bennett family murders address

Again, info is given only about the phone calls where the offender spoke. The colossal 1,772-acre South Carolina hunting farm where Maggie and Paul. 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. The Bennett family was attacked either the night of Jan. 15 or the morning of Jan. 16. Why was she the lone survivor? The case lacked any apparent motive. Order your tickets today to see Small Town Murder in Atlanta, GA. Alexander "Hammer Killer" Ewing Charged with 1984 Bennett Family Murders 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The Military also submits DNA for specific types of crimes committed by its members. 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. Peck Funeral Home assisted the family . Unsolved: The Bennett family murders | 9news.com Often times a profilerwill come up with a profile that fits into a box, the box was made from materials that were provided by profiles obtained from past criminals who committed similar crimes, which is a really great place to start. It begins with a woman killed with a hammer in Lakewood and, a week later, a family killed the same way in Aurora. His attacker slit his throat before eventually delivering a final fatal blow with a hammer. Dont profile by. Since they could find no signs of forced entry, police felt that the killer entered through the unlocked door and attacked her. This killer strikes with such violence that it is difficult to understand, see or know of a possible motive. The money was never claimed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Bruce Bennett tried to climb the staircase several times in an attempt to ward off the perpetrator and save his young family. He stayed on the prosecution team with Storgaard and Senior Deputy District Attorney Megan Brewer. January 27, 1984: Ewing attacks a man in Kingman, Arizona in his home; beats man's head with a hammer. Only the youngest daughter survived, with life-threatening injuries. If he had not done that, they may have been the unfortunately victims. 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. Although she had no memory of the attack, what happened that night in 1984. 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. 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. 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. Residents here have lived under a dark cloud since Monday, when police found three residents dead in their home. Bruce had mentioned wanting to run to the store before bed. Both survived. He tore her clothes off, tossed them about the garage, and then he raped her on the concrete floor. Bennett family murders Required fields are marked *. He utilized the bindings in another distinct way he almost always forced his penis into his victims bound hands. 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. Im your biggest fan. The Bennett Family Murders ~ Aurora, Colorado - thecrimeshop Their disappearance was widely reported by the national news media. 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. 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. Now She's Speaking Out, Mass. 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. Date: September 5th, 1989 The husband ran outside but he was gone. The 3-year-old sister, Vanessa, was the only survivor. The force of the impact threw her head into the steering wheel. 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. He was immediately alarmed at the scene in the garage her clothes, purse, and even some of the mail was by her car. He took her to the floor and sexually assaulted her. 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. 2019 Sentinel Colorado. How do you feel knowing this case was solved? 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. Bruce was 27 years old and Debra was 26 in 1984. Here are the Small Town Murder show particulars: Small Town Murder. The scene in the home traumatized the daughter and grandchildren for life. Juliana Kenney, 75, her husband Clayton Kenney, 83, and Mrs. Kenney's 44- year-old daughter, Adrienne Arnot, were beaten and stabbed to . The Investigation kept ongoing. The press conference began with Aurora Chief Nicholas Metz, who recognized the hard work and dedication of many investigators who worked this case over the years. The Aurora Hammer Slayer SOLVED! | The Theorem Factory Damien Bendall, 31, is now alleged to have raped and murdered Lacey Bennett . 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. 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. A day or two after receiving the DNA results, Law Enforcement met with victims and their family members. The father, Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes, immediately became the prime suspect, as he abruptly disappeared after the . Unfortunately, they verified one by one that each family member was deceased. Obviously, this guy was looking for his next target. Other Information Toward the end of that series and during the murders, he began experimenting with different types of bindings plastic ties, twine, drapery cord, etc. The killer pummeled and sexually assaulted his 26-year-old wife, Debra, and 7-year-old daughter, Melissa. The child died from her injuries. Bennett Family Murders: three life sentences - Defrosting Cold Cases The first sign of trouble came in the afternoon, when Patricia failed to pick them up. Date: April 9th/10th, 1988 I only do research and leave active investigation of these cases to professionals. The cases are commonly known as the 1984 Colorado Hammer Murders. 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. Mendelian Genetics | Mendelian Theory, Principles & Applications, The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973: Composition & Important Sections, Indian Penal Code, 1860: Amendments, Composition & Provisions, Difference Between Autonomous vs Automate Process With Examples, Indian Evidence Act, 1872: Amendments & Important Sections. He was arrested for the crime but went on to escape from prison transport during a gas station break. 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. We move long-haul and short-haul loads to anywhere in the lower 48 states for commercial and government entities. This was the last time the Bennetts were seen alive. 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. They immediately connected it with the Donna Dixon case from January 9th, and recognized that a serial offender was working the area. On November 7, 2014, police announced they had arrested Charles "Chase" Merritt, Joseph . Patricia still wore her sweater and boots, but her jeans were pulled down. A neatly-folded Winnie the Pooh comforter lay under her, a portion of it obscuring her head. Her body was found in a basement . Caller: Hi, its me again. This guy is not going to be easy to find because he can easily change his MO and would change it if need be. An autopsy found that Debra died from blunt force trauma. No fingerprints or any other usable evidence could be found at the scene. Constance, her grandmother, immediately set up a vigil (which she kept up for days) as the paramedics, nurses and doctors worked feverishly to save the girls life. At around 8:00 PM on January 10th, 1984, her boyfriend Ron Holm arrived home. Headquartered in McDonough, Georgia, Bennett Family of Companies provides innovative logistics and transportation for companies across America. He said the detectives who have worked it over the years, in particular Detective Steve Conner, the departments cold case investigator, never quit on. Investigators noted there was evidence of a struggle at the house. Later autopsies would reveal that the Bennetts had died due to blunt force trauma and that their attacker had likely used a hammer. It was a case that they were not giving up on and were continuing to move forward on, he said. The slain girl's younger sister, Vanessa Bennett, who was 3 at the time, survived the life-threatening injuries she sustained in the vicious beating. Dr. Angela M. Bennett, MD | Cleveland, OH | Family Medicine Doctor | US The Colorado killings followed two other attacks near Denver that either involved or were suspected of involving a hammer. It is deeper than that. Vanessa Benn. Unsolved: The Bennett family murders | wfaa.com In the papers, the most attention is paid to the last state witness, the DNA analyst at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The Attack happened between midnight and 6 a.m. on Jan. 16, 1984. 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. He viciously struck the young child in the head with a hammer. I wouldtear everything down and start over with the evidence, the crime scene and so on. The killer had doused the vehicle with fuel in an apparent attempt to incinerate the crime scene, but apparently failed to start a fire. Would you like to contribute as an editor or a writer on our site? I write about old, unsolved cases from the pre-DNA era. There was no sign of the couple and theyve never been found. 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. The Bennett Family (Latin: Benedictus; English: Benedict; translates as "blessed" or "one who is blessed") is one of the main families in The Vampire Diaries and a matriarchal bloodline of powerful witches. They were Holly Chromey, 49, and her children, Katie Zapzalka, 18, and Jared Zapzalka, 16. On the night of Jan. 15, a stranger broke into their home and viciously assaulted and attacked the family. No immediate leads could be generated in the case. Its bloody, painful for the victim and brutal. They were almost always in good shape/new condition, and lab analysis revealed almost nothing about them except the occasional hair. Family medicine doctors are primary-care physicians trained. "The Crown prosecutor who is prosecuting my case in September seems like a dog with a . It was Monday evening, January 9th, 1984. Who Were Alex Ewing's Victims? Where is He Now? - The Cinemaholic 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 . 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. 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. Arapahoe County District Judge Darren Vahle spoke directly to Ewing before announcing the sentence. Learn how your comment data is processed. Unsolved: The Bennett family murders | king5.com That is what drove him into such an uncontrollable frenzy so fast and that is precisely what stopped the attacks so fast. Whatever the case, this person was in and around this area for at least the first part of January and most likely stayed in the area during that time. Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich on what comes next | National Post Bruce and the intruder fought up and down the stairwell, and at some point Bruce was struck multiple times by a hammer. Patricia missed her husband Oliver, who stayed behind in Nebraska, but she loved being with her daughter and two grandchildren in a bustling city. An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. The last family member left around 9:00 PM. Dont forget to follow Generation Why on FB [X] , Instagram [X] and Twitter [X]. A hammer. Murdaugh's double murder trial jury is sent out to find a verdict This phone call occurred 25 years after the attack. Donna pulled into the driveway, hit the remote to open the garage, and pulled her car in. 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. 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. Bennett Motor Express - Lincoln Park, MI - Bennett Family of Companies Expand the list of suspects because on this case it was always bigger than investigators thought it was and the killer was always the least obvious or least likely to stand out. They lived on the other side of the Denver metro area, but their home and Smiths home were both near a main east-west road, Alameda Avenue, leading investigators to suspect the killer used that route. The police after searching the home believe that the intruder brought his own weapon, a hammer or some other type of blunt object yet, he took a knife from the kitchen which is what he used to slash and cut Bruce with. He took Debras purse and went out the front door, then dumped the contents out onto the snow. If they were used shoelaces, youd expect to find a vast array of particles and wear-and-tear. 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. Not one part of this familys life would indicate such a violent predator was going to kill them. His attacker slit his throat before eventually delivering a final fatal blow with a hammer. The FAIR School, Minneapolis Public Schools and West Metro Education Program. 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. Coincidence is just an illusion that we all tell ourselves myself included, when we are unable to explain how something actually came to be. Full cooperation from Nevada Law Enforcement led to a confirmation of the DNA match. 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. The case got very little press, and unfortunately, it was never solved. 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. Investigators were able to piece together the details of the horrendous ordeal through study of the evidence and the crime scene. He used two methods, and announced a few weeks ago that hed struck out with his first attempt. The crime spree known as the Colorado Hammer murders seemed to begin in Aurora in the early morning hours of January 4th, 1984. 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. She screamed because he would have had to go through an open gate into their yard. John Hickenlooper to request Ewings extradition today but the process could take weeks or months depending on a host of legal factors. Dr. Bennett's office is located at UH Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH. 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. 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. Tamara Lich's trial on multiple charges related to the Freedom Convoy protests is set to start in the fall. All rights reserved. But he isnt going to talk about this crime to just a friend or bar mate. Constance entered the home, encountered the grisly scene, and immediately dialed the authorities. Denver Post Archive Aurora Coroner's officers and police officers remove one of the three bodies from house at. Calls Toyota Celica was found at a river overlook several hours after he and Hailey went on their first date. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. Never profile someone using the box as your guide. A life sentence feels too light, but that is the most the justice system can offer. Jason Bennett described his heartbreak following the deaths of son John and daughter Lacey in Killamarsh. Alex Ewing guilty in 1984 "Hammer Killer" murders of Aurora family The news that the killer had been identified this year left Metz elated, he said. I lost the person who I was supposed to be.. In just two days, Melissa would turn 8 years old. Prosecutors brought their case against Alex Christopher Ewing to a close using a detailed walkthrough of genetic evidence to show that his DNA was found inside the home where three members of an Aurora family were murdered in January 1984. Alexander Ewings list of seemingly endless violent crimes are described throughout the many articles published about him since he has been identified as the man behind the murder of the Bennett family. 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. He may have been in the system at some point but it is difficult to determinewhether it would have been on felony charges or misdemeanor because his crimes may have stopped altogether. She made her way to the bedroom and went to bed. Your email address will not be published. But thanks to modern technology and the incredible talent and dedication of several individuals, it seems this case has finally been solved. This call occurred over a month after her attack. 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. Not only was she left with physical injuries and scars as a reminder of the attack, she was also left with ADHD, PTSD and bipolar disorder. You got the age closer than the fbi and police you described exactly what the guy was feeling when he was killing them. Victim #7received a phone call, and she recognized the voice on the other end as the voice of the rapist. There was no sign of forced entry into the home, some articles you come across say that the killer entered through an unlocked garage door. Patricia Smith had been laid straight, her arms crossed over her chest as if on display in a funeral home. These were quite commonplace, but as folks who havent read my book are learning, there were quite a few instances where he actually spoke with victims, potential victims, or even Law Enforcement. 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. Kevin Vaughan on Twitter: "NEW TONIGHT: #9WantsToKnow has obtained this mugshot of Alex Christopher Ewing, the suspect in two 1984 hammer murders. Ewings DNA profile was entered into CODIS (the FBI's database) this year (2018 as I write this) and the following morning his profile was matched to the DNA found at the crime scenes of both the Bennett family and Patricia Smith. Bruce Alan Bennett was twenty-seven years old. Famous Unsolved Murders of Families - Ranker 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. For an overview of the case, you can review my extensive post from yesterday which covered many of the details. 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. 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 . He tossed it onto the seat of the car and began pulling her from the vehicle. Killing on this level requires some level of planning on the part of the perpetrator. For the first time, Stetson Bennett is publicly addressing his January arrest for public intoxication in Texas. A murder inquiry has been launched, and one man - a 31-year-old from Killamarsh, who was known to the family - is in custody. So I guess Ill be the first to post. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Jury Finds Alex Ewing Guilty On All Counts In 1984 Murder Of Aurora Family Jun 2004 - 201612 years. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. Recently, he was exploring forensic genealogy techniques. The bludgeoned bodies of husband and wife, Bruce and Debra Bennett, were discovered and it soon became evident that both were attacked with a knife and beaten to death. 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. On the night of Jan. 15, 1984, the Bennett family left their garage door open. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Bruce worked at the family-owned furniture store and was also taking classes to become an air traffic controller. Her bra was wrapped around one of her wrists, and her clothing was found on the bank nearby. Its nothing more or less than that. Forensic evidence was hard to retrieve due to the decomposed state of the bodies, but its been reported that the two may have been stabbed to death. Your email address will not be published. The couple's 3-year-old daughter Vanessa was also beaten but survived with permanent injuries. 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. Bruce finally succumbed to his injuries and the family was left vulnerable. They remain married to this day. 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. Later autopsies revealed that the Bennetts had died due to blunt force trauma and that their attacker had likely used a hammer. There was evidence of a struggle in the bedroom. 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. 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. 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. The womens bodies were found inside Thomas vehicle. In 2015, information leaked that there was important clue found at the Bennett scene. She recently gave an interview, which you can view here (link).. He further explained the nature of the coordinated and combined effort that contributed to the identification of this suspect, and the initial ease at which the system has thus far moved. Donna underwent several operations. Alex Ewing Ordered To Serve 3 Life Sentences For 1984 Murder - CBS News 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). Im going to come over and fuck you again. Channel 2 sports director Zach Klein is at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where. Look at the area, the artery that the crimes were committed along. I didnt hear it mentioned in the press conference, but forensic genealogist incidentally identified the correct surname of the alleged killer: Ewing. This information was released in an episode of On the Case with Paula Zahn earlier this year.