Former MLB Pitcher, Danny Serafini, Arrested in Connection to 2021 Murder Investigation

 

An ex-Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher found himself in hot water this week in Nevada, capping a two-year investigation into the 2021 murder and attempted murder of his reported in-laws.

Danny Serafini, a former first-round draft pick for the Minnesota Twins, got arrested on Friday in Winnemucca, Nevada. 

This was in connection with the June 2021 murder of 70-year-old Robert Gary Spohr and the attempted murder of 68-year-old Wendy Wood. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office in California broke the news on their Facebook page.

The same day, they arrested Samantha Scott, a 33-year-old suspect, in Las Vegas.

According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Spohr was found shot dead in his North Lake Tahoe home two years and four months ago, while his wife Wood was taken to a nearby hospital for her injuries. Sadly, she passed away a year later.

Police got their hands on some early surveillance footage from the home, which showed a hooded man wearing a face covering and carrying a backpack, approaching the residence several hours before the crime occurred.

Over the past two years, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office detectives and the District Attorney's Office worked tirelessly on the case. Their efforts led them to identify Serafini and Scott as the suspects. Both were known to each other and to the victims.

Now, Serafini and Scott are set to be extradited from Nevada to California.

Sheriff Wayne Woo said, "Today, justice was served. The apprehension of those responsible for the tragic events that unfolded in Homewood, North Lake Tahoe in 2021 stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of our detectives, law enforcement partners, and the persistence of our pursuit of truth."

"My team's commitment to unraveling the most complex of cases prevails, and those who inflict harm upon our community will be held accountable every time," Woo added.

According to Sgt. David Smith of the sheriff's office, Serafini is the son-in-law of both victims. As of now, it's unclear if they have secured attorneys. Scott is listed as a fugitive from another state, and Serafini is being charged as a fugitive from justice. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Serafini spent seven seasons in the MLB, playing for the Twins, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and Colorado Rockies. 

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