A 57-year-old Nevada inmate faces charges on multiple counts of murder in a series of brutal attacks a few days apart in 1984 involving the deaths of three members of an Aurora family and the bludgeoning of a Lakewood grandmother.

The suspect, Alexander Christopher Ewing, of Sacramento, Calif., is serving a 40-year prison term for two counts each of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in Nevada. Officials say the extradition process for Ewing has begun.

“We’ve never forgotten this case. We’ve never forgotten these families,” said Lakewood Police Chief Daniel McCasky. “Hopefully, this begins a sense of healing, a sense of peace and sense of justice.”

“Today represents the first public and formal step in what will prove to be a long journey toward justice in this case,” said Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler.

Friday’s announcements came after a grueling 34-year process of dogged police work and legal actions.

“This case haunted the officers who responded that night,” said Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz. “It was a case that haunted the families and the victims to the core.”

VIDEO: Today's Joint Press Conference Regarding 1984 Cold Case Homicides. https://t.co/QBnTjekETk — Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) August 10, 2018

In 2002, then-District Attorney Jim Peters obtained a John Doe arrest warrant in the deaths of Bruce and Debra Bennett and their 7-year-old daughter Melissa, based on DNA. Peters charged John Doe with 18 counts including murder. In 2010, a Lakewood cold case detective submitted DNA in the Patricia Louise Smith homicide case in hopes of comparing it to DNA collected in the Bennett murders. Colorado Bureau of Corrections forensic scientists found a link.

A few weeks ago, Nevada uploaded Ewing’s DNA to the FBI’s national data base, Colorado Bureau of Investigation Director John Camper said. CBI had a match between Ewing and the Lakewood and Aurora cases the next day, and Camper immediately notified Metz. “It sent a chill through my spine,” Metz said.

Provided by Aurora Police department Alexander Christopher Ewing booking mug from 1985 Nevada Department of Corrections.

Provided by Aurora Police department Alexander Christopher Ewing shown here in the early 1980's.

Provided by Aurora Police department Alexander Christopher Ewing shown here in the early 1980's. Provided by Aurora Police department



Metz met with family members and victims a few days after the DNA match was made.

“There’s been no closure,” Metz said.

In the Aurora case, the charges Ewing faces include three counts of first-degree murder after deliberation, three counts of felony murder, attempted murder after deliberation, two counts of sexual assault using physical force, first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, sexual assault of a child and first degree burglary with a weapon, according to Arapahoe County court documents.

Jefferson County District Attorney Pete Weir said formal charges will be filed early next week in connection with Smith’s death on Jan. 10, 1984. She was killed by a man who entered her Green Mountain townhouse in Lakewood and bludgeoned and sexually assaulted her.

The Bennett family was attacked six days after Smith when a man armed with a hammer and knife entered their Aurora home as they were celebrating Melissa’s birthday.

The killer bludgeoned Bruce Bennett and slit his neck on the stairs of his home. The killer raped Debra in the master bedroom and beat her to death with a hammer. He raped and bludgeoned Melissa in the room she shared with 3-year-old Vanessa, then beat the younger girl in the head and face.

Bruce Bennett’s mother, Connie Bennett, came to the house the next day and found only Vanessa alive, Brauchler said.

A few days before the crimes, on Jan. 4, 1984, a man sneaked into an Aurora home and used a hammer to beat James and Kimberly Haubenschild. James Haubenschild suffered a fractured skull, and his wife had a concussion. Both survived. On the same day, a man using a hammer attacked flight attendant Donna Dixon in the garage of her Aurora home, leaving her in a coma. Dixon survived.

Ewing also faces first-degree murder after deliberation, 3 counts of felony murder, attempted 1sr-degree murder, 2 counts of 1st degree sexual assault, 1st degree assault, 2 counts of child sexual assualt, 1 count of 1st degree burglary and five violent crime counts in Arapahoe — Noelle Phillips (@Noelle_Phillips) August 10, 2018

Several months after the Colorado attacks, Ewing entered a home in Kingman, Ariz., through an open door. He then battered a man nearly to death with a boulder that weighed about 20 pounds, according to a police report.

Kingman police arrested Ewing on charges of attempted murder and transferred him out of state to another jail while he was awaiting trial. On Aug. 9, 1984, Ewing was in a Mojave County, Ariz., jail van riding through Henderson, Nev., with about 11 inmates heading to Kingman for a hearing when the van stopped at a Texaco gas station, the police report says.

Inmates were unchained for a restroom break. Wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, Ewing ran into a K-Mart and changed into red shorts with white trim, according to a Henderson police report from 1984.

That night, armed with an ax handle, Ewing entered an open back door of a home at 739 Racetrack Road. Christopher Barry, then 34, and his wife Nancy, then 24, were asleep. Nancy got out of bed and went downstairs to prepare a bottle for their baby, who was crying. When she saw Ewing, she ran to her bedroom screaming. As Christopher Barry awoke, Ewing began beating him with the ax handle, the Henderson police report says.

Christopher Barry was knocked unconscious and would remain in a coma for a week with severe head injuries, according to a 1984 Las Vegas Journal-Review article. Nancy Barry tried to block the blows to her husband. In the process both her wrists and her arm were broken, the article said.

Nancy Barry managed to call 911 while Ewing continued hitting her and her husband. The dispatcher could hear thumps in the background during the call. Nancy Barry climbed under her bed to escape. But Ewing kept beating her in the head until she acted like she was dead, the Henderson police report says.

The Denver Post archive Snow was stuck to the knife that authorities removed from front yard of the Bennett home so it was tapped off on pavement Jan. 16. 1984. Coroner is at right.

Denver Post Archive Aurora Coroner's officers and police officers remove one of the three bodies from house at 16387 E. Center Drive on Jan. 16 1984.

Family photo DNA evidence has linked Alex Christopher Ewing to the 1984 murders of three members of the Bruce and Debra Bennett family. Only 3-year-old Vanessa (on right) survived.



Photo courtesy of Smith family Patricia Smith: Two small children rushed into their home to find their grandmother. They found her immediately. The 50-year-old woman was lying on the floor next to the front door. Someone had beaten her to death with a hammer.

The Denver Post archive Aurora detective Eganies still hunting clues in to the Bennett case as he reads a lab report on his way to this office where the bulk of his work is done April 21, 1984.

Susan Biddle, The Denver Post archive Chester Atwater of Bennett Fire Dept. With his truck Jan. 20 1984. In background is Mike Williams, also a volunteer from fire department, and his truck.



Eric Bakke, The Denver Post archive Co-worker Augie (no last name for protection and advice of police) talks of the Bennett's at his place of work Jan. 17, 1984.

Photo courtesy of Lakewood Police Department Patricia Smith

A massive helicopter and foot search ensued for Ewing, who fled on foot toward Lake Mead. Two days after he attacked the Barry family, National Park Service rangers spotted Ewing making a phone call. When he saw them, Ewing took off running. A ranger caught up with Ewing and arrested him, the Henderson police report says.

An 8th District Court jury in Las Vegas convicted Ewing in 1985, the Review-Journal reported at the time.

Brauchler said Ewing could face the death penalty in the Bennett case, but he hasn’t made a decision. Weir said Ewing could also face the death penalty in Smith’s case. An extensive evaluation, including talking to the victim’s family, is needed first, Weir said.

Brauchler and Weir planned to file paperwork Friday asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to order extradition of Ewing from Nevada. Extradition could take a couple of weeks to two months, depending on cooperation between Colorado and Nevada governors and Ewing’s legal actions.

“Justice in this case has been delayed. But I’m confident that justice in this case will not be denied,” Weir said.