Her body was found in a basement . Detective Steve Conner has investigated this case for many years, taking over from an investigator named Marv Brandt. They were Holly Chromey, 49, and her children, Katie Zapzalka, 18, and Jared Zapzalka, 16. 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. Long Prairie, Minn. Long Prairie is a town of about 3,000 people in central Minnesota's Todd County. It was a match, proving that the same unknown offender had killed all four victims. The 3-year-old sister, Vanessa, was the only survivor. Between 1986 and 1989 though, a crime spree took place that left three pairs of travelers missing and another pair of travelers gone without a trace. She recently gave an interview, which you can view here (, Summary of Press Conference on 1984 Hammer Murders, you can review my extensive post from yesterday, Secret Origin of the Golden State Killer: Visalia Ransacker, High-resolution version of Mr Cruels mask, Tribute to Robert Offerman and Debra Manning, Ligatures Used by the East Area Rapist / Golden State Killer, he almost always forced his penis into his victims bound hands, Audio Comparison of EAR Calls The Results, Phone Calls where the East Area Rapist Spoke, https://www.coldcase-earons.com/phonecalls.php, Visalia Ransacker Incident Chart: Prowlings vs Ransackings over time. He tossed it onto the seat of the car and began pulling her from the vehicle. So I guess Ill be the first to post. 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. The blow was so severe that her jaw was shattered and her skull was fractured in several places. If they were used shoelaces, youd expect to find a vast array of particles and wear-and-tear. 2019 Sentinel Colorado. Order your tickets today to see Small Town Murder in Atlanta, GA. How to Become a Crime Scene Investigator in India? Matthew Nicholas, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, January 20, after being found guilty of 10 counts of sexual assault of a child under 13. For years the case was cold, until in 2018 a DNA profile from semen the killer left at the scene was matched to Ewing. The guy here fit the profile you provided over that of the fbi. Investigators believed the killers attacks escalated from just beating someone with a hammer to actually murdering them. He then tries to strangle her with a telephone . Investigators noted there was evidence of a struggle at the house. Perhaps one of the most famous murders in La Jolla history, the story of Daniel and Linda Broderick's death in 1989 shocked the seaside community and reverberated throughout San Diego. Thought to be the work of a serial killer, the crimes have remained unsolved for thirty years. District Attorney John Kellner filed the murder charges against Ewing when he headed up the Cold Case Unit in the office. After investigating, the police found similarities between the attack at the Bennett home and nearby random attacks that happened days earlier along the Highline Canal and Alameda Avenue corridor. The family had been celebrating Melissas birthday that night. 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They are more likely to begin work before sunup rather than stay much after sundown. 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. 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. 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. Aurora police Chief Nick Metz said the case has haunted the families involved. 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. 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. A hammer. 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. 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 child died from her injuries. He used two methods, and announced a few weeks ago that hed struck out with his first attempt. The childs skull was caved in on the right side of her forehead and a metal plate was inserted to reshape the skull. It was dusted for prints, but none were found. Amazing!!!!!!!! The Military also submits DNA for specific types of crimes committed by its members. It was later determined to be the murder weapon. Arapahoe County District Judge Darren Vahle spoke directly to Ewing before announcing the sentence. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Then in 2010, cold case investigators, who long theorized that the person who killed Patricia Smith in Lakewood was the same person who had committed the crimes in Aurora, compared the DNA from the Patricia Smith murder to the DNA found at the Bennett household. March 14, 2022 5:04pm Updated The Murdaugh family property where a mother and son were found dead lists for $3.9 million. This mans only motive was to inflict as much pain as possible and kill his victims. It was a blitz attack for no reason, said Marvin Brandt, who investigated the case as a homicide detective between 1984 and when he retired from the Aurora Police Department in 2002. The large hammer was recovered, still on the seat of the car where the attacker had left it. He also shattered the face of Bruce Bennetts 3-year-old daughter, Vanessa. 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. The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. This phone call occurred 25 years after the attack. If you are just simply looking at it, you miss the most critical and important clues. Damien Bendall, 31, is now alleged to have raped and murdered Lacey Bennett . My best friend lived around the corner from the Bennetts, and that previous night (or night of) after dinner when she was cleaning the kitchen, she saw a man staring at her through the window. She was also left with a shattered pelvis and fell into in a coma. She was found bludgeoned with a hammer, with about 17 wounds to the head. Although she had no memory of the attack, what happened that night in 1984. 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. Again, info is given only about the phone calls where the offender spoke. Bruce worked at the family-owned furniture store and was also taking classes to become an air traffic controller. Fourth Crime Scene 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. 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. No fingerprints or any other usable evidence could be found at the scene. / CBS Colorado. Bruce was 27 years old and Debra was 26 in 1984. Most likely it appears quite small in your browser window simply click on it to enlarge it. Lauer and Phelps disappeared on Labor Day weekend while on their way to Virginia Beach. 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. An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. The case lacked any apparent motive. This killeris more the type that would self medicate more than likely be a heavy drinker as opposed to taking medication. They pledged to continue to support the families via their victim services organizations. Police examining the scene were able to reconstruct the basic chain of events. This case impacted not just the victims, but it also terrorized an entire community, he said. 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. Powered by WordPress 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. Hed been in the Navy, where he worked on high-tech sonar equipment at Pearl Harbor. Vanessa Benn. His attacker slit his throat before eventually delivering a final fatal blow with a hammer. Murdaugh, 54, is accused of shooting his wife Maggie, 52, and youngest son, Paul, 22, at the kennels of their 1,800-acre hunting estate in Moselle, South Carolina on the night of June 7, 2021. The results (if any) of the tests run on the current evidence is currently unknown. He then found the couples oldest daughter, 7 year old Melissa, who tragically suffered the same terrible fate as her mother. She was quickly and carefully taken to the hospital in an ambulance. 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. He was known as the "Happy Face Killer" because he drew smiley faces on his many letters to the media and authorities. The killer pummeled and sexually assaulted his 26-year-old wife, Debra, and 7-year-old daughter, Melissa. But thanks to modern technology and the incredible talent and dedication of several individuals, it seems this case has finally been solved. The news that the killer had been identified this year left Metz elated, he said. He also appealed to other district attorneys and lawmakers who might be watching (singling out Montana briefly) to change their DNA collection laws and practices and to begin participating in CODIS. Safdar Ali was allegedly involved in selling weapons to gang members of Atiq Ahmed. 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. RELATED: Bennett family murders: Full coverage of suspect's trial. Weve published this page today to show you the details and origin of the ligatures used in the EAR/GSK attacks. He also shattered the face of Bruce Bennetts 3-year-old daughter, Vanessa.