Sept. 15, 2021. The discovery was made once Nevada prison authorities began collecting convicts' DNA (Ewing was already incarcerated at the time) and uploading it to the CODIS national database of the FBI. Kaden does not live at that residence and it was his first time at the location, the affidavit said. In 2001, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation was able to establish a DNA profile from semen collected from the carpet and comforter in the Bennett sisters bedroom. [82], On March 27, Holmes' lawyers offered a guilty plea in exchange for prosecutors not seeking the death penalty. 1 weather alerts 1 closings . September 29, 2021 [90], On May 26, details of Holmes' notebook, reportedly found in a university mail room addressed to his psychiatrist Lynne Fenton, were entered into evidence at the trial for the first time. [154], The National Association of Theatre Owners distributed checklists from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to its members and said in a July 21 statement that members were "working closely with local law enforcement agencies and reviewing security procedures". Woman stabs man she is staying with in Aurora hotel. [101], The sentencing phase began on July 22. Martinez allegedly told the detectives that he and Kaden started drinking and smoking marijuana. Dan Oates, Aurora's interim police chief, said three men and one woman were killed in the attack just after 2 a.m. Sunday. [citation needed], On January 2, 2013, prosecutors and defense attorneys in the case returned to court in advance of the preliminary hearing, the public's first officially sanctioned look at the evidence, due to the gag order. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Joseph Castorena, 21, went on the run after he allegedly fatally shot four people in an Aurora home on Oct. 30, with his brother and cousin now facing charges of accessory to murder after the fact . Your chance of being a victim of murder in Aurora may be as high as 1 in 33,918 in the north neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 45,558 in the . [57][58] The people murdered were:[59][60], Ghawi had survived the Eaton Centre shooting in Toronto that occurred a month prior. [51][52] Seventy were hit by bullets, and were reported by mainstream news as the most victims of any mass shooting in United States history. [115][116] On July 22, President Obama met with victims and local and state officials and gave a nationally televised speech from Aurora. [159] Their attorneys released the statement "Readily available security procedures, security equipment and security personnel would likely have prevented or deterred the gunman from accomplishing his planned assault on the theater's patrons. Joseph Castorena, a 21-year-old man who police . James Holmes, one of the Colorado Serial Killers. The jury found Ewing guilty on . Now, nearly four decades after the familys slaying part of a spree of attacks by the so-called Hammer Killer duringa 12-day span that spread fear across the Denver region a suspect is finally being brought to trial. [38] The police interviewed more than 200 witnesses of the shooting. Melissa Bennett seemed to enjoy the instrument, and when Connie headed home around 9 p.m. that night, she thought shed visit again and give more lessons if Melissa stayed interested. [91][92] On May 27, Dr. William Reid, a court-appointed psychiatrist, testified that Holmes was mentally ill but legally sane. Booking photos for (from left) Dakota Chinnock, Demajhea Tuggle and Treyvion Simpson. Lone Survivor of Colorado Hammer Killer 1984 Attack Speaks Out - Peoplemag Be the first one to comment on this story. Colo. Man Sentenced for Killing Family in 1984 with Hammer - Peoplemag [35] The officers found several firearms in the theater and inside the shooter's car, including another Glock 22 handgun. [105] On July 30, Holmes' lawyers made a final appeal to the jurors, urging them to consider mental illness in his sentencing despite their rejection of the insanity defense used in the trial. Unfortunately, yes. Holmes faces 166 counts, almost all alleging murder or attempted murder. Animation reportedly edited the Cartoon Network series Beware the Batman to make the firearms look less realistic. He murdered 12 people and injured 70 others. [29] Two federal officials said that Holmes had dyed his hair red and called himself "The Joker", although authorities later declined to confirm this. Published 3:23 PM EDT, Sun October 30, 2022. It began on January 7. [43] The apartment held more than 30 homemade grenades, wired to a control box in the kitchen and filled with at least 30USgal (110L) of gasoline. Dressed in tactical clothing, 24-year-old James Holmes set off tear gas grenades and shot into the audience with multiple firearms. Xin cho cc bn, ti l Aurora Z. Bn c th gi ti l Aura v cho mng n vi knh ca ti ( Speaking Vietnam ) My Fav Fandom: Murder Drone ( My Super Fav . Murders and Violent Crimes in Aurora Explode 2021 Update - Westword 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Aurora, Colorado Nathan Dunlap visits his former place of employment, shoots 5 former co-workers killing 4, and robs the store of $1,500. Cesar J. Ponce, 19 . [3][6] Witnesses said the multiplex's fire alarm system began sounding soon after the attack began, and staff told people in Theater 8 to evacuate. [8] There were about 400 people inside theater 9. Sgt. AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) Update 7:16 p.m. Police said 39-year-old Nicholas Walker, who was wanted on attempted second-degree murder, was arrested without incident. [139], Warner Bros. instructed cinemas to stop screening a trailer for the film Gangster Squad, which preceded The Dark Knight Rises screenings in some cities (though not in Aurora),[140] because it contained a scene involving the main characters shooting at a movie theater audience with machine guns. He survived the Aurora Chuck E. Cheese shooting 25 - The Colorado Sun On Jan. 28, reports were made of gunshots outside Dick's Sporting Goods. Aurora's Other Massacre Victims' 20-Year Wait for Justice She joined the paper in 2019 and previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. independent local journalism in Denver. [41][42] One day after the shooting, officials disarmed an explosive device that was wired to the apartment's front door, allowing a remote-controlled robot to enter and disable other explosives. CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) A former Nevada prison inmate was convicted Friday of first-degree murder in the long-unsolved 1984 hammer and knife slayings of three Colorado family members, including a 7-year-old girl. They concluded there was nothing suspicious and did not attempt to contact anyone in the home. Murder-suicide in upscale home. 9:00AM. He . However, the jurors decided that Holmes did not intend to kill children when he opened fire. THOSE with their eyes to the skies on Sunday night (February 26) may have caught a very rare sighting of the northern lights. To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. Two charges were filed for each victim to expand the opportunities for prosecutors to obtain convictions. [157] Security Director News raised the possibility in a July 23 article that "the massacre could be a Virginia Tech for movie theaters, causing security to become a bigger part of the conversation and more stringent security procedures to be adopted at theaters across the country. Colorado Sun staff & wire report 8:31 PM MDT on Oct 30, 2022. [27] Some people reported the shooting via Twitter or text messaging rather than calling the police; officers were already at the theater by the time that the tweets were sent. She declined to talk to TV news reporters or put Vanessas picture on the news. Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families. Alex Ewing, 60, was charged with first-degree murder in the Bennett family killing in 2018, after his DNA was matched to genetic material collected from the crime scenes at the Bennetts home. Face of the man accused of 1984 Hammer Attack Triple Murder in Aurora & Lakewood Murder. December 11, 2022 / 9:35 AM / CBS Colorado. and help keep the future of Westword, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. The Aurora Hammer Slayer SOLVED! | The Theorem Factory Become a member to support the independent voice of Denver CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) - A judge sentenced Alex Ewing to three life sentences on Tuesday after he was found guilty in the 1984 murders of three people in Aurora. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. By Logan Smith. Jury finds man guilty in 'hammer killer' murders of Aurora - KMGH Ewing was convicted of killing 27-year-old Bruce and 26 year-old Debra Bennett, as well as their 7-year-old . People Magazine Investigates' upcoming episode will air on ID at 9.00 pm ET this Monday and will also be available to stream on Discovery+. Defense counsel sought and was granted a mental competence examination, which led to the first prosecution attempt ending in a mistrial. Two Aurora, Colorado police officers charged after brutally beating 29 [80] Due to suicide attempts made by Holmes, Judge Sylvester agreed to postpone proceedings until December 2012. Uncovered: Unsolved Colorado Murders This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Homicide victims killed this week in Aurora identified by coroner Holmes chose not to testify. She miscarried a week after the attack. Authorities are searching for a suspect in an overnight shooting that left four people dead at a home in Aurora. His DNA also was found in the Lakewood home of Patricia Smith, 50, who was killed six days earlier. [55] Four people's eyes were irritated by the tear gas grenades, while eight others sustained non-gunshot injuries while fleeing the theater. Ewing's violent spree continued 11 days later in Arizona when he attacked Roy Williams with a rock as he lay sleeping in his Kingman home. And you cant bring them back.. [117][118][119][120][121] Many world leaders sent their condolences, including Queen Elizabeth II,[122] French President Franois Hollande,[123] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,[124] Russian President Vladimir Putin,[125] and Pope Benedict XVI.[126]. Melissa was killed and sexually assaulted in the bedroom she shared with her sister. In 2021, Alex Ewing, aka the Hammer Killer, was found guilty of all charges involving the horrific 1984 killings of a couple from Aurora and their 7-year-old daughter. The perpetrator's first trial for Smith's case took place in October 2021. Nearly three years later, Holmes was found guilty of all the 165 counts brought against him, and he was sentenced . Dunlap had recently been fired from Chuck E Cheese. January 16, 1984: Bennett family is attacked in their Aurora, Colorado home with 3 out of the 4 family members murdered by an intruder wielding a hammer. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. AURORA, Colo. Aurora Police were investigating the deadly shooting of a man at an apartment complex Wednesday morning. -- Authorities with the federal prison system revealed overnight that convicted mass murderer James Holmes, serving multiple life sentences for a 2012 massacre at an Aurora, Colorado movie . The aurora was caught on camera by photographer Nigel Wilkins, spectacularly lighting up the sky above Kenilworth Castle. Colorado hammer killer, aka Alex Ewing, was found guilty in the Bennetts' and Patricia Smith's murder cases in 2021 and 2022, respectively. [48] On July 23, police finished collecting evidence from the apartment. 'An unspeakable orgy of violence' Aurora - Sentinel Colorado What Led James Holmes Into The Aurora Theater - Colorado Public Radio At the time, the event had the largest number of victims (82) in one shooting in modern U.S. [109][110] Formal sentencing began on August 24 and was expected to last for three days. In September 2016, Cinemark dropped all claims for reimbursement of legal fees. Two Aurora, Colorado police officers charged after brutally beating 29-year-old Kyle Vinson. Aurora James, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gemma Chan, and Prabal Gurung (L-R) attend The 2021 Met Gala in New York Credit: Kevin Mazure/Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the firebrand left-wing . . history. [102][103] On July 23, the jury ruled that Holmes acted in a cruel manner, was lying in wait, and ambushed his victims during the shooting, which constitute as aggravating factors. The rate of murder in Aurora is 0.02 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. iwondergallery on Instagram: I never did trust that smile, it sucks This made it inadmissible as evidence unless Holmes' mental health became an issue in the case. The notebook elaborated on Holmes' obsession to kill since ten years prior to the shooting, his dissatisfaction with life and finding work, as well as health issues. Fortunately, they survived the attack. [179][180], The Century 16 theater where the shooting occurred was rebranded as the Century Aurora theater by its parent company Cinemark Theatres. Ewing carried out four violent attacks in Denver over the course of a 12-day period in January 1984, three of which occurred in Aurora - assaults on survivors Donna Holm, Jim and Kim Haubenschild, and the Bennetts. But it doesnt seem like that long ago, because its so vivid in my mind.. Director Christopher Nolan's reaction to the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado. Debra was attacked in bed. 1993 Aurora, Colorado shooting - Wikipedia DNA evidence has recently linked the cold case to Alexander . 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The following day, a woman died after an assault in the area of East Colfax Avenue and North Emporia Street around 6 a.m. DNA Links Convict to 1984 Colorado Hammer Murders - American Crime Twelve people were killed and 70 injured. [67][68][69], The Community First Foundation collected more than $5 million for a fund for victims and their families. In May 2016, after years of legal debate, a jury took three hours to deliver a unanimous verdict that the theater chain was not liable to any degree for the tragedy that transpired. [94], On June 9, three jurors were dismissed from the trial due to concerns of their violating orders not to talk about news reports about the case. Triple-homicide suspect accused of killing mother, siblings. They called the Aurora Police Department around 5 p.m. on Dec. 11 and requested a welfare check after they had not heard from their other daughter and granddaughter all day, the document said. Fearing copycat crimes, movie theaters showing the same film across the US increased their security. [31][33][34] Later, the Colorado district attorney who prosecuted Holmes said he never called himself The Joker, and blamed the federal officials for the rumor. At the conclusion, Judge Sylvester decided there was enough relevant, admissible evidence to proceed to a trial. Although Alex Ewing was not initially considered a suspect in the case, a DNA test in July 2018 connected him to semen discovered at the murder site. [168] The judge allowed Cinemark Theatres to submit a bill of costs to the plaintiffs to recover expenses due to the litigation, as Colorado state law allows for prevailing parties. Detectives then asked Martinez about what his grandmother told them that he admitted to killing Estancia, Marisol and Kaden. Some believed he was playing a prank,[15] while others thought he was part of a special effects setup for the film's premiere, or a publicity stunt by the studio or theater management. [63], The injured were treated at Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver Health Medical Center, The Medical Center of Aurora, Parker Adventist Hospital, Rose Medical Center, Swedish Hospital, and University Hospital. Please see update. Alex Ewing is accused of killing 3 members of the Bennett family in Aurora in 1984. . In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue, and in 2020 she was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in local reporting for an investigation into child sexual abuse among Amish and Mennonite communities. Stephen Redfearn, one of the first police officers to arrive on the scene, sent victims to area hospitals in squad cars. Ewing, who fought extradition to Colorado, has pleaded not guilty and is represented by public defenders; their office did not return a request for comment Thursday. Ex-Nevada inmate convicted in 1984 Colorado hammer killings Closing statements were made on July 14, with formal deliberations beginning the following morning. Aurora Crime and Safety | NewsBreak Aurora, CO Thirty-seven-and-a-half years ago, Connie, now 87, said Wednesday. Rare sighting of the aurora lights up Kenilworth Castle Gunman in 2021 Aurora hotel room shooting found guilty of first-degree murder. [76] Colorado State District Court Judge William B. Sylvester, who was the trial judge overseeing the case, placed a gag order on lawyers and law enforcement, sealing the court file and barring the University of Colorado from releasing public records relating to Holmes' year at the school. When he got there an hour later, he told them had obtained a concealed carry permit and showed them a black handgun. As it turns out, Ewing was imprisoned just months after the killings, after he beat a couple nearly to death with an ax handle in Nevada in August 1984 and was sentenced to 40 years in prison for attempted murder. Reports state that according to the 1984 sentencing law, although Alex Ewing was serving up to 40 years in prison after his initial arrest in Nevada that year, he could have been eligible for parole after 20 years. A lifetime ago on a Sunday night, Connie Bennett taught her 7-year-old granddaughter to pick out a melody on a chord organ, an early birthday gift shed nabbed from a thrift store for the girl, whod turn 8 in two days. When officers responded to the call and went by the home in the 1500 block of South Evanston Street, they saw the garage door partially open and lights on in the home, according to the affidavit. 4 killed in shooting at Aurora home; 3 killed in separate Denver incident Alex Ewing is currently behind bars, serving four lifetimes in prison for crimes he committed nearly four decades ago. Gun sales increased in Colorado, and political debates were generated about gun control in the United States.

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