Former MLB Pitcher Convicted in Murder Case

Dan Serafini, a former major league baseball pitcher who played from 1996 to 2007, has been found guilty of murdering his father-in-law and attempting to kill his mother-in-law, according to California officials. The announcement was made on Monday.

A judge in Placer County determined that the 51-year-old Serafini committed first-degree robbery alongside first-degree murder and attempted murder of Gary Spool and Wendy Wood.

The tragic incident took place on June 5, 2021, when emergency responders discovered that Spool had died from a gunshot wound and injuries from a tree. Wood, who was initially injured, later died by suicide a year after the event.

Surveillance footage from the scene captured a man clad in a gray hoodie, face covering, and carrying a backpack, nearing the residence just hours before the murder occurred. The same man was also seen walking in the home’s driveway.

Evidence gathered over a two-year investigation pointed at Serafini and his partner, Samantha Scott. Prosecutors highlighted a suspected motive behind the murder tied to a $1.3 million renovation project. Among the evidence was a text message saying, “I’m going to kill them one day.”

Serafini’s sentencing is set for August 18 in Placer County.

He was chosen by the Minnesota Twins in the first round of the 1992 MLB Draft and made his debut with them in 1996. After three seasons with the Twins, he joined the Chicago Cubs in 1999, and over his career, he also played for teams like the San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, and Colorado Rockies.