The Claim: Former MLB player Daniel Serafini confessed to murder during the Lake Tahoe Murder Trial

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Daniel Serafini is awaiting a jury verdict in connection with the 2021 killing of his father-in-law, Gary Spohr. Serafini is also facing charges of attempted murder of Spohr’s wife, Wendy Wood, as well as burglary and child endangerment (KCRA). The incident, which unfolded in Lake Tahoe, drew widespread media attention with one mid-trial update. 

On June 14, the Instagram account dugoutforever shared a post with the caption, “Former MLB player Daniel Serafini confessed to murder during the Lake Tahoe Murder Trial.”

It featured an image of Serafini holding a baseball, accompanied by a bold yellow text that read: “confessed to murder.”

Our Rating: False

The Instagram post surfaced just days after Samantha Scott, a former co-defendant who had pleaded not guilty, took the stand as part of a plea agreement signed in February. Under the terms of the deal, Scott avoids serious jail time in exchange for her testimony.

According to KCRA, months after the incident, Serafini allegedly told Scott that he had shot his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood. It’s important to note that this alleged confession occurred during a private conversation between Serafini and Scott in 2021 and not under cross-examination or as part of any official courtroom admission. 

The trial continued with several key developments in the weeks that followed, with June 26 seeing Serafini’s wife, Erin Spohr (daughter of Gary Spohr and Wendy Wood), called to testify (KCRA).

On June 30, the defense rested its case without calling any witnesses or introducing new evidence, according to a report from KCRA. The decision came just minutes after court proceedings resumed. Serafini’s only on-record statement remains his not-guilty plea entered in October 2023, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report. The April 28 article from 2NewsMedia provided a TLDR of the key points of the case ahead of the opening day of the trial, with supporting evidence of Serafini’s not guilty plea. 

Closing arguments were presented on July 8, 2025, i.e., nearly a month after the former MLB player’s alleged confession (KCRA, FOX40 News). 

Daniel Serafini’s defense attorney tried to question Samantha Scott’s credibility

In his cross, defense attorney David Dratman attempted to bring Scott’s credibility into question, as she had known of Serafini’s confession for over three years. She claimed she did it to protect him and replied “yes,” when asked, “You did all this lying over a period of some years, according to your testimony?”

Per KCRA, the exchange saw Dratman ask Scott whether it was a big incentive, clarify that she didn’t want to go to prison, and enquire if the deal was giving her a lifetime of freedom. Scott’s responses for the first two were in the affirmative, with her third reply being, “Potentially.” Scott mentioned her suspicions, but opted to protect Serafini by lying to investigators. 

Daniel Serafini currently remains in custody as the jury continues deliberations.

Our Fact Check Sources

• Dugoutforever, June 14, 2025. Instagram Post
• KCRA 3, May 19, 2025. Dan Serafini murder trial: Opening statements begin in former MLB pitcher’s Tahoe burglary case
• KCRA 3, June 12, 2025. Dan Serafini murder trial | Former lover, codefendant Samantha Scott reveals new information in testimony
• KCRA 3, June 26, 2025. Dan Serafini murder trial: Prosecutors rest case in deadly Lake Tahoe home ambush
• KCRA 3, June 30, 2025. Dan Serafini murder trial: Defense rests case, when closing arguments are expected
• San Francisco Chronicle, October 31, 2023. Ex-MLB player accused of killing Lake Tahoe in-laws pleads not guilty
• KCRA 3, July 8, 2025. Dan Serafini murder trial: Jury has the case of Tahoe-area home ambush shooting
• 2NewsNevada, July 10, 2025. Jury deliberating in Daniel Serafini Homewood homicide trial
• FOX40 News, July 9, 2025. Jury deliberates fate of former MLB player accused in Lake Tahoe murder