Former MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini faces shocking charges: authorities allege he orchestrated the murder of his in-laws, Gary Spohr and Wendy Wood, for access to their $23 million fortune—with help from a babysitter and lover.
The accused, aged 51, was convicted of murder, attempted murder, and burglary after a six-week trial in May 2025. Serafini’s sentencing is scheduled for August.
The Fatal Lake Tahoe Incident and Family Fallout
On June 5, 2021, Gary (70) and Wendy (68) Spohr welcomed their daughter Erin and grandchildren for a peaceful boating trip at Lake Tahoe. Later that evening, as Wendy handed Erin a $90,000 check, a masked gunman hidden in their home opened fire.
Gary was killed instantly; Wendy survived with head injuries and lasting brain trauma. She later identified the shooter as her son-in-law, Serafini, with whom she had a volatile financial history.
The family conflict dated back years: the Spohrs financed homes, cars, country-club memberships, and IVF for Serafini and Erin—despite Serafini later calling his wealthy in-laws “pieces of s—.” Wendy had required a postnuptial agreement limiting his access to the trust.
In emails found by police, Serafini invoked threats like “I’m going to kill the motherf—ers one day.” Wendy died by suicide in 2023, heartbroken over Gary’s death and the betrayal.
The Trial: Evidence, Testimony, and Conviction
Serafini and co-defendant Samantha Scott, Erin’s close friend and Serafini’s alleged affair partner, were arrested in October 2023. Scott agreed to testify in exchange for reduced charges, revealing she ferried Serafini to Lake Tahoe that night and witnessed him testing a makeshift silencer.
Prosecutors detailed how Serafini lost $14 million through mismanaged investments and remained financially dependent on his in-laws.
On July 14, 2025, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts. Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire stated, “There can never truly be closure for Gary and Wendy’s family… [but] we hope this verdict provides some semblance of resolve.”
As sentencing approaches, the case stands as a stark example of greed, betrayal, and calculated violence.
Watch this video for the full story: