Hammer Man!

[eddiememphis]

In 1984 an Aurora family was murdered by an unknown assailant with a hammer.
He was never caught.

As a kid growing up near the murder scene (or so we thought, it was about 4 miles away) we were told to make sure the garage door was locked. The monster was supposed to have entered by an unlocked door, so for months we were very careful to keep all doors and windows tightly closed and locked.

In twelve days, Hammer Man had killed a woman in Lakewood and a family in Aurora. Months went by with no one being arrested. The adults soon forgot about it but kids always remember.

That summer we were in the grip of Hammer Man fever. Kids all over the neighborhood speculated who was going to be the next victim. It was a real Nightmare on Elm Street, which came out that same year.

It never faded from memory. Three years later in high school, we would drive past the still abandoned house. It gave us goosebumps even after all that time. Which may be attributed to the pot we smoked at lunch before we drove slowly past, but it was still creepy, knowing a family was murdered with a hammer in that innocuous house on a quiet block, in an unremarkable neighborhood.

Two days ago there was a report on the radio that DNA evidence may implicate a suspect in an unsolved murder from 1984.

My ears perked up and I thought, Hammer Man.


Sure enough, same case.

Hammer Man was a prominent figure in my childhood but I don’t know who to share it with.

My buddy Jeffiepoo is the first one I contacted. He was one of the stoner driveby crew. He said he had just heard about it also.

I texted my sister today.

Me- They caught Hammer Man
Her- What???? No Way

My parents passed two years ago but I doubt Hammer Man had the same effect on them it did the kids that lived through it. Many nights were spent wondering who he was and how we could fight him off when he kicked his way through the garage door, because to be certain, we were next.
I am going to watch what happens with the horror of my youth with a bit of melancholy. Time tends to make memories fade. The past few days brought back great stories of that summer. Young boys and girls huddled together after dark on hot summer nights, speculating and planning about an unseen foe.

They truly were good times.

[Irving]

We still do that today, only it's Hammer and Sickle Man.

Interested to hear if they are able to implicate. This was a bit before my time. I bet my parents remember.

[KS63]

That’s a great story. Update the post if you come into more information.

[Irving]

I asked my parents and they don't even remember.

[Gman]

Colorado authorities charge man in connection with a 34-year-old cold case

Closure may come to two families in Colorado as authorities announced they had charged a man with killing four people more than 30 years ago.

At a joint news conference Friday in Aurora, law enforcement officials said they issued arrest warrants for Alexander Christopher Ewing, 57, whose DNA linked him to the cold cases, authorities said. Ewing is in the custody of the Nevada Department of Corrections on separate charges.

The gruesome killings began on Jan. 10, 1984, when Patricia Smith was found dead in her home in Lakewood, about a 7-mile drive from Denver, authorities said. Six days later, on Jan. 16, Bruce Bennett was found dead with his wife, Debra, and their 7-year-old daughter. The couple's 3-year-old daughter was severely injured, but survived. Both children, police said, had been sexually assaulted.

[KS63]

Colorado authorities charge man in connection with a 34-year-old cold case

If found Guilty, death must be administered immediately upon conviction. I have Zero tolerance for anyone who intentionally hurts an innocent child. Fuck that guy.

[bellavite1]

Cool story, almost like reading from a Stephen King book...
Well written too, you may consider putting it on paper.

[Skip]

If found Guilty, death must be administered immediately upon conviction. I have Zero tolerance for anyone who intentionally hurts an innocent child. Fuck that guy.

But, but, but what if his momma didn’t hold him when he was a child?

Serious: Anyone who in Aurora in the 80s remembers. My parents wouldn’t tell me the whole story.

[BladesNBarrels]

I vaguely remember the story, because I had know some Bennetts. They weren't related, but it was big news for a while.
I am still waiting for some explanation of motive?

[Big E3]

Back in 1984 when that happened I was working with a local group of cowboy action performers. When we heard the little 3-year-old girl lost her family and survived the attack, we decided to do a number of benefit performances to try to raise some money on her behalf. I don’t recall how many shows we did at various night clubs and street performances ( 6 or 8) and I don’t know how much we raised. I was just 20 something and wasn’t in charge of money or scheduling. I believe some of the family attended some of the performances and I have not ever heard how Vanessa Bennett is doing. My daughter was almost the same age as Vanessa at the time and the whole thing kind of hit me hard. I sure am glad to hear some justice may finally be served.