(Golden, CO – March 2, 2020) District Attorney Pete Weir announced today that Alex Christopher Ewing, DOB: 08/14/60, has been extradited and returned to Colorado to face charges for the 1984 murder of 50-year-old Patricia Smith in Jefferson County. Ewing also faces charges in Arapahoe County for the murders of Bruce and Debra Bennett, their seven-year-old daughter, and the sexual assault of their three-year-old daughter.
On March 2, 2020 Ewing made his first appearance in the Arapahoe County District Court.
At a joint news conference on August 10, 2018 it was announced that arrest warrants had been issued for Ewing in the two 36-year-old cold case homicides in Jefferson and Arapahoe counties. Ewing has been in the custody of the Nevada Department of Corrections.
For the past 18 months Ewing has fought extradition to Colorado. Recently, the Nevada Supreme Court ordered Ewing’s extradition. His subsequent petition to the US Supreme Court for a further stay was denied by Justice Kagan earlier this week.
According to the arrest affidavit, Ms. Smith was killed at her home in Lakewood on January 10, 1984 and the Bennett family was killed at their home in Aurora six days later.
Ewing returned to Colorado on February 28, 2020.
In Jefferson County, Ewing has been charged with four counts of First Degree Murder under different theories: one count of First Degree Murder – After Deliberation and three counts of First Degree Murder – Felony Murder.
The cases in each of the two jurisdictions will proceed independently and concurrently. Writs will be issued to transport him to Jefferson County for court appearances.
Ewing is being held without bond at the Arapahoe County jail. He will be in Jefferson County for advisement on March 10, 20 at 3:00 p.m. in Div. 5.
The filing of a criminal charge is merely a formal accusation that an individual has committed a crime(s). A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. See Colo. RPC 3.6
