It’s the kind of story that almost doesn’t feel real. It sounds like a plot that’s pulled right out of a dark and twisted movie. But in reality, for the family of a former MLB pitcher, it is a living nightmare.

Back in 2021, a tragic incident had shaken the Lake Tahoe neighborhood. Gary Spohr was found dead from a gunshot wound. And his wife, Wendy Wood, was badly injured. An elderly couple was attacked, so one would think of it as burglary gone bad. But adding to the shock was that authorities revealed—this was no random act. And the man accused of planning it? Their son-in-law-Dan Serafini.

And hence, now Dan Serafini, the one who had made a name in MLB, is accused of murdering his father-in-law. And what’s shocking is now, as the trials begin, his wife, Erin Spohr, is not on the other side but on his side to defend the man accused of causing her family such deep pain. But really, things that have come out have been unsettling.

The court documents have revealed unnerving things. According to the Daily Mail, Serafini was allegedly involved in a romantic relationship with the family’s former nanny, Samantha Scott, at the time of the incident. The two were seen together at the Nevada casino the night before the fatal shooting, where they even shared drinks. Two of them were arrested at the same time, too.

However, Scott has now taken the plea deal and come clean about engaging in a “flirtatious, romantic relationship” with the accused. And is expected to testify in court. Prosecutors do believe that the real motive ties back to the family dispute over money. Surveillance footage does reportedly show a hooded figure, allegedly Serafini, sneaking into the Spohrs’ home before the early morning violence had unfolded.

Wendy, who survived that attack, tragically took her own life in 2023, with family members saying she never recovered from the trauma of losing her husband on that fatal night. Despite this, Erin, who shares two children with Serafini, is expected to speak on his behalf during the trial. While the trial continues to cover such chilling details, the emotional weight of the story does run deeper than any headline. It’s a family just torn apart, and finances might have something to do with it.

The MLB stars’ financial struggles could have led to the tragic fall

From the outside, Dan Serafini’s life looked like the ultimate American Dream. He was an MLB pitcher, living a life that many could only dream of. But beyond the lights and fame, the shadows of financial ruin had started to creep in. As the innings of his professional career ticked away, his personal life and businesses started to wash away too.

Serafini and his wife appeared on the Bar Rescue in 2015. And there, everyone got the first glimpse of their fortunes taking a U-turn. The $14 million he had earned in his MLB career vanished because of investments and financial missteps. His new venture—an ownership stake in a Nevada bar—was bleeding money and left him with a $300,000 debt.

On the Bar Rescue episode, Serafini’s voice even trembled as he spoke about the weight of disappointment he felt. “My parents were so proud of me at one time for being a successful baseball player, and now I’m thinking what a disappointment I am to everybody,” His wife, too, echoed the same sentiment, saying the man she married is not the same anymore. The bar was eventually rescued and renamed Oak Tavern, but it didn’t last long. Then the Gary Sphor tragedy struck. And a lawsuit was filed by Erin’s sister in 2023, accusing him of “malicious, despicable, cruel, and unjust conduct.” While the investigation is still ongoing, these financial troubles add another complicated layer.