Dan Serafini, former MLB pitcher , convicted of murdering father-in-law in $1.3 million feud

Former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini was convicted Monday of first-degree murder of his father-in-law and attempted murder of his mother-in-law over a financial dispute.

Serafini, a 51-year-old who spent seven seasons in the majors from 1996-2007, was found guilty in the 2021 shooting of 70-year-old Robert Gary Spohr, and in the attempted murder of Spohr’s wife, Wendy Wood, ABC News reported. Serafini also has been convicted of first-degree burglary.

The former starter/reliever reportedly entered his in-laws’ house in Homewood, Calif. on June 5, 2021 three hours before an eventual 911 call, and waited with a .22 caliber gun for three hours before attacking the couple, prosecutors said, per ABC.

Two children, aged 3 and eight months, were also in the house at the time of the attack.

While Wood survived the attack, she committed suicide in 2023 and her family said the trauma from that night led to her death, per the report.

Prosecutors reportedly said this fatal incident stemmed from a $1.3 million spat regarding a ranch renovation project, with the elderly couple making that investment, according to abc10.com.

Serafini wrote, “I’m gonna kill them one day,” in a text message prosecutors revealed regarding $21,000, per abc10.com.

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

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

Adrienne Sphor, daughter of Robert and Wendy, called it a “heinous and calculated” crime, and added that 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” Spohr said Monday. “Today, finally, justice was served.”

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

The case included a second defendant in 33-year-old Samantha Scott, who pleaded guilty to an accessory charge in February 2025, per ABC10.com.

Scott is described as a close friend of Serafini’s wife and his lover, per abc10.com, and Nevada police arrested the pair in separate cities in October 2023.

“Today, justice was served. The apprehension of those responsible for the tragic events that unfolded in Homewood, North Lake Tahoe in 2021 stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of our detectives, law enforcement partners, and the persistence of our pursuit of truth,” Placer County (Calif.) sheriff Wayne Woo said in a statement posted to Facebook on Oct. 20, 2023.

“Understand that my team’s commitment to unraveling the most complex of cases prevails, and those who inflict harm upon our community will be held accountable every time.”

Serafini is reportedly being held without bail until his Aug. 18 sentencing.

He went 15-16 with a 6.04 ERA in his career that spanned six different teams after being selected by the Twins in the 26th round of the 1992 Draft.

Serafini spent three years with the Twins from 1996-98 before spending time with the Cubs, Pirates and Padres during the 1999-2000 seasons.

He returned for 10 games with the 2003 Reds before taking another three-season break and finishing his career by appearing in three games and posting a 54.00 ERA with the 2007 Rockies.

Serafini received a 50-game suspension from performance enhancing drugs that offseason.

He said on a “Bar Rescue” episode showcasing the Nevada bar he opened in 2013 that he had lost $14 million through bad investments and a divorce settlement, according to jnylaw.com.