Daniel Serafini, a former Serra High School standout and Major League pitcher, was one of two people arrested Friday in connection with a murder two years ago in the Lake Tahoe area.
Serafini, 49, and Samantha Scott, 33, had been wanted in connection to the 2021 shooting death of Serafini’s father-in-law, Gary Spohr, 70, and the attempted murder of Serafini’s mother-in-law, Wendy Wood.
Following a two-year investigation, the Placer County sheriff’s office said Serafini was arrested in Winnemucca, Nev., early Friday morning and Scott was apprehended in Las Vegas. As of Friday afternoon, both were waiting to be transported back to Placer County.
On June 5, 2021, following a 911 call from a residence near North Lake Tahoe, deputies arrived and found Spohr dead as a result of a single gunshot wound. Wood, his wife, had also been shot but was taken to a nearby hospital where she recovered from her injuries. Wood passed away last year.
During the investigation, video surveillance revealed a hooded male wearing a face-covering and a backpack walking to the residence several hours before the homicide occurred. After the inquiry, police identified Serafini and Scott as the suspects.
“Today, justice was served,” Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said in a statement. “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.”
Serafini, a San Francisco native and left-handed pitcher, graduated from Serra in 1992 when he was drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Twins. Serafini pitched for six teams over a seven-year MLB career, with his last big league appearance in 2007 with Colorado. He continued to pitch professionally until 2013 when he finished his career in the Mexican League.