Former MLB pitcher arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting father-in-law in 2021

NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (TCD) -- A 49-year-old former professional baseball player and a 33-year-old woman were arrested over the weekend in connection with a 2021 shooting that left one man dead and his wife seriously injured.

On June 5, 2021, Placer County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a residence in the Homewood community of North Lake Tahoe, California, and found Robert Gary Spohr dead from a gunshot wound. Surveillance footage shared from day of the incident showed a person walking in the area wearing gray sweatpants, a black sweatshirt, and black hoodie. The man also had on a white neck gaiter. At one point, he runs up a driveway, tries to hide from a surveillance camera behind a large SUV, then moves off camera.

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said Spohr’s wife, Wendy Wood, also sustained a gunshot wound the night of the incident and was transported to a nearby hospital, where she recovered. Wood died a year later.

On Oct. 20, Placer County detectives, U.S. Marshals, and other law enforcement officials apprehended Danny Serafini in Winnemucca and Samantha Scott in Las Vegas. They are awaiting extradition from Nevada back to Placer County.

According to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Serafini was arrested on charges of murder, attempted murder, and child abuse/endangerment. He had reportedly been living and working part time in Winnemucca when he was arrested.

KTXL-TV reports Serafini is married to Spohr and Wood’s daughter.

Major League Baseball records show the Minnesota Twins drafted Serafini in 1992 in the first round as the 26th pick overall. As a pitcher, he played for several teams, including the Twins, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and Colorado Rockies.

Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said following the arrests, "Today, justice was served. The apprehension of those responsible for the tragic events that unfolded in Homewood, North Lake Tahoe in 2021 stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of our detectives, law enforcement partners, and the persistence of our pursuit of truth. Understand that my team’s commitment to unraveling the most complex of cases prevails, and those who inflict harm upon our community will be held accountable every time."

MORE:

• Suspects Arrested in Connection to 2021 North Lake Tahoe Homicide
• Homewood Homicide Suspect Video, 6/10/2021 - Placer County Sheriff's Office
• Suspect Arrested for Placer County Homicide Warrant - Humboldt County, Nevada, Sheriff's Office
• Two suspects arrested in 2021 North Lake Tahoe murder - KTXL
• Daniel Joseph Serafini - MLB