Patricia Smith had been laid straight, her arms crossed over her chest as if on display in a funeral home. This phone call came just two days after the breaking news that the East Area Rapist crimes had been tied by DNA to the murders in Southern California. January 16, 1984: Bennett family is attacked in their Aurora, Colorado home with 3 out of the 4 family members murdered by an intruder wielding a hammer. The crime spree known as the Colorado Hammer murders seemed to begin in Aurora in the early morning hours of January 4th, 1984. Investigators have been quoted as saying this was a random crime, vicious and random. A hammer lay next to her. But thanks to modern technology and the incredible talent and dedication of several individuals, it seems this case has finally been solved. This generated a buzz of discussion, with victims and family wondering why this information wasnt released sooner, and online sleuths pouring over leads such as previous offenders named Richard, different water company uniforms looked at, and even eyes turned toward folks who were associated with a Canadian town/military base called Petawawa in Ontario. They are more likely to begin work before sunup rather than stay much after sundown. View the map. Sandra G. Bennett | Obituaries | decaturdaily.com For a twelve-day period in January 1984, the cities of Aurora and Lakewood Colorado were preyed upon by one of the most terrifying breeds of killers a man who would attack strangers, rape the women and children, and bludgeon them to death. They also looked across state lines looking for similar or like crimes and to date, they have not one suspect. There was no sign of forced entry. Advancements in DNA evidence led investigators to a match with Ewing and samples collected from the crime scene as well as one of the victims 34 years later. DENVER- The Bennett family murders is a case that goes back more than three decades. Report of July 5, 2022 officer-involved shooting in Report of July 21, 2022 officer-involved shooting in Jury returns guilty verdict in mass shooting at Aurora man sentenced to decades in prison for Man sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for Parolee and former Scout leader with history of Lone Tree bowling alley shooter sentenced to 23 Report of March 3, 2022 officer-involved shooting in Colorado District Attorneys Council honors trial team for Jury finds man guilty in former CU football Report of July 5, 2022 officer-involved shooting in Aurora, Report of July 21, 2022 officer-involved shooting in Englewood, Man sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for murdering couple who responded to advertisement for used car. Unsolved: The Bennett family murders | wqad.com A neatly-folded Winnie the Pooh comforter lay under her, a portion of it obscuring her head.