A man convicted of killing three people in Aurora, Colorado back in January 1984 has been finally sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday. Alex Ewing was found guilty by the jury on Aug. 6, and was handed down three life sentences for the murder of the Bennett family whom he killed using a hammer.
According to CBS Denver, investigators were able to gather DNA evidence which led to a match on Ewing along with samples collected from one of the victims. The incident which took place on the night of Jan. 15, 1984, had been a long arduous cold case for investigators working on evidence and information surrounding the deaths of Bruce Bennett, 27, Debra Bennett, 26, and their 7-year-old daughter Melissa.
The couple’s youngest daughter, Vanessa who was 3 years old at the time was beaten but had survived with life-long injuries. Bruce’s mother discovered the horrific murder scene the next day after she had been calling the family’s home with no one answering the landline. All four were brutally attacked inside their home. Thanks to advancements in DNA technology, police were able to rely on DNA evidence suggesting that Melissa had been raped prior to being killed.
Ewing was sentenced to life in prison for each murder charge, which will be served consecutively. Generally, invidividuals found guilty of first-degree murder are handed down a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole for crimes committed in the recent years. However, the District Attorney said Ewing may possibly be eligible for parole after serving 20 years because of the period covered when he committed the crime.
At the same time, compelling DNA evidence also linked Ewing to another cold murder case of Patricia Smith. She was killed in a similar attack with a hammer in Lakewood six days before the Bennetts were murdered. Another victim in Aurora, Donna Holm was also attacked, but survived her injuries. All DNA evidence found matched Ewing.
At the time the match was discovered, Ewing was behind bars in Nevada on attempted murder and burglary charges. He was issued warrants in 2018 as he fought for extradition to Colorado. The Nevada Supreme Court denied his motion but he was extradited later on.
Ewing who is now 60 years old has been found guilty on all counts of first-degree murder, felony murder, attempted murder, sexual assault, sexual assault on a child as well as burglary.
For the murder of Smith, Ewing still faces first-degree murder charges and is due in court for the Smith case in mid-September. A trial has been set for Oct. 18.
