Ex-MLB pitcher Dan Serafini convicted of murder in fatal 2021 shooting case

Former MLB player Dan Serafini found guilty of killing his father-in-law and shooting mother-in-law in Tahoe home.

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Dan Serafini was convicted on Monday of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and first-degree burglary in connection with the fatal 2021 shooting of his father-in-law and the attempted killing of his mother-in-law in North Lake Tahoe, California.

The verdict was delivered following a six-week jury trial in Placer County, where prosecutors presented extensive digital, forensic, and testimonial evidence. According to the Placer County District Attorney’s Office, Serafini fatally shot 70-year-old Robert Gary Spohr and seriously injured 68-year-old Wendy Wood after waiting inside their Tahoe City home with a .22 caliber firearm. Investigators alleged that Serafini entered the property while the couple was away, hid for hours, and ambushed them upon their return. Wood survived the attack but died by suicide a year later, with her family citing the trauma of the incident as a contributing factor.

The case was reportedly rooted in a property dispute, and prosecutors introduced text messages from Serafini showing signs of premeditation. One message reportedly read, “I’m going to kill them one day.” During the trial, Serafini’s estranged wife, Erin Spohr, testified that she did not believe her husband committed the crime, despite his past conflicts with her parents.

Samantha Scott, 33, a co-defendant and friend of Erin Spohr, pleaded guilty to an accessory charge earlier this year. Surveillance footage captured a hooded figure near the scene, and prosecutors argued Serafini lay in wait before executing the attack.

Adrienne Spohr, the victims’ daughter, described the crime as “heinous and calculated” and said the family had endured four years of emotional turmoil.

Serafini, 51, played seven seasons in MLB with several teams including the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 18.