Former MLB pitcher arrested in connection with murder, attempted murder

A former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher was arrested Friday after being linked to the 2021 murder and attempted murder of his in-laws.

Danny Serafini was arrested Friday morning in Nevada alongside Samantha Scott in connection to the murder of 70-year-old Robert Gary Spohr and attempted murder of Wendy Wood, the Placer County Sherrif’s Office (PSCO) said in a statement.

The police received a 911 call from a residence in Lake Tahoe, Calif., on June 5, 2021, and arrived on the scene to find Spohr dead from a single gunshot. Wood had also been shot and was taken to a hospital. She passed away a year later, authorities said.

The investigation found video surveillance of a man wearing a face covering walking into the residence several hours before the homicide. Detectives have since found information that led them to identify Serafini and Scott as suspects.

Placer County sheriff’s detectives assisted in Serafini’s arrest in Winnemucca, Nev., and Scott’s arrest in Las Vegas.

“Today, justice was served. The apprehension of those responsible for the tragic events that unfolded in Homewood, North Lake Tahoe in 2021 stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of our detectives, law enforcement partners, and the persistence of our pursuit of truth,” said Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo.

The sheriff’s office is awaiting Serafini and Scott’s extradition from Nevada to Placer County, the statement said.

According to the MLB, Serafini was a pitcher for the Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies.