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You are here: Home / Cold Case News / Patricia Smith Trial Day 1

Patricia Smith Trial Day 1

October 19, 2021 By Alice

Patricia Smith
Patricia Louise Smith

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.

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Related

Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: 1984 Colorado Hammer Murders, 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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