Former Minnesota Twins pitcher Danny Serafini arrested for alleged murder

Former Minnesota Twins pitcher Danny Serafini has reportedly been arrested in Nevada for an alleged murder and an alleged attempted murder.

That murder occurred in June of 2021 in Lake Tahoe, California. The victims were, reportedly, Danny Serafini’s in-laws, Robert Spohr and Wendy Wood. Spohr died while Wood survived the attack that Serafini was arrested for.

Along with Danny Serafini, an accomplice named Samantha Scott was also charged. However, the police did not share any details on the nature of their relationship.

Police responded to a shooting at a house in Lake Taho in June of 2021. Spohr was dead from the shooting while Wood was taken to the hospital for treatment. She survived the shooting but died a year later from suicide that has been attributed to distress from the attack and was never able to see an arrest for her attempted murder.

Surveillance footage showed a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a mask outside the home, apparently waiting for the victims to return home. This implies a level of planning in the murder and attempted murder.

No motive for the attack was given by the police at the time of the arrest. On top of that, neither Danny Serafini nor Samantha Scott have been formally charged as of now. However, those are expected to be coming shortly for the former MLB pitcher.

Danny Serafini is best known for his time with the Minnesota Twins, who selected him in the first round of the 1992 MLB Draft. By 1996, he was one of the top prospects in all of baseball and made his debut with the Twins as a starting pitcher. However, he was quickly back down to the minors before going back to the majors with Minnesota in 1997.

By 1998, Serafini had transitioned to a relief role, and in 1999 the Chicago Cubs purchased his contract. From there, he bounced around the MLB, struggling to find much success. He would also pitch for the San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, and Colorado Rockies. At the end of the 2007 season, he was suspended for PEDS. On top of that, Serafini also spent time playing in Taiwan, Japan, and Mexico.

Danny Serafini finished his MLB career with a 6.04 ERA and a 15-16 record in 104 games played. He started 33 of those games. In 2015, a bar he owned with his wife was featured on the TV show Bar Rescue.

Erin Spohr is the daughter of the victims and the wife of Danny Serafini. It’s unclear what the motive for the attack was or what led to a breakthrough in the case.