Former New Britain, Bridgeport Pitcher Convicted Of Killing Father-In-Law

AUBURN, CA — A former Major League Baseball player who spent three different stints pitching for Connecticut-based teams during a 22-year pro career was convicted Monday of killing his wealthy father-in-law and gravely wounding his mother-in-law just over four years ago.

Following a 6-week trial, a Placer County jury convicted Dan Serafini, 51, on charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder in connection with the June 5, 2021 shootings of his in-laws, Gary Spohr and Wendy Wood, according to the office of Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire.

"The jury also found the defendant guilty of first-degree burglary and found the special circumstance allegations of lying-in-wait and felony murder, as well as related firearm allegations, to be true," according to the D.A.

Testimony and evidence presented in court indicates Serafini waited outside the Spohr's Lake Tahoe home until they returned from a boating outing. They were both shot in the head execution-style, according to the D.A.

Spohr, 70, died at the scene, while his wife, 68, survived the shooting. Her family said she committed suicide two years later.

Serafini was charged with the crimes on Oct. 20, 2023. His sentencing, at which he could face a possible term of life in prison without parole, is scheduled for Aug. 18.

A first-round selection by the Minnesota Twins in the 1992 MLB draft (the same draft class which included future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter), Serafini began working his way through the minor leagues, landing in the Double-A Eastern League with the Hardware City Rock Cats in 1995.

Based in New Britain, Serafini started 27 games that season, posting a 12-9 record with a 3.38 earned-run average. He spent most of the following season at the Triple-A level, and made his big league debut on June 25, 1996.

After winning a career-high seven games for the Twins in 1998, Serafini began bouncing around, pitching for the San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies. His final MLB appearance was on Aug. 1, 2007.

He had considerable experience pitching overseas, including in China and Venezuela. He spent nine seasons in Mexico and three in Japan, where his manager was Connecticut sports legend Bobby Valentine.

In 2010, Serafini signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He compiled a 4-1 record and 3.42 ERA in 11 games, including seven starts, before returning to Mexico.

Two years later, he inked another contract with the Bluefish at age 38, registering a 5-3 record and 4.02 ERA in 17 appearances, including 13 starts. He retired following the 2013 campaign in Mexico.

Following his playing days, Serafini opened a baseball academy in Sparks, Nevada. He and his wife also owned The Oak Tavern, a bar in Sparks formerly known as The Bullpen Bar. Their efforts to revitalize the establishment were featured on an episode of Bar Rescue that aired on June 28, 2015.