AUBURN, Calif. — Former MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini was sentenced Friday to life in jail with out the potential for parole within the 2021 taking pictures of his spouse’s dad and mom throughout a housebreaking at their dwelling by Lake Tahoe, authorities mentioned.
Serafini, 51, was convicted in July 2025 of first-degree homicide of his father-in-law, Gary Spohr; tried homicide of his mother-in-law, Wendy Wooden; and first-degree housebreaking. Spohr was killed, and Wooden survived, although she died a yr after the taking pictures.
Placer County District Lawyer Morgan Gire mentioned in an announcement Friday that Spohr and Wooden have been loving grandparents and that Serafini’s crimes vastly impacted relations and pals.
“The impression of this assault has prolonged far past the quick victims, deeply affecting relations and the broader group, and highlighting the lasting hurt attributable to deliberate violence,” Gire mentioned.
Serafini’s lawyer didn’t return requests for remark.
Throughout his sentencing listening to, Serafini addressed the court docket and maintained his innocence, according to MyNews4. He mentioned he was out partying along with his spouse the night time of the taking pictures and described himself as a “damaged, imperfect man that makes errors.”
Serafini was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1992. In a profession spanning 11 years, the left-hander performed for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies.
Prosecutors mentioned Serafini hated his spouse’s rich dad and mom and was heard saying he was keen to pay $20,000 to have them killed, in response to the Sacramento Bee. Prosecutors confirmed jurors transcripts of indignant emails and textual content messages between Serafini and his in-laws.
Throughout the six-week trial, Serafini’s lawyer, David Dratman, argued that there was no bodily proof linking his consumer to the crime scene. Dratman instructed the jury that though Serafini had a rocky relationship along with his in-laws, he didn’t have a motive to kill them.
After his conviction, Serafini filed a number of motions for a brand new trial, however these have been denied.
Serafini will serve his sentence on the California Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in response to the Placer County District Lawyer’s Workplace.
