Ex-MLB pitcher convicted of murdering father-in-law in ambush attack

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Dan Serafini, a former pitcher who played seven seasons in the majors, was convicted Monday of murdering his father-in-law in a dispute over $1.3 million US.

Serafini, who ended his MLB career with the Colorado Rockies in 2007, was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Robert Gary Spohr, the attempted murder of Spohr’s wife Wendy Wood and of first-degree burglary, according to ABC News.

Serafini reportedly broke into his in-laws’ Homewood, Calif., house on June 5, 2021, and waited three hours before attacking them with a .22-calibre gun, according to prosecutors.

Spohr, 70, died in the ambush, while Wood survived after being shot twice in the head. Wood, however, died by suicide in 2023 with family members saying lingering trauma from the incident was a contributing factor.

Two children under the age of three also were present in the home at the time of the attack, but were unharmed.

Prosecutors reportedly said the incident stemmed from an argument over a ranch renovation project that the elderly couple invested in.

“I’m gonna kill them one day,” Serafini wrote regarding a portion of the investment in a text message prosecutors revealed.

He also sent messages saying, “I will be coming after you,” and, “Take me to court,” per ABC.

Serafini reportedly had received $90,000 from his in-laws on the day of the attack.

Adrienne Sphor, the couple’s daughter, called it a “heinous and calculated” crime and said her parents had been “incredibly generous” to Serafini and his wife Erin.

“It’s been four years since my mom and dad were shot and it’s been four years of just hell,” Adrienne said Monday. “Today, finally, justice was served.”

“At this point, our focus is on the sentencing and making sure that Dan Serafini never sees outside of a jail ever again.”

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Serafini reportedly is being held without bail until his sentencing date, which is set for Aug. 18.

Serafini’s middling MLB career spanned from 1996-2007, making appearances with six teams including the Rockies, Twins, Cubs, Pirates, Reds and Padres.

He had a career record of 15-16 over 104 games, including 33 starts, with a staggering ERA of 6.04.

Following the 2007 season, Serafini received a 50-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.

During an appearance on reality TV show Bar Rescue featuring a Nevada bar Serafini had opened in 2013, the former pitcher claimed he had lost $14 million through bad investments and a divorce settlement.