Ex-MLB Pitcher Dan Serafini Found Guilty of Murdering His Father-in-Law

Dan Serafini, a 51-year-old former baseball player who had stints in Major League Baseball (MLB) and Nippon Professional Baseball, has been found guilty of first-degree murder and attempted murder in the killing of his father-in-law.

On Wednesday, multiple local media outlets reported that Serafini received a guilty verdict during a jury trial at the Placer County Superior Court in Roseville, California.

The court is expected to hand down a sentence on August 19, which could include life without parole.

Serafini stands accused of breaking into his in-laws’ home near Lake Tahoe, California, in June 2021. He allegedly used a firearm to kill his father-in-law and critically wound his mother-in-law, who succumbed to her injuries about a year later.

Shocking Case Intertwines Ranch Business Dispute and Extramarital Affair

Local prosecutors revealed that a serious conflict over financial support for a ranch business between Serafini and his father-in-law was a primary motive for the murder.

As evidence, the prosecution presented emails and text messages exchanged between the two men. They also disclosed that Serafini had reportedly offered to pay 20,000 USD to anyone willing to kill his in-laws.

In a startling twist, a woman with whom Serafini was allegedly having an affair has been arrested as an accomplice.

This woman, a friend of Serafini’s wife, had worked as the family’s nanny until the incident occurred.

Prosecutors obtained a confession from her, in which she admitted to her role in the crime.

Serafini’s defense team argued that the suspect’s physique, as captured on Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage, differed from Serafini’s, but the court dismissed this claim.

The Rise and Fall of a Once-Promising Athlete

Serafini, a left-handed pitcher, played in the MLB from 1996 to 2007, compiling a career record of 15 wins, 16 losses, and an earned run average of 6.04.

From 2004 to 2007, he continued his career in Japan with the Chiba Lotte Marines and Orix Buffaloes.

Returning to the U.S. in mid-2007, Serafini briefly rejoined the major leagues with the Colorado Rockies. However, he faced suspension for testing positive for a banned substance after the season concluded.

Subsequently, he left the U.S. baseball scene and finished his playing career in Mexico.