Look at the area, the artery that the crimes were committed along. Connie's son Bruce, his wife Debra and 7-year-old Melissa were found dead.. One thing that hasnt been said would be that during the winter in Colorado construction slows and sometimes between Jan-March it slows to a crawl, a lot of guys get laid off or work inconsistently during the week. The next thing Donna remembered was waking up naked in the garage. Only the calls or phone events where the caller was believed to be the rapist are included. 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. Murders at this level are not just random. Ewing is arrested and incarcerated. The blow shed felt was the attacker striking her head with a hammer. Other attacks had occurred off of this main road, and its believed that the killer couldve entered the area from that point. John Hickenlooper to request Ewings extradition today but the process could take weeks or months depending on a host of legal factors. The McStay family murders occurred on or near February 4, 2010, after the family disappeared from their home in Fallbrook, California, United States; their bodies were found in the desert near Victorville, California, on November 13, 2013. KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) _ Two men were arrested Friday in the killing of an elderly man and his wife, a crime whose brutality traumatized this small town and went unsolved for more than a year. 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. 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. Most importantly take the need to judge them and all of your own emotions and personal beliefs out of the picture. The couple's 3-year-old daughter Vanessa was also beaten but survived with permanent injuries. She survived. Begins: Fri, 03/03/23 10:00 AM EST. Did you know that one of the most popular places to rob are construction sites? I just read this article and Im completely blown away so much of what you speculated turned out to be spot on. 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. It begins with a woman killed with a hammer in Lakewood and, a week later, a family killed the same way. Shed left the garage door open and most likely left the door unlocked as she went upstairs, removed her wig, and turned the television on. What are Dr. Bennett's areas of care? 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 was determined that she had been killed sometime between the hours of 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Required fields are marked *. Dixon survived. 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. In 2015, information leaked that there was important clue found at the Bennett scene. On the other side of the coin, while all of these calls are believed to be genuine, theres a chance that some of them might be coincidence or pranks. Later autopsies revealed that the Bennetts had died due to blunt force trauma and that their attacker had likely used a hammer. Ronald worked as a pilot. Bruce had been attacked with a knife and hit in the head several times with a hammer or blunt object. 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 . 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. Camper reviewed the timeline that led to the arrest, which included a DNA profile from the Bennett case generated in 2001 and uploaded to CODIS (the national FBI DNA database), a profile developed from the Smith case is 2010 that matched the Bennett profile, and the strides that Nevada has made in testing their current prison population, which directly led to Ewings DNA being uploaded into CODIS. Bruce and Debra Bennett lived with their daughter Melissa and younger daughter, Vanessa. Victims: Daniel Lauer (21) and Annamaria Phelps (18). Killing on this level requires some level of planning on the part of the perpetrator. Here are the Small Town Murder show particulars: Small Town Murder. They immediately connected it with the Donna Dixon case from January 9th, and recognized that a serial offender was working the area. 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. Patricia still wore her sweater and boots, but her jeans were pulled down. Its believed that the EAR bought his shoelaces new from the store or from some other source. Victim #24received a call from a voice that she identified as the EARs. The other kids at school would tease her, telling her the hammer man was going to come and finish her off. The money was never claimed. 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. The suspect list shrinks or worse, the profile was so off an accurate suspect list from the get go is of no help and never will be. It helps bring the other EAR phone escapades into the fold. You see it in the last known crime that the killer committed. The perpetrator left with both weapons. 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! Dont you think the police could have gotten the guy long ago had they given you the evidence they had? Even to this day, she has absolutely no recollection of the next several hours. Alexander was not identified as a suspect until a DNA hit in July 2018 linked him to semen left at the crime scene. There was no sign of Lauer or Phelps. Since they could find no signs of forced entry, police felt that the killer entered through the unlocked door and attacked her. First published on August 17, 2021 / 3:31 PM. So I guess Ill be the first to post. The Bennetts didnt show up for work on Monday. The first sign of trouble came in the afternoon, when Patricia failed to pick them up. De Ligonnes Family. For over thirty years, this killer has remained unidentified. The 1982 call is important, because the offender hadnt killed for over a year, and it was thought that he mightve been incarcerated. 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. Later autopsies would reveal that the Bennetts had died due to blunt force trauma and that their attacker had likely used a hammer. The Bennett Family Murders ~ Aurora, Colorado ~ January 16, 1984 The Bennett family was your average middle class family living the American dream. James Haubenschild suffered a fractured skull, and his wife had a concussion. Other Information In 2002, Arapahoe County filed a John Doe arrest warrant for the perpetrator of the Bennet murders based on the DNA profile. They also looked across state lines looking for similar or like crimes and to date, they have not one suspect. Her head was constantly swimming with thoughts of her parents. By far, easier prey lay in wait just north which would be Colfax Ave and at the time might not have hit the news like the murder of the Bennett family did had the crime occurred in a neighborhood more near Colfax. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and the murder weapon? 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. Years later, strides would start to be made in the crime lab. The couples youngest daughter, 3-year-old Vanessa, was also attacked by the hammer-wielding assailant. Let us have a look at this unforgettable case of the Bennet family murders. View the map. If they were used shoelaces, youd expect to find a vast array of particles and wear-and-tear. 21-year-old Polish national, Julia Faustyna, claims to be Madeleine McCann- the story so far, CCTV Footage from New Jersey Gas Station Shows Woman Escaping Alleged Captor, Two men arrested in connection with the 1975 murder of Indiana teenager Laurel Jean Mitchell. The garage door was still open. 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. File photo Editor's note: At an August 10 press conference, authorities revealed that Nevada inmate Alex Ewing has been named in an arrest warrant for the. The news that the killer had been identified this year left Metz elated, he said. Required fields are marked *. Peter Weir, District Attorney of the 1st Judicial District, oversees the area where the Smith murder occurred. A coworker informed Bruces mother, Constance, about their absence. The jury agreed, and on Aug. 6, 2021, they found Ewing guilty of murder in the three deaths. I look in the mirror every day and look at myself and I hate who I am. The Bennett family. Victims: Richard Keith Call (20) and Cassandra Lee Hailey (18) Currently all 50 states have to collect DNA for certain types of Felony crimes and submit it to CODIS. At the press conference, they informed the public that when authorities in Nevada went back and retroactively began swabbing and entering their inmates DNA into CODIS, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation got a hit and thats whats led to the development in this case. If you were living in La Jolla in the early 80s, you knew the Brodericks. The attacker retrieved a butcher knife from the kitchen and began stabbing Bruce in various places on his upper body, and once Bruce was incapacitated again the offender used the knife to slit his throat from ear to ear. How can you describe what he feels during the crime? Despite the trauma of the attack and losing an incredible amount of blood, the doctors and nurses were able to save her life. "I lost the person who I was supposed to be. Flatbed Trucking Company Bennett Motor Express is the premier open deck general freight carrier in the US. It was a match, proving that the same unknown offender had killed all four victims. 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. He'd been in the Navy, where he worked on high-tech sonar equipment at Pearl Harbor. Dont forget to follow Generation Why on FB [X] , Instagram [X] and Twitter [X]. Bruce Bennett tried to climb the staircase several times in an attempt to ward off the perpetrator and save his young family. They were Holly Chromey, 49, and her children, Katie Zapzalka, 18, and Jared Zapzalka, 16. 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. This killer is indiscriminate in terms of who he kills, attacks or rapes. There was no sign of the couple and theyve never been found. October 21st, 1982 Theyd moved there around Thanksgiving from another place a few miles away, and had so far enjoyed their quiet, developing neighborhood. 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. DENVER- The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. Two young boys were asleep in other rooms in the house. Ewing was convicted of killing 27-year-old Bruce and 26 year-old Debra Bennett, as well as their 7-year-old daughter Melissa, in Aurora. There were very few leads to go on only a hazy physical description from Kim. 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. Family medicine doctors are primary-care physicians trained. Its nothing more or less than that. 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. 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. Forensics determined that the hammers used in each of the attacks were different, and that there didnt appear to be anything terribly useful in the way of fingerprints or other evidence. </p> Sometimes it works, sometimes its sort of right, sometimes not even close. Determine the level of organization/disorganization of each crime scene. SOMERVILLE Sandra G. Bennett, 76, died March 2, 2023. The case got very little press, and unfortunately, it was never solved. Thankfully, this community, these families and everyone impacted by the horrific crimes now knows this defendant will never hurt anyone ever again.". An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. 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. 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.. Just your average everyday normal family. But he isnt going to talk about this crime to just a friend or bar mate. One of the interesting parts of the East Area Rapists MO was that he seemingly made many, many hang-up phone calls to victims, usually in the weeks before an attack, but sometimes afterward as well. This was the last time the Bennetts were seen alive. 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. A hammer was used to kill Patricia Louise Smith, 50, in Lakewood Jan. 10, 1984. Special recognition was given to Detective Steve Conner from the Major Crimes Unit who, incidentally was at the scene of the Bennett crime as a young deputy, and who has worked the case for many, many years. Full cooperation from Nevada Law Enforcement led to a confirmation of the DNA match. The jury found Ewing guilty on. The family got a ride from someone else. Why was she the lone survivor? The husband ran outside but he was gone. 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 . This case impacted not just the victims, but it also terrorized an entire community, he said. The cases are commonly known as the 1984 Colorado Hammer Murders. Bruce finally succumbed to his injuries and the family was left vulnerable. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. The Colorado killings followed two other attacks near Denver that either involved or were suspected of involving a hammer. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Nevada inmate accused of Colorado murders says he'll fight extradition. Your email address will not be published. "This case impacted not just the victims, but it also terrorized an entire community," Kellner said in a statement. "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 killer was never brought to justice. James, a young man not even twenty-five years old yet, had married his wife Kim in August of 1982. The fact that the murders took place between Highline Canal and the Alameda Corridor is curious, in fact, I am drawn to this fact about the case more so than any other fact. Tamara Lich's trial on multiple charges related to the Freedom Convoy protests is set to start in the fall. 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 Bennett family was attacked in their home in Aurora, Colorado in Jan. 16,1984. I lost the person who I was supposed to be.. A hammer lay next to her. She was born August 12, 1946 in Mississippi. 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. ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - It was 1984 when Connie Bennett found her family murdered in their Aurora home. Damien Bendall, 31, is now alleged to have raped and murdered Lacey Bennett . Your email address will not be published. This call is important because not only did it occur during an EAR quiet period, but this attack is connected by DNA. 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. Ron kept vigil and kept guard in her hospital room day and night. Sole survivor of 1984 Aurora hammer attack testifies on opening day of murder trial 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 Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. A photo of the Bennett family. Her head was constantly swimming with thoughts of her parents. Alex Christopher Ewing Arapahoe County District Judge Darren Vahle sentenced Alex Christopher Ewing, 61, for killing the couple and their 7-year-old daughter in 1984. During the winter in Colorado its difficult to find a construction crew working well into the night. Add some text book, some psychological profiling and presto, they have a profile. Juliana Kenney, 75, her husband Clayton Kenney, 83, and Mrs. Kenney's 44- year-old daughter, Adrienne Arnot, were beaten and stabbed to . A neatly-folded Winnie the Pooh comforter lay under her, a portion of it obscuring her head. How do you feel knowing this case was solved? The jury found Ewing guilty on all counts. Its our hope that something can come from this new push that will finally solve it. Bruce and the intruder fought up and down the stairwell, and at some point Bruce was struck multiple times by a hammer. The police found her posed with her arms crossed over her chest, as if she was in a coffin. 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. Her nude body was found over a week later in the Friant-Kern Canal near Woodlake an area located northeast of Visalia and a fair distance away from where shed disappeared. Ewing, 57, has also been charged with murder for the slaying of a Lakewood grandmother a few weeks prior to the Bennett killings, a crime police linked to the Bennett murders in 2010 through DNA.