• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home Page
  • About this website and the writer
  • Testimonials
  • Archives
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Contact Page

Defrosting Cold Cases

Unsolved cases that need your attention

  • Cold Case Database
    • Index
      • Cases Index A-G
      • Cases Index H-N
      • Cases Index O-Z
    • Summaries
      • Case Summaries A-G
      • Case Summaries H-N
      • Case Summaries O-Z
  • Two Research Methods
  • Search Tips
  • Case of the Month
  • Guest Writers
  • Book Reviews
You are here: Home / Unsolved / Bennett Family Murders: Jury Impasse

Bennett Family Murders: Jury Impasse

August 6, 2021 By Alice

Photography Simon Folkard 2
Photography Simon Folkard

UPDATE: the jury found Alexander Christopher Ewing guilty on all six counts ( three counts of first-degree murder after deliberation and three counts of first-degree felony murder) on Friday August 6, 2021.

Ewing faces life imprisonment however, he will be sentenced under the law as it was at the time of the crime. In 1984, he would be eligible for parole after serving 20 years. Sentencing is scheduled for August 17 at 130PM.

**

The jury started deliberations Thursday afternoon but has already indicated to struggle. “The judge, in turn, said it was “too early” to declare a mistrial and sent jurors home for the night They’re set to return to continue deliberations on at 8:30 a.m. on Friday.”

As I noted in the previous post, some evidence from the Bennett Family Murders was never tested. Some evidence was so deteriorated it could not be tested. But there are several things that can be discussed.

“On one side, the jurors heard there is “no innocent explanation” for the presence of Ewing’s DNA on the carpeting where Melissa was raped and killed. On the other, jurors heard that “it’s just not that simple” that Ewing, and Ewing alone, committed the crimes.”

As far as I can tell, the DNA extracted from the semen is not a mixed profile so only one person contributed. That said, it is indeed possible that others also attacked the Bennett Family however, no accomplices were ever identified. Furthermore, there are many the similarities in several rape-hammer murders for which Ewing was convicted or will be tried for in October 2021.

The defense did not call a slate of experts of their own to contest expert testimony from state witnesses. Ewing did not take the stand.

The Case

Alexander Christopher Ewing is accused of using a hammer to kill Bruce, Debra, Melissa Bennett, and Patricia Smith. He faces charges for six counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of sexual assault on a child, burglary and five counts of committing a violent crime for the January 1984 killings of Bruce and Debra Bennett and their daughter Melissa. Ewing also faces charges for four counts of first-degree murder in the Patricia Louise Smith killing. These murders are known as the 1984 Colorado Hammer Murders.

Thank you for sharing!

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor

Related

Filed Under: Cold Case News, Unsolved Tagged With: Alexander Christopher Ewing, Bennett Family, Colorado, DNA, Patricia Louise Smith

Primary Sidebar

Dina Fort

Top Posts & Pages

  • Justice for Antonella Mattina
  • Cold Case Database
  • Update Teekah Lewis
  • Case of the Month: Teresa Sue Hilt
  • Coe Caroline Paisley (1965 - 1994)

Categories

  • Book Reviews (182)
  • Case of the Month (130)
  • Cold Case News (227)
  • Forensics (287)
  • Guest Bloggers (57)
  • Miscarriages of Justice (131)
  • Missing Persons (127)
  • Unidentified (32)
  • Unsolved (524)
  • Zeigler (65)

Author Notes

Since 2009, I write about unsolved cases that need renewed media attention. I only do research and leave active investigations to the authorities.

My posts cover homicides, missing and unidentified people, wrongful convictions, and forensics as related to unsolved cases.

On book reviews: I only review select works of true crime, crime fiction, and historical fiction/mysteries. The stories have to fit my website's theme, tone, and research. It is my prerogative to not review a book. Please check the FAQ page for more.

My databases are free to the public. Cases are sorted by the victim’s last name.

If you have any questions about my website please check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, the About page, and the tabs in both menu bars. If you cannot find the answers there, please contact me.

Thank you,

Alice de Sturler
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Subscribe to DCC by email

Enter your email address to get new posts notifications in your inbox

Copyright

If you use my work, please add a link back. Let your readers know where you found your information. I do the same for you. Thank you!

Protected by Copyscape

Copyright © 2025 ·News Pro · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress