Robert Gary Spohr and Wendy Wood, married for 45 years, were worth an estimated $23 million after a successful career as real estate investors. 5 million home they built on Lake Tahoe and had generously given Serafini money over the years. 3 million loan that hadn't been paid back, and Serafini alleged his in-laws had become reluctant to continue writing cheques.
Dan Serafini is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for six teams over a 22-year career, earning over $14 million, but his divorce and bad investments left him with debts of over $300,000. At 47, he was retired and building a second career as a businessman, married to Erin Spohr with whom he shared two sons. According to major media, Serafini and Erin Spohr both alleged they had an open marriage.
On June 5, 2021, Robert and Wendy took Erin, her children, and their other daughter Adrienne out boating on Lake Tahoe. After boating, everyone left the house at 7:45 PM, and Robert and Wendy settled in front of the TV. About an hour later, a 911 call was made from the house, with the operator hearing only gasps.
Emergency responders found Robert dead in the living room, shot at point-blank range in the back of the head. Wendy was shot twice in the head and once in the hand, but was alive and had managed to call 911, and it is believed the family dog licked her awake, enabling her to crawl to the phone. She was rushed to the hospital, and the house became a crime scene, marking the first murder investigation in the quiet community in 20 years.
A $150,000 reward was offered for information, and surveillance footage captured a hooded figure entering the house through the garage hours before the family returned. The attacker lay in wait in the house, and according to major media, Serafini hid in a cupboard for hours to shoot his wealthy in-laws. Dan Serafini founded a baseball academy in Sparks, Nevada, and owned a bar with his wife, and he was also working at a local gold mine.
He was financially dependent on Erin's wealthy retired parents.