There wasnt anything notable stolen from the scene, and the attack had all the hallmarks of a random crime. Blood near the front door sent him into a panic. bolond Fa molekula alex christopher ewing Pompeji Megfelels a lgszomj The cases are commonly known as the 1984 Colorado Hammer Murders. 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. Connie's son Bruce, his wife Debra and 7-year-old Melissa were found dead.. Is it not true that you usually get police closer to a suspect faster than they ever could without using dna? Despite the trauma of the attack and losing an incredible amount of blood, the doctors and nurses were able to save her life. Dont you think the police could have gotten the guy long ago had they given you the evidence they had? There were very few leads to go on only a hazy physical description from Kim. 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. Required fields are marked *. When they arrived home, they found it very odd that Patricias car was still there and that the television appeared to be on in the upstairs bedroom. Juliana Kenney, 75, her husband Clayton Kenney, 83, and Mrs. Kenney's 44- year-old daughter, Adrienne Arnot, were beaten and stabbed to . is finished: Fri, 09/08/23 09:00 PM EDT. The couple's 3-year-old daughter Vanessa was also beaten but survived with permanent injuries. The couple, especially Ron, wanted to show that their love was truly for better or for worse and that it would survive any challenge. They are more likely to begin work before sunup rather than stay much after sundown. Dixon survived. 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. The previous week, on the 10th of January,awoman in her fifties named Patricia Smith had also been murdered in her own home in a townhouse in Green Mountain, Lakewood, which is just a 25 minute drive from the Bennetts home in Aurora. The FAIR School, Minneapolis Public Schools and West Metro Education Program. The family overall lead a very quiet and peaceful life. Its believed that the EAR bought his shoelaces new from the store or from some other source. Tabernacle. Murders at this level are not just random. Begins: Fri, 03/03/23 10:00 AM EST. Bruce and Debra were both probably dead by the time the killer entered Melissas bedroom. An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. This is a harsh, cold fact profilers must learn if they are to more accurately profile. 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. It, and the floor around it, was soaked in blood. 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. Date: September 19th/22nd, 1987 The severity of her injuries cant be understated. According to property records, the couple stayed in the same house after the attack. There was no sign of the couple and theyve never been found. You can also see what seems to be escalation and a frenzy of activity at certain points. DNA evidence ties Ewing to the crime. It begins with a woman killed with a hammer in Lakewood and, a week later, a family killed the same way. He could have found other ways to feed the need. Police are still looking for information on the cases connected to Ewing and are asking the public for help. Between 9 p.m. January 15, 1984 and 10 a.m. January 16, 1984, twenty-seven year old Bruce Bennett, his twenty-six year old wife, Debra and their seven year old daughter Melissa, were brutally murdered inside their home located in the 16300 Block of East Center Drive. Bruce and the intruder fought up and down the stairwell, and at some point Bruce was struck multiple times by a hammer. 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. The house of Safdar Ali, who is allegedly a close aide of Atiq Ahmad, was demolished by the administration. The child died from her injuries. HE had to get knife in addition to the hammer just to ward off Bruce who was trying to protect his family. The Visalia Ransacker, a unique brand of offender who terrorized a very small area of California for a period of over two years, caught my attention a long time ago due to the cases possible association with the East Area Rapist. 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. 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. 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. There are a few very notable ones, particularly because they occurred during quiet periods where the offender wasnt attacking. She too worked at the family-owned furniture store, and was happily helping raise the couples two children, Melissa (seven-years old, about to turn eight) and Vanessa (three years old), with the man that she loved. 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. She was happy to be home for a while, and eagerly awaiting the next day when her boyfriend, Ronald Holm, would be home. It was a beautiful area, with clean, crisp air and the mountains rising up to the west. At approximately 2:00 AM on January 4th, 1984, an intruder came through an unlocked garage door. The force of the impact threw her head into the steering wheel. Im your biggest fan. His attacker slit his throat before eventually delivering a final fatal blow with a hammer. There, lying on the floor next to the couch and just a few feet away from the front door, was the carefully posed body of their grandmother. 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 . It was a match, proving that the same unknown offender had killed all four victims. Patricia had come home from work for lunch, stopping at Wendys on the way. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? On the night of Jan. 15, 1984, the Bennett family left their garage door open. I didnt just lose my parents and my sister, she said. Thank you listeners! Investigators had collected and stored the killer DNA from the crime scene back in 1984 and since they did not know the hammer killers identity at the time issued a warrant for the arrest of John Doe on three counts of murder, attempted murder, felony murder, two counts of sexual assault, and two counts of child sexual assault in the hope that technology in the future could aid in identifying the assailant. ': Ohio Man Sentenced for Murdering Family of 8, Accused Stockton Serial Killer Charged with 4 More Murders, Bringing Total to 7, She Saw Her Family Murdered by a Hammer-Wielding Stranger When She Was 3. 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. 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 youngest girl, Vanessa, only three years old until March, was also struck violently in the face with the hammer. After multiple surgeries,Vanessa was saved, though she went on the live with permanent physiological affects from the assault. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and the murder weapon? 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. He used two methods, and announced a few weeks ago that hed struck out with his first attempt. The scene in the home traumatized the daughter and grandchildren for life. This phone call came just two days after the breaking news that the East Area Rapist crimes had been tied by DNA to the murders in Southern California. A neatly-folded Winnie the Pooh comforter lay under her, a portion of it obscuring her head. The Bennett family. Full cooperation from Nevada Law Enforcement led to a confirmation of the DNA match. Unsolved: The Bennett family murders | king5.com The childs skull was caved in on the right side of her forehead and a metal plate was inserted to reshape the skull, she suffered severe injuries to her head, jaw and neck. But new technology is getting detectives closer and closer to solving the brutal mystery. Murder Most Royal - (her Majesty The Queen Investigates) By Sj Bennett He also inquired about searching various genealogical databases for a hit, but was advised at the time not to pursue that angle due to privacy issues. This killer strikes with such violence that it is difficult to understand, see or know of a possible motive. Ewing has been behind bars in Nevada since the summer of 1984 after he escaped there while being transported to Kingman, Arizona, from St. George, Utah, for a court appearance on attempted murder and burglary charges. A childhood photo of Vanessa Bennett, who survived the hammer attack, and Alex Ewing as seen in a mid-1980s booking photo . Prosecutors said they will ask Gov. The next thing Donna remembered was waking up naked in the garage. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. August 17, 2021 / 3:31 PM I should also note that the data becomes a bit skewed in that month because of the fact that the Snelling murder, being a homicide investigation, resulted in a much more thorough sweep of the area and more prowling incidents were recorded that wouldve otherwise been left unreported. He didnt hate his victims and quite frankly he didnt know any of them personally, he just wanted to kill. Her clothes were tossed everywhere. Broderick was denied parole for a second time just this past January. In 2018, a DNA match linked Alex Ewing to the Jan. 15, 1984, killings of Bruce and Debra Bennett, as well as their daughter Melissa. This call occurred over a month after her attack. 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. 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. Victims: David Knobling (20) and Robin Edwards (14) But thanks to modern technology and the incredible talent and dedication of several individuals, it seems this case has finally been solved. ", She added: "I lost my sanity. Although she had no memory of the attack, what happened that night in 1984 would negatively impact the rest of her life. For the first time, Stetson Bennett is publicly addressing his January arrest for public intoxication in Texas. Thankfully, this community, these families and everyone impacted by the horrific crimes now knows this defendant will never hurt anyone ever again.". Recently, the Sun-Gazette has reported that Joseph DeAngelo, the man arrested for the Visalia Ransacker / Golden State Killer crimes, has been added to the suspect list. He utilized the bindings in another distinct way he almost always forced his penis into his victims bound hands. You see it in the last known crime that the killer committed. Sole survivor of 1984 Aurora hammer attack testifies on opening day of murder trial Kevin Bennett - Senior Program Officer and Racial Equity Lead - GHR I was a drug addict for so many years. How can you describe what he feels during the crime? Most likely it appears quite small in your browser window simply click on it to enlarge it. 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. Thieves like to hit them for the tools the guys leave at the sites overnight. It was later determined to be the murder weapon. The prosecution compared the Bennett family murders to another murder where a woman, Patricia Smith of Lakewood, was also murdered with a hammer earlier that same month. Investigators believed the killers attacks escalated from just beating someone with a hammer to actually murdering them. Bruce Bennett tried to climb the staircase several times in an attempt to ward off the perpetrator and save his young family. Second Crime Scene I dont believe that. Debra Marie Bennett, twenty-six years old, had married Bruce before his Navy deployment in 1976. De Ligonnes Family. 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. Before Donna Dixon was even found, another crime had taken place 26 miles to the west in the city of Lakewood. Some of the ligatures matched across scenes. July 23, 1993. The jury agreed, and on Aug. 6, 2021, they found Ewing guilty of murder in the three deaths. Residents here have lived under a dark cloud since Monday, when police found three residents dead in their home. The Bennett family was attacked either the night of Jan. 15 or the morning of Jan. 16. Alex Ewing guilty in 1984 "Hammer Killer" murders of Aurora family As blood poured out of her body, he lifted her up from the bed, unknowingly leaving an imprint from his shirt on her blood-soaked pajamas. I have seen all kinds of evil and wickedness nothing compares to the level of depravity that your actions show in this case, Vahle told Ewing. The hammer stuck her in the jaw, shattering the bone which splintered in an explosion of small fragments that punctured her windpipe. Ewing is arrested and incarcerated. Ron kept vigil and kept guard in her hospital room day and night. Damien Bendall, 31, is now alleged to have raped and murdered Lacey Bennett . I'm a very strong person, though, but when it comes to my family that was the most important thing to me in the whole world.". Man accused of Killamarsh murders also charged with rape of girl 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. He finds his release from the level of pain he inflicts on the victim, the level of violence he is able to achieve. Not one part of this familys life would indicate such a violent predator was going to kill them. He shouted her name, but she could only groan in response. Look at the area, the artery that the crimes were committed along. The life sentences will be served consecutively. Onsale to General Public. On the night of Jan. 15, a stranger broke into their home and viciously assaulted and attacked the family. 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. Theyd been strangled, their throats had been slashed, and rope marks were found on their necks and wrists. "This case impacted not just the victims, but it also terrorized an entire community," Kellner said in a statement. The killer pummeled and sexually assaulted his 26-year-old wife, Debra, and 7-year-old daughter, Melissa. The family originated from Ancient Greece, then eventually settled in the town of Salem. John Hickenlooper to request Ewings extradition today but the process could take weeks or months depending on a host of legal factors. Colo. Man Sentenced for Killing Family in 1984 with Hammer - Peoplemag In just two days, Melissa would turn 8 years old. 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. 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. A hammer. The previous week, on the 10th of January, a woman in her fifties named Patricia Smith had also been murdered in her own home in a townhouse in Green Mountain, Lakewood, which is just a 25 minutes drive from Bennets home in Aurora. "I didn't just lose my parents and my sister," Vanessa opened up. 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. Flatbed Trucking Company Bennett Motor Express is the premier open deck general freight carrier in the US. This was the end of the first day of what would become a futile week-long dig for the body of Keith Bennett, who was 12 years old in 1964 when he was killed by the Moors murderers, Ian Brady and . Two young boys were asleep in other rooms in the house. This case impacted not just the victims, but it also terrorized an entire community, he said. Killamarsh 'murders': Brother, sister and mum among 4 found dead in McStay family murders - Wikipedia Sandra G. Bennett | Obituaries | decaturdaily.com It would be nearly twenty-four hours total before she was found. 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. 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. The family got a ride from someone else. It was Monday evening, January 9th, 1984. Keep in mind that the offenders last known murder was in 1986, which makes the last few particularly creepy.