Former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini guilty of murdering father-in-law after property dispute

Former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini was found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2021 shooting that claimed the life of his father-in-law and left his mother-in-law injured.

The attack took place in June 2021 in North Lake Tahoe, California. Serafini was found guilty of killing Robert Gary Spohr, 70, who was found dead in a house from a single gunshot. Serafini was also found guilty of shooting Spohr’s wife, Wendy Wood, then 68, twice in the head. She recovered from the injures but took her own life one year later. Her family said the trauma of the attack led to her death.

Prosecutors said the fatal incident involved a dispute over a property renovation project. Jurors were presented with text message evidence of the escalation of the disagreement and premeditation prior to the shooting. One text message by Serafini sent prior to the attack read, “I’m going to kill them one day.”

Serafini, who played seven years in the majors, and 33-year-old Samantha Scott were charged as co-defendants last year. In February, Scott pleaded guilty to an accessory charge and during the trial was introduced as a close friend of one of the Spohrs’ daughters, Erin. Erin was married to Serafini and testified that they had an open marriage and was aware Scott was romantically involved with her husband. Erin Spohr testified that she did not believe Serafini murdered her father or shot her mother.

Video surveillance from the home and surrounding area showed a man wearing a hood, face covering and a backpack walking to the Spohrs’ home before the homicide. Evidence presented at the trial alleged Serafini waited for three hours in the house before attacking the couple.

Spohr and Wood’s daughter, Adrienne, said Serafini was guilty of a “heinous and calculated” crime.

“It’s been four years since my mom and dad were shot and it’s been four years of just hell,” Adrienne Spohr said after the guilty verdict. “Today, finally, justice was served.”

Serafini is scheduled to be sentenced on 18 August.

The Minnesota Twins selected Serafini, a native of the San Francisco area, with the No 26 overall pick in the 1992 MLB draft. He made his debut in 1996 and went on to appear in 104 games with the Twins, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies before his retirement in 2007.

Serafini made more than $10m during his baseball career but lost much of it due to a divorce settlement and failed investments.