On Nov 16, 2020 Alexander Christopher Ewing plead not guilty during his arraignment on Monday. That arraignment had been postponed several times due to Covid19.
Ewing is as my readers know, the accused in two cases: the Bennett Family murders and the murder of Patricia Smith. The link between the cases is of course, DNA.
Ewing’s next scheduled court date is feb 3, 2021. That will be to hear pre-trial motions. The trial itself is scheduled for April 19, 2021.
The Cases
The 1984 Bennett Family and Smith cases are part of a string of hammer murders that happened in Aurora, Colorado.
On Jan 10, 1984, the suspect used a hammer to rape-murder Patricia Louise Smith (50) in her Lakewood home. Six days later, the same suspect broke into the home of Bruce and Debra Bennett. He bludgeoned and stabbed Bruce to death and then raped-killed both Debra and their 7-year-old daughter Melissa. The killer also shattered the face of Vanessa (3) who survived.
In Aug 2018, Alexander Christopher Ewing (57) was accused in both cases. 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 killing Bruce, Debra, and Melissa Bennett. He also faces charges for four counts of first-degree murder in the Patricia Louise Smith murder.
On Dec 4, 2018, a Nevada judge ordered Ewing’s extradition to Colorado. He filed an appeal.
On Nov 22, 2019, his appeal was denied by the Nevada Supreme Court. The US Supreme Court did not intervene so he was extradited to Colorado.
On July 28, 2020 18th Judicial District Judge Michelle Amico ruled there is enough evidence to proceed to trial. Ewing is held without bond. His next court date for the Aurora charges in the Bennett Family murders was scheduled for Aug. 27, 2020. That arraignment was postponed.
Ewing was back in court September 1, 2020. Bail was set at 1 mio. He was back in court for the Bennett Family murders in Arapahoe County on Oct 8, 2020. He was also due back in court for the murder of Patricia Smith in Jefferson County on November 6, 2020. Everything was postponed.
Due to Covid-19, a status hearing is scheduled for Dec 10, 2020. Ewing’s next scheduled court date is feb 3, 2021. That will be to hear pre-trial motions. The trial itself is scheduled for April 19, 2021.
If you have any information that can help advance the cases further please contact the Lakewood Police Department Cold Case hotline at (303) 987-7474.