In a shocking turn of events, former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini has been found guilty of first-degree murder in connection with a tragic shooting that resulted in the death of his father-in-law and left his mother-in-law injured. The incident occurred on June 5, 2021, in North Lake Tahoe, California, where 70-year-old Robert Gary Spohr was discovered dead from a single gunshot wound in his home. His wife, 68-year-old Wendy Wood, was also shot during the attack; although she survived her injuries, she tragically died by suicide a year later, with the family attributing her death to the emotional trauma stemming from the incident.
The deadly shooting was reportedly linked to a contentious $1.3 million ranch renovation project. Prosecutors presented compelling evidence during the trial, including text messages that illustrated the escalating conflict between Serafini and the Spohr family. One alarming text message sent prior to the attack ominously stated, "I'm going to kill them one day," indicating clear premeditation.
Dan Serafini, 51, was charged alongside 33-year-old Samantha Scott, who was also implicated as a co-defendant. In February, Scott pleaded guilty to charges of being an accessory to the crime. During the trial, it was revealed that she was a close friend of Erin Spohr, one of the daughters of the victims. Erin testified that she had an open marriage with Serafini and acknowledged that Scott was romantically involved with her husband. Despite the circumstances, Erin Spohr expressed her belief that Serafini did not murder her father or shoot her mother.
Surveillance footage captured the presence of a man wearing a hood, face covering, and a backpack approaching the Spohr residence shortly before the homicide. Further evidence presented during the trial suggested that Serafini was inside the home for nearly three hours before the shooting occurred. A thorough two-year investigation ultimately led law enforcement to identify Serafini and Scott as suspects in the case.
Dan Serafini is scheduled for sentencing on August 18 in Placer County, California. Before his legal troubles, he had a notable career in Major League Baseball. The Minnesota Twins selected Serafini as the No. 26 overall pick in the 1992 MLB draft. He made his professional debut in 1996 and played a total of 104 games (33 starts) for several teams, including the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, and Colorado Rockies, before retiring in 2007. Over his MLB career, Serafini recorded a 15-16 win-loss record, a 6.04 ERA, and one save, totaling 263⅔ innings pitched with 127 strikeouts.
