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. Theyd been strangled, their throats had been slashed, and rope marks were found on their necks and wrists. Sometimes it works, sometimes its sort of right, sometimes not even close. Jun 2004 - 201612 years. Police later linked the murder of the Bennett family with another rape and murder that happened just less than a week before. His attacker slit his throat before eventually delivering a final fatal blow with a hammer. How did you know? She slumped over onto the passenger seat. Alexander Christopher Ewing is already behind bars, serving 40 years for two counts of attempted murder in the state of Nevada. If you are just simply looking at it, you miss the most critical and important clues. Other Information RELATED: Bennett family murders: Full coverage of suspect's trial. Sometime between 1990 and 1992 The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head- and the murder weapon? For an overview of the case, you can review my extensive post from yesterday which covered many of the details. 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. 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. Why did they have to get murdered? ': 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. Become a Patreon Supporter for bonus content! The last family member left around 9:00 PM. 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. 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. We move long-haul and short-haul loads to anywhere in the lower 48 states for commercial and government entities. Dotted with impressive bridges and blanketed by thick trees, it usually provides year-round beauty and convenience for travelers. She had no idea how she got there and she didnt feel any pain. Umesh Pal murder case: Bulldozer action against Atiq Ahmad's close aides continues in Uttar Pradesh. 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. Its quite possible that she wasnt even conscious for any of it. Later autopsies would reveal that the Bennetts had died due to blunt force trauma and that their attacker had likely used a hammer. DENVER- The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. He didnt hate his victims and quite frankly he didnt know any of them personally, he just wanted to kill. 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. 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. Tabernacle. 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. Vanessa was saved, though she went on the live with permanent physiological affects from the assault. The hammer struck her in the jaw, shattering the bone which splintered in an explosion of small fragments that punctured her windpipe. Date: September 5th, 1989 She was also left with a shattered pelvis and fell into a coma. There were very few leads to go on only a hazy physical description from Kim. 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. 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. The jury found Ewing guilty on Aug. 6 of killing three members of the Bennett family with a hammer. All three were beaten to death with a claw hammer. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. The Aurora Hammer Slayer SOLVED! | The Theorem Factory The family got a ride from someone else. Wedged between the bed and the wall was three-year-old Vanessa, choking of fragments of her own jaw bone and barely clinging to life. No services are scheduled at this time. Man accused of Killamarsh murders also charged with rape of girl Sandra G. Bennett | Obituaries | decaturdaily.com He could have found other ways to feed the need. Jury finds man guilty in 'hammer killer' murders of Aurora family 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. Although she had no memory of the attack, what happened that night in 1984 would negatively impact the rest of her life. Required fields are marked *. I dont I think they are just waiting on a dna match thats all they ever do. Just your average everyday normal family. He attacked the couple with a hammer, bludgeoning them with it and leaving them for dead. 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. Fourth Crime Scene Channel 2 sports director Zach Klein is at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where. The news that the killer had been identified this year left Metz elated, he said. 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. James and Kim divorced divorced in the fall of 1987. Unsolved: The Bennett family murders | wqad.com 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. The father, Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes, immediately became the prime suspect, as he abruptly disappeared after the . In 2015, information leaked that there was important clue found at the Bennett scene. This murder, which has sat on the cold case shelves for far too long, is in desperate need of this new media attention and the new investigative resources. 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. 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. The investigators and the CBI were safe to guess that it might have been a construction worker that had been working in the area. In just two days,. Camper explained that the CBI does a nightly check of all of their profiles against the CODIS system, and at that point, in early July, there was a match. 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. McStay family murders - Wikipedia Two different crime labs analyzed the fuzzy imprint, and they came up with different results. The child died from her injuries. 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. George Brauchler, District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District (which includes Aurora), emphasized that this individual is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law. Miraculously, both of them survived the assault, though James suffered from a fractured skull and his wife suffered a concussion. Your email address will not be published. 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. ~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 faced six counts of first-degree murder. For years the authorities and true crime sleuths never gave up trying to identify the sick individual responsible for the murders and assaults that happened that year. They immediately knew something was wrong. The court heard how . As an adult, she developed a drug habit and became an addict. Lauer and Phelps disappeared on Labor Day weekend while on their way to Virginia Beach. A handful spoke in court, including the surviving daughter. Before exiting the vehicle, she turned to grab her flight attendant uniform, which was hanging in the back. Unsolved: The Bennett family murders | wfaa.com The world turned a painful red and Donna began to lose consciousness. Order your tickets today to see Small Town Murder in Atlanta, GA. 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. A day or two after receiving the DNA results, Law Enforcement met with victims and their family members. Constance Bennett, the mother of murder victim Bruce Bennett, is questioned defense attorney Katherine Powers Spengler during Alex Ewing's murder trial, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in an Arapahoe County Court in Centennial, Colo. Ewing is accused of killing Bruce and Debra Bennett and their 7-year-old daughter Melissa in Aurora in January 1984. The couples youngest daughter, 3-year-old Vanessa, was also attacked by the hammer-wielding assailant. They are more likely to begin work before sunup rather than stay much after sundown. 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. As she got older, unresolved anger issues caused Vanessa to clash with her grandmother who had become her primary caretaker after the death of her parents. 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. 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. Survivor of 1984 Bennett Family hammer murders shares story The caller whispered harshly into the phone, saying You know who this is or Do you know who this is? The victim was on the line with him for about a minute. October 21st, 1982 Inside the 1,700-acre Murdaugh family murder farm now on sale for $3.9M 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. Im your biggest fan. Youre going to suck my cock again.. 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. 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. Let us have a look at this unforgettable case of the Bennet family murders. The blow was so severe that her jaw was shattered and her skull was fractured in several places. 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. Thought to be the work of a serial killer, the crimes have remained unsolved for thirty years. The crimes appeared to be sexually motivated, judging by the assaults that occurred on Debra and Melissa. WordPress. 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. Alexander was not identified as a suspect until a DNA hit in July 2018 linked him to semen left at the crime scene. 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. 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 following tests were performed on the EAR calls: Long story short inconclusive. 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. It, and the floor around it, was soaked in blood. Her purse was found nearby some money had been stolen from it. for sure the les should listen to what you say and take another look this is a refreshing take on profiles. She said in an interview that she has big plans for the future, and reminds us that "its never too late to achieve big things. 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. The family had been celebrating Melissas birthday that night. The Investigation kept ongoing. The jury found Ewing guilty on. ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - It was 1984 when Connie Bennett found her family murdered in their Aurora home. 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. James Haubenschild suffered a fractured skull, and his wife had a concussion. District Attorney John Kellner said the murders had shocked the community, adding that he was glad to see justice for the victims after 37 long years. 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. This killer is indiscriminate in terms of who he kills, attacks or rapes. Weve published this page today to show you the details and origin of the ligatures used in the EAR/GSK attacks. 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. Dixon survived. 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. 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. 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. Jason Bennett described his heartbreak following the deaths of son John and daughter Lacey in Killamarsh. From 1987 to 1991, a serial offender known as Mr Cruel abducted children around Melbourne, Australia. They lived on the other side of the Denver metro area, but their home and Smith's home were both near a main east-west road, Alameda Avenue, leading investigators to suspect the killer used that route. The jury found Ewing guilty on. She was happy to be home for a while, and eagerly awaiting the next day when her boyfriend, Ronald Holm, would be home. Alex Ewing Ordered To Serve 3 Life Sentences For 1984 Murder - CBS News An autopsy found that Debra died from blunt force trauma. JonBenet Ramsey (Homicide) | City of Boulder She was found bludgeoned with a hammer, with about 17 wounds to the head. A man accused of murdering a mother and three children has also been charged with raping one of the victims, who was 11. Now we know that Patricia's murder is connected to the Bennett Family murders in Aurora, Colorado. You can also see what seems to be escalation and a frenzy of activity at certain points. 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. In 2002, Arapahoe County filed a John Doe arrest warrant for the perpetrator of the Bennet murders based on the DNA profile. Ewing, then 23, was arrested again two days later about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away by park rangers at Lake Mead. It was taken in Arizona 11 days after the attack. 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 . No immediate leads could be generated in the case. The next thing Donna remembered was waking up naked in the garage. Did you know that one of the most popular places to rob are construction sites? Keep in mind that the offenders last known murder was in 1986, which makes the last few particularly creepy. Nothing else appeared to be missing. No fingerprints or any other usable evidence could be found at the scene. Headquartered in McDonough, Georgia, Bennett Family of Companies provides innovative logistics and transportation for companies across America. 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. 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 also looked across state lines looking for similar or like crimes and to date, they have not one suspect. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Seemingly, nothing they did showed investigators any reason someone would want to kill them. July 23, 1993. Murder Most Royal - (her Majesty The Queen Investigates) By Sj Bennett 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. The mandatory minimum sentence for each count is life with possibility of parole after 20 years, according to the prosecution. 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.
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