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You are here: Home / Cold Case News / Bennett Family Murders: three life sentences

Bennett Family Murders: three life sentences

August 18, 2021 By Alice

Photography Simon Folkard 2
Photography Simon Folkard

Yesterday, Aug 17, District Judge Darren Vahle sentenced Alexander Christopher Ewing to three life sentences, one for each member of the Bennett Family.

Ewing was found guilty on Aug 6, 2021 in the 1984 Bennett family Murders in Aurora, Colorado. Ewing didn’t speak during his sentencing hearing.

The life sentences will be served consecutively. As these murders occurred in 1986, Ewing is sentenced under those laws. The mandatory minimum sentence to serve is 20 years. After that, parole is a possibility. The chance that he will actually get parole is extremely small.

Ewing is also the suspect in two other hammer attacks in Aurora that happened in January 1984.

The trial in the rape-murder of Patricia Smith starts October 18, 2021.

Patricia Louise Smith case

Patricia Louise Smith (50) was born on Sept 19, 1933. She was murdered on Jan 10, 1984 by an, at that time, unknown person who raped and killed her inside her Lakewood home. Now we know that Patricia’s murder is connected to the Bennett Family murders in Aurora, Colorado.

In Aug 2018, Alexander Christopher Ewing was accused and charged in both cases. He faces first-degree murder charges in the Patricia Louise Smith case.

On Dec 4, 2018, a Nevada judge ordered Ewing’s extradition to Colorado. Ewing appealed.

On Nov 22, 2019, his appeal was denied by the Nevada Supreme Court. The US Supreme Court did not intervene so Ewing was extradited to Colorado.

On July 28, 2020 18th Judicial District Judge Michelle Amico ruled that there was enough evidence to proceed to trial. Covid-19 postponed all proceedings.

On Aug 6, 2021 a jury found Ewing guilty on all charges in the Bennett Family Murders. The trial for Patricia Smith is scheduled for Oct 18, 2021.

If you have information please contact Lakewood Police at (303) 987-7474.

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Related

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

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Author Notes

I write about old, unsolved cases from the pre-DNA era as they need renewed media attention. I only do research and leave the active investigation of these cases to professionals.

Posts include homicides, missing and unidentified people, wrongful convictions, and forensics as related to these 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 and research. It remains 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
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