict as much pain as possible and kill his victims. This call is important because not only did it occur during an EAR quiet period, but this attack is connected by DNA. 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. Its also interesting to note that the first incidence of violence, the Snelling murder, didnt stop him, but he did seem to be gradually slowing down after what appears on the surface to be the 1975 peak. James Haubenschild suffered a fractured skull, and his wife had a concussion. 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. 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 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. 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. Bruce and Debra Bennett lived with their daughter Melissa and younger daughter, Vanessa. 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 house of Safdar Ali, who is allegedly a close aide of Atiq Ahmad, was demolished by the administration. 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. But new technology is getting detectives closer and closer to solving the brutal mystery. 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. There were very few leads to go on only a hazy physical description from Kim. View the map. 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. Over 200 Million Downloads! He finds his release from the level of pain he inflicts on the victim, the level of violence he is able to achieve. I lost the person who I was supposed to be.. But thanks to modern technology and the incredible talent and dedication of several individuals, it seems this case has finally been solved. Sometimes it works, sometimes its sort of right, sometimes not even close. It begins with a woman killed with a hammer in Lakewood and, a week later, a family killed the same way. After a string of several burglaries and escalating events on this night, the offender crossed the line to murder and he never looked back. After failing with the EAR, we needed a sidebar showing that the techniques actually work because they do! If they were used shoelaces, youd expect to find a vast array of particles and wear-and-tear. The jury found Ewing guilty on Aug. 6 of killing three members of the Bennett family with a hammer. The police found her posed with her arms crossed over her chest as if she was in a coffin. DNA evidence ties Ewing to the crime. It could be the store they all shopped in, the road that they all traveled daily to and from work, school, library they attended etc. There was no sign of Lauer or Phelps. We often times want answers that fit into a box and I am sorry to say in this case we will not get them. He could have found other ways to feed the need. Being able to track the victim down (the call occurred at her workplace) meant that most likely, he was a free man and had stopped killing of his own volition. The intruder, apparently thinking she was dead, began to make his escape. If you were living in La Jolla in the early 80s, you knew the Brodericks. There is no innocent explanation for how you explain all of the evidence.. 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. 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. "I lost the person who I was supposed to be. 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. Perhaps, though put in tp the system (and hopefully still there, maybe for good), his DNA was never taken to match the DNA from the crime scenes. 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! 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. Shippers choose our flatbed, step deck, RGN or other specialized trailers to move freight that is too large to be After multiple surgeries,Vanessa was saved, though she went on the live with permanent physiological affects from the assault. He was currently working at a family-owned furniture store, but was taking classes at the local college and would soon be working as an air traffic controller. Lauer and Phelps disappeared on Labor Day weekend while on their way to Virginia Beach. Nothing else appeared to be missing. 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. The killer was practicing, he was unsure of himself and he was unsure of the weapon he would eventually use. Its quite possible that she wasnt even conscious for any of it. Ewing was not identified as a suspect until a DNA hit in July 2018 linked him to semen left at the crime scene. Channel 2 sports director Zach Klein is at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where. The Bennett family, consisting of Bruce (27), Debra (26), and their two young daughters, Melissa (7) and Vanessa (3), were all attacked inside their Aurora home by a serial killer named Alex. It was a beautiful area, with clean, crisp air and the mountains rising up to the west. 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. That is very clear. There was the sound of children and maybe a woman in the background, which couldve potentially come from a television or some other source. Bizberg Themes, Forensic Science and Cyber Forensics Quiz (Free). During the winter in Colorado its difficult to find a construction crew working well into the night. The four of them lived together in a townhome off of West Bayaud Avenue. They were Holly Chromey, 49, and her children, Katie Zapzalka, 18, and Jared Zapzalka, 16. Broderick was denied parole for a second time just this past January. There was blood all over the car. Your email address will not be published. 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. Atlanta, GA. Fri, Sep 8, 2023 08:00 PM. "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.". In 2002, Arapahoe County filed a John Doe arrest warrant for the perpetrator of the Bennet murders based on the DNA profile. She too survived the attack, although she was first in a coma for some time. Two different crime labs analyzed the fuzzy imprint, and they came up with different results. 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. 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. Thank you listeners! 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. As a workaround, a well-known forensic genealogist named Colleen Fitzpatrick analyzed the case, and her research came up with the possible surname of Ewing. This finding was announced an the television show, On the Case With Paula Zahn, in February 2018. A hammer lay next to her. Third Crime Scene Residents here have lived under a dark cloud since Monday, when police found three residents dead in their home. District Attorney John Kellner filed the murder charges against Ewing when he headed up the Cold Case Unit in the office. Jason Bennett described his heartbreak following the deaths of son John and daughter Lacey in Killamarsh. A 61-year-old man learned this week he'll die behind prison bars after being sentenced to three consecutive life sentences for the 1984 murders of a Colorado couple and their 7-year-old daughter, PEOPLE confirms. The truck was in a designated parking area with the radio and windshield wipers turned on. You can also see what seems to be escalation and a frenzy of activity at certain points. The blow shed felt was the attacker striking her head with a hammer. The jury found Ewing guilty on. 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. Another resident, Donna Dixon, was also struck with a hammer. Why did they have to get murdered? August 17, 2021 / 3:31 PM His sentence runs through 2037 but he would be eligible for parole in 2021. & He usually held his victims captive for a period of time and then released them, but hes suspected of abducting and murdering13-year-oldKarmein Chan in 1991. At least, until they came to Vanessas bed. During sentencing Aug. 17, members of the Bennett and Large families submitted impact statements and came to the courtroom. Peter Weir, District Attorney of the 1st Judicial District, oversees the area where the Smith murder occurred. 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. The prints taken from the Bennett crime scene were fuzzy and not usable, the concrete floor they took that had a footprint would be unusable at this point. is finished: Fri, 09/08/23 09:00 PM EDT. 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. 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. I also believe this is the killers first stint at killing humans he most likely as with most serial killers did in fact kill animals earlier in life. Investigators have been quoted as saying this was a random crime, vicious and random. How do you feel knowing this case was solved? Ewing massacred a family but left a key to his identity, Chief Deputy District Attorney Garrik Storgaard told the jury. 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. Patricia still wore her sweater and boots, but her jeans were pulled down. There was no sign of forced entry. Investigators were able to piece together the details of the horrendous ordeal through study of the evidence and the crime scene. Here we have a chart that I created showing the types of incidents (mere prowling, a burglary/ransacking, and the two violent confrontations) attributed to the Visalia Ransacker throughout his known criminal career (1973-1976). This killer strikes with such violence that it is difficult to understand, see or know of a possible motive. The Deadly Night of Incident For Bennet Family On the night of January 16 th, 1984 a gruesome discovery was made at a house on 16300 East Center Drive, Aurora. And I hate what I had to go through and still go through. A neatly-folded Winnie the Pooh comforter lay under her, a portion of it obscuring her head.