Auburn, California — Former MLB player Daniel Serafini was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the 2021 shooting of his wife’s parents during a robbery at their Lake Tahoe home, authorities said.
Serafini was 51 years old He was convicted in July 2025 Charged with first-degree murder of his father-in-law, Gary Spoor, attempted murder of his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood, and first-degree burglary. Spoor was killed and Wood survived, though she died a year after the shooting.
Placer County Prosecutor Morgan Geier said in a statement Friday that Spurr and Wood were loving grandparents and that Serafini’s crimes greatly affected family members and friends.
“The impact of this attack has extended far beyond the immediate victims, profoundly affecting family members and the wider community, highlighting the lasting damage caused by intentional violence,” Geer said.
Serafini’s lawyer did not respond to requests for comment.
During the sentencing hearing, Serafini addressed the court and insisted on his innocence. According to My News 4 website. He said he was celebrating with his wife on the night of the shooting and described himself as a “broken, imperfect man who makes mistakes.”
Serafini was drafted in 1992 by the Minnesota Twins. In a career spanning 11 years, the left-handed outfielder played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, and Colorado Rockies.
Serafini hated his wife’s wealthy parents and was heard saying he was willing to pay $20,000 to kill them, prosecutors said. Sacramento bee. Prosecutors showed jurors transcripts of angry emails and text messages between Serafini and his in-laws.
During the six-week trial, David Dratman, Serafini’s attorney, said there was no physical evidence linking his client to the crime scene. He told the jury that although Serafini had a strained relationship with his in-laws, he had no motive to kill them.
After his conviction, Serafini filed several requests for a new trial, but they were denied.
Serafini will serve his sentence at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, according to the Placer County District Attorney’s Office.