Former Pirates pitcher Dan Serafini found guilty in father-in-law’s murder case
Updated: 10:51 PM EDT Jul 14, 2025
A former Pirates pitcher was found guilty Monday of murdering his father-in-law and trying to murder his mother-in-law after a 2021 Tahoe-area home ambush and shooting. Our sister station KCRA, said former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini was also found guilty of special circumstances in the attacks, lying in wait and use of a gun, and first-degree burglary. The June 2021 ambush attack left 70-year-old Gary Spohr dead and his wife, 68-year-old Wendy Wood, seriously injured. She survived and made a full recovery, but she died by suicide years later. The 51-year-old spent seven years in the big leagues, playing with the Twins, Rockies, Padres, Reds, Cubs, and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played one season with the Pirates in 2000. Serafini is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 18. He faces the possibility of life in prison.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
A former Pirates pitcher was found guilty Monday of murdering his father-in-law and trying to murder his mother-in-law after a 2021 Tahoe-area home ambush and shooting.
Our sister station KCRA, said former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini was also found guilty of special circumstances in the attacks, lying in wait and use of a gun, and first-degree burglary.
The June 2021 ambush attack left 70-year-old Gary Spohr dead and his wife, 68-year-old Wendy Wood, seriously injured. She survived and made a full recovery, but she died by suicide years later.
The 51-year-old spent seven years in the big leagues, playing with the Twins, Rockies, Padres, Reds, Cubs, and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He played one season with the Pirates in 2000.
Serafini is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 18. He faces the possibility of life in prison.
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