Former MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini has been found guilty of murdering his father-in-law more than four years ago.
A jury in Placer County, Calif., convicted Serafini on Monday of first-degree murder, attempted murder and burglary stemming from a shooting that took place in the Lake Tahoe community of Homewood in June 2021.
Serafini was found guilty of what police say was the execution-style murder of Robert Spohr, his 70-year-old father-in-law. Serafini also shot Spohr’s wife Wendy Wood twice in the head, but Wood survived. She died a year later.
Serafani and 33-year-old Samatha Scott were arrested in connection with the attack in October 2023. Scott was a nanny to Serafini’s children and described as a close friend to Serafini and the former pitcher’s wife, Erin Spohr.
Scott pleaded guilty in February to being an accessory after the fact and was released from custody. She told authorities that she drove Serafini to Serafini’s father-in-law’s home the day of the murder.
Serafini pitcher for several different MLB teams during his career and also played professionally in China and Japan. He began his career with the Minnesota Twins, who drafted the left-hander in the first round in 1992. Serafini also played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies.
In 104 career appearances (33 starts), Serafini compiled an ERA of 6.04 with 127 strikeouts.
Serafini also pitched for Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
