Ex-MLB Pitcher Dan Serafini Found Guilty of Murder, Burglary

• Jul 15, 2025

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Dan Serafini has been found guilty of murdering his father-in-law and attempting to kill his mother-in-law during a 2021 attack in California.

Serafini, 51, was convicted by a Placer County jury of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and first-degree burglary. The verdict was announced on Monday following a lengthy investigation into the June 5, 2021, shooting at a home in Tahoe City.

According to officials, Gary Spohr, Serafini’s father-in-law, was killed by a single gunshot wound, while his wife, Wendy Wood, was injured in the attack. Wood survived the shooting but tragically died by suicide one year later.

Surveillance footage from the crime scene played a crucial role in the case. Video captured a man wearing a gray hoodie, face covering, and backpack approaching the house several hours before the fatal shooting. A second video also showed the same individual walking up the home’s driveway.

Investigators spent two years gathering evidence, which ultimately led to the arrest and conviction of Serafini and his romantic partner, Samantha Scott. Authorities believe the motive behind the crime was connected to a $1.3 million home renovation dispute. One of the key pieces of evidence presented during the trial was a chilling text message sent by Serafini that read, “I am going to kill them one day.”

Serafini is scheduled to be sentenced on August 18 in Placer County.

Dan Serafini was once a promising athlete in Major League Baseball. Drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Twins in 1992, he made his MLB debut in 1996 and pitched three seasons for the team. His career later included stints with the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, and Colorado Rockies, before ending his professional career in 2007.

The case has drawn national attention, not only because of the violent nature of the crime, but also due to Serafini’s past as a professional athlete. His conviction marks a dark and tragic turn from a once-promising baseball career to a life marked by violence and loss.