TAHOMA, Calif. – On February 27, 2026, Daniel Joseph Serafini, 51, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for the murder of his father-in-law and attempted murder of his mother-in-law.

On July 14, 2025, Serafini was found guilty of the murder of his father-in-law, 70-year-old Robert Gary Spohr, and the attempted murder of his mother-in-law, 68-year-old Wendy Wood, in their Tahoma home. He then filed multiple motions for a new trial, which were heard and denied by the court after months of additional proceedings.

During the court proceedings, jurors heard about heated disputes over financial obligations and communications leading up to the murder and determined that the defendant’s actions were deliberate and premeditated.

On June 5, 2021, deputies received a 911 call from a residence where they found Spohr deceased as a result of a single gunshot wound. Wood had also been shot but was taken to a nearby hospital, where she recovered from her injuries, but died a year later after suffering from disability and depression.

Serafini was married to the couple’s oldest daughter, Erin. He and an accomplice, Samantha Scott, were arrested in 2023. Scott pleaded guilty to being an accessory and testified in 2025 that she drove Serafini to the crime scene, believing it was for a drug deal.

“This case demanded extraordinary diligence from the prosecutorial and investigative teams, including the lead prosecutor on the case, the DA investigator, and dedicated victim advocate and investigators from the Sheriff’s Office,” said the Placer County District Attorney’s Office. “The hours of thoughtful preparation, meticulous review of complex evidence, and steadfast commitment to uncovering the truth ensured the jury was fully informed. The Placer County District Attorney’s Office also extends profound gratitude to the panel of jurors who dedicated weeks of their lives to hear detailed testimony and then continued to engage through post-trial motions.”

“The human toll of this case extends far beyond the courtroom,” said Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire. “The defendant’s horrific crimes took the lives of a father, mother, loving grandparents, family members and friends. The impact of this attack has extended far beyond the immediate victims, deeply affecting family members and the broader community, and highlighting the lasting harm caused by deliberate violence.”