Daniel Serafini: daniel serafini sentenced to life in prison without parole for murder of father-in-law

Content warning: this story contains references to suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide and needs support now, call or text 988. Former MLB pitcher daniel serafini was sentenced to life in prison without parole after a conviction for killing his father-in-law and shooting his mother-in-law.

Sentence and verdict

Serafini was found guilty of first-degree murder and attempted murder last July and has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. He was arrested after an investigation that lasted for more than two years.

Crime details and sequence

Prosecutors said the crimes date to 2021, when Serafini ambushed and shot Robert Spohr and Wendy Wood at their home near Lake Tahoe. On the day of the murder, prosecutors alleged Serafini snuck into their home wearing a black hoodie and white mask, carrying a hidden. 22 caliber gun, and waited while they were by the lake with Erin Spohr and their two grandsons. After the ambush, Spohr died from a single shot to the head. Wood survived the shooting and needed extensive rehab in the aftermath; she died by suicide a year later.

Family reaction at courthouse

Outside the Historic Auburn Courthouse following Serafini's sentencing Friday afternoon, Adrienne Spohr, Serafini's sister-in-law, welcomed the life sentence. "Dan Serafini executed my dad and left my mom to die, " Adrienne Spohr told reporters. "My mom fought with everything she could and did not let Dan Serafini win. Dan Serafini is finally being held accountable and will spend the rest of his life behind bars. "

Trial testimony and appeals

During his trial, prosecutors alleged Serafini hated his in-laws and told friends he would offer $20, 000 to whomever killed them before deciding to do it himself. Samantha Scott, a family friend with whom Serafini was having an affair, testified against him as part of a deal in which she pleaded guilty to being an accessory. Serafini had a request for a new trial rejected last month.

Sentencing hearing and defendant's statement

At his sentencing hearing, Serafini continued to insist on his innocence. "There was no DNA, no photos, no video, to link me to this crime, but because you don't like me, you found me guilty. This trial was a popularity contest, " Serafini said before offering "condolences to the victims of this heinous crime. "

Career and financial background

Serafini was a first-round draft pick for the Minnesota Twins and appeared in 102 MLB games from 1996-2007 for six different teams, finishing his major-league career with a 6. 04 ERA. He also played in leagues in Japan, Mexico and China, and represented Team Italy in the 2009 and 2013 World Baseball Classic. In retirement, he was said to have lost a $14 million personal fortune through "a series of bad investments and a bitter divorce settlement" during a 2015 segment of the show "Bar Rescue. "

The sequence of events, the trial testimony, the unsuccessful motion for a new trial last month, the protests of innocence at sentencing, and the family statements outside the Historic Auburn Courthouse Friday afternoon are all part of the record in this case.