Today, the long-awaited trial against Alexander Christopher Ewing started for the rape-murder of Patricia Louise Smith.
Ewing is represented by Katherine Powers Spengler.
The State left no doubt about it: it will show all the similarities between the Bennett Family Murders and the rape-murder of Patricia Smith.
In Aug 2021, Ewing was found guilty and sentenced to three consecutive life terms in prison for the Bennett Family Murders.
The Defense repeated today what it had said before: critical pieces of evidence in the murders were contaminated and/or compromised over the years, that DNA on certain clothing items do not match Ewing, and apparently there are evidence pieces or DNA samples that have not been further examined.
The 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 (Colorado) home.
Patricia’s murder is connected to the 1984 Bennett Family murders in Aurora, Colorado. Six days after Patricia was raped and murdered, the same suspect murdered the Bennett Family.
In Aug 2018, Alexander Christopher Ewing (then 57) was accused in both cases. On Dec 4, 2018, a Nevada judge ordered Ewing’s extradition to Colorado. He appealed that decision. 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.
All court dates were postponed due to Covid-19. The trial in the Bennett case finally started in the summer of 2021. On Aug 6, 2021 a jury found Alexander Christopher Ewing guilty on all charges.