Tahoe murder case involving former MLB player will go to trial

THERE AND EXPLAINS WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU, YOUR HONOR. THE WIFE OF DAN SERAFINI INTRODUCED HER HUSBAND TO SAMANTHA SCOTT IN 2017, WHEN SCOTT HIRED HIS WIFE FOR HORSEBACK RIDING LESSONS. NOW, SEVEN YEARS LATER, THE PAIR IS SET TO STAND TRIAL FOR THE SHOOTING OF SERAFINI’S IN-LAWS AT THEIR LAKE TAHOE HOME IN JUNE OF 2021, THE JUDGE MADE A DECISION BASED ON THE EVIDENCE, AND THEY’VE BEEN HELD TO ANSWER, AND WE WILL BE BACK IN COURT ON JUNE 3RD, PLACER COUNTY ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY RICK MILLER PRESENTED EVIDENCE OVER FOUR DAYS IN THE PRELIMINARY HEARING. HE SAYS LINKS THE SUSPECTS TO THE CRIMES, INCLUDING CELL PHONE DATA AND SURVEILLANCE VIDEO OF THE SUSPECTS CARS BEING IN THE SAME NEVADA CITIES AT THE SAME TIME AND BEING LESS THAN A HALF A MILE FROM THE VICTIM’S LAKE LAKE TAHOE HOME AT THE TIME OF THE SHOOTINGS. THE PROSECUTOR ALSO SAYS THIS IS SERAFINI IN THE SECURITY VIDEO FROM THE VICTIM’S HOME. HOURS BEFORE THE SHOOTINGS. THE JUDGE, HOWEVER, SAYS HE WASN’T CONVINCED IT WAS SERAFINI, BUT RULED THE TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE IS ENOUGH TO GO TO TRIAL. DO YOU THINK THAT VIDEO PLAYS A BIG PART OF YOUR EVIDENCE? I DON’T WANT TO COMMENT ON THE EVIDENCE. SERAFINI’S LAWYER TOLD THE JUDGE. SIMPLY PUT, HE IS NOT THE MAN IN THE VIDEO AND SCOTT’S LAWYER SAYS THERE’S NO EVIDENCE THAT SHE WAS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT, AIDER AND ABETTOR OR EVEN A COCONSPIRATOR IN THE MURDER OF 70 YEAR OLD GARY SPOOR AND THE WOUNDING OF 68 YEAR OLD WENDY WOOD. I PREFER TO LITIGATE IN THE COURTROOM. THANK YOU. JUST JUST HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE DECISION TODAY. WE DIDN’T REALLY KNOW WHERE THE JUDGE WAS GOING. WHAT DID YOU THINK NEXT? IT WILL BE UP TO A JURY TO DECIDE IF SERAFINI AND SCOTT COMMITTED THE CRIMES. THE JUDGE CALLED A TRAGIC CASE FOR EVERYONE. INVOLVED IN ROSEVILLE MICHELLE BANDUR KCRA THREE NEWS. SO RIGHT NOW, SERAFINI AND SCOTT WILL BE BACK I

A Placer County judge determined there is enough evidence for Dan Serafini, 50, and Samantha Scott, 33, to stand trial on murder charges.On Thursday, the judge ordered that the pair would remain behind bars until the trial.Serafini and Scott are accused of shooting Serafini's in-laws at their Lake Tahoe home in 2021. Gary Spohr, 70, was killed and his wife, Wendy Wood, 68, was severely injured. She later died by suicide in 2023.During the fourth day of a preliminary hearing, Judge Oakley said that based on all of the circumstantial evidence, there was sufficient evidence to take the defendants to trial."Including but not limiting the defendants together traveled a distance, that they did from Crescent Valley, from Elko to this precise location in Tahoe City and were there during the precise hours the tragic murder and attempted murder occurred, together with all circumstantial evidence and false statements made by Ms. Scott, where she was at certain times, there is sufficient evidence to hold the defendants to answer," he said in his ruling.A big focus of the preliminary hearing was the security video from the victims' home showing a masked man jogging onto the property. Placer County assistant district attorney, Rick Miller said that's Serafini in the video, based on friends and family identifying him.But Serafini's wife, Erin Spohr, insisted in her testimony Wednesday it wasn't him.Serafini's lawyer, David Dratman said, "Simply put, he is not the person in the video."The judge couldn't say one way or another that it was Serafini caught on camera.Today's testimony focused on Scott.Placer County Sheriff's investigator Scott Alford testified about his interview with Scott four months after the shootings in Nov. 2021. It took place at the Sparks, Nevada police station after investigators served a search warrant at her Reno, Nevada apartment.Alford testified Scott had earlier told other detectives she wasn't with Serafini on the day of the murders. "We had new evidence that her phone traveled from Elko to Tahoe City," Alford testified. "We didn't know if she had her phone. That was information we wanted to clarify. "Alford said Scott finally admitted they were together and she gave Serafini a ride.Scott told Alford, "Mr. Serafini asked me to come with him to go to Tahoe City to pick up a package, which she thought meant to be cocaine."Scott's lawyer said there is no evidence she was an active participant, aider and abettor or even a co-conspirator in crimes. An arraignment hearing for both suspects is set for June 3.Read our previous coverage of the preliminary hearings:The hearing began Monday with four witnesses taking the standOn Tuesday a surveillance video was shown and more witness testimony was sharedOn Wednesday, Serafini's wife took the standThis is a developing story. Stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.

A Placer County judge determined there is enough evidence for Dan Serafini, 50, and Samantha Scott, 33, to stand trial on murder charges.

On Thursday, the judge ordered that the pair would remain behind bars until the trial.

Serafini and Scott are accused of shooting Serafini's in-laws at their Lake Tahoe home in 2021. Gary Spohr, 70, was killed and his wife, Wendy Wood, 68, was severely injured. She later died by suicide in 2023.

During the fourth day of a preliminary hearing, Judge Oakley said that based on all of the circumstantial evidence, there was sufficient evidence to take the defendants to trial.

"Including but not limiting the defendants together traveled a distance, that they did from Crescent Valley, from Elko to this precise location in Tahoe City and were there during the precise hours the tragic murder and attempted murder occurred, together with all circumstantial evidence and false statements made by Ms. Scott, where she was at certain times, there is sufficient evidence to hold the defendants to answer," he said in his ruling.

A big focus of the preliminary hearing was the security video from the victims' home showing a masked man jogging onto the property. Placer County assistant district attorney, Rick Miller said that's Serafini in the video, based on friends and family identifying him.

But Serafini's wife, Erin Spohr, insisted in her testimony Wednesday it wasn't him.

Serafini's lawyer, David Dratman said, "Simply put, he is not the person in the video."

The judge couldn't say one way or another that it was Serafini caught on camera.

Today's testimony focused on Scott.

Placer County Sheriff's investigator Scott Alford testified about his interview with Scott four months after the shootings in Nov. 2021. It took place at the Sparks, Nevada police station after investigators served a search warrant at her Reno, Nevada apartment.

Alford testified Scott had earlier told other detectives she wasn't with Serafini on the day of the murders.

"We had new evidence that her phone traveled from Elko to Tahoe City," Alford testified. "We didn't know if she had her phone. That was information we wanted to clarify. "

Alford said Scott finally admitted they were together and she gave Serafini a ride.

Scott told Alford, "Mr. Serafini asked me to come with him to go to Tahoe City to pick up a package, which she thought meant to be cocaine."

Scott's lawyer said there is no evidence she was an active participant, aider and abettor or even a co-conspirator in crimes.

An arraignment hearing for both suspects is set for June 3.

Read our previous coverage of the preliminary hearings:

The hearing began Monday with four witnesses taking the stand
On Tuesday a surveillance video was shown and more witness testimony was shared
On Wednesday, Serafini's wife took the stand

This is a developing story. Stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.

Tahoe murder case involving former MLB player will go to trial

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Read our previous coverage of the preliminary hearings:

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