Surviving the Unthinkable: Vanessa Bennett’s Journey from Tragedy to Triumph
It took 38 years for justice to be served in the case of the so-called “Hammer Killer.” But finally, Alex Christopher Ewing was held accountable for the gruesome murders of three adults and a child—leaving behind only one survivor to tell the tale.
On the night of January 16, 1984, Ewing broke into the Aurora, Colorado home of Debra and Bruce Bennett. In a savage attack, he murdered the couple and their 8-year-old daughter, Melissa, whom he also sexually assaulted. Their youngest daughter, 3-year-old Vanessa, barely survived. Six days earlier, Ewing had bludgeoned Patricia Smith to death in nearby Lakewood, Colorado.
For decades, Ewing remained a phantom in the shadows. It wasn’t until 2018 that DNA testing identified him while he was serving a 110-year sentence in Nevada for attacking a couple in August 1984. In August 2021, Ewing was found guilty of the Bennett family murders. By April 2022, he was also convicted of killing Smith. Authorities believe he was responsible for other brutal crimes during his reign of terror in Colorado.
Vanessa Bennett’s story was featured in an episode of Cold Case Files on A&E, highlighting not only the horror of that night but also her journey of survival. Executive producer Hillary Heath was struck by Vanessa’s resilience, stating, “Despite everything, she remains an upbeat person. She feels compelled to share her story because, for her, it’s part of the healing process.”
Now 42, Vanessa lives in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband. She spoke candidly with A&E True Crime about her struggles, her triumphs, and her hope for the future.
Memories of a Life Stolen
Vanessa has no memories of her parents or sister. The only thing that remains from that fateful night is a strange recollection of Pink Panther insulation in the house. “We’d just moved in. We’d only been there a month or two,” she recalls. “I don’t remember the attack.”
Though people have suggested hypnotherapy to recover lost memories, she’s resisted. “One side of me thought it might help identify the killer when he was still unknown, but the other side didn’t want to bring out anything else that could make me worse.”
The Scars That Remain
The attack left Vanessa with life-altering injuries. She has paralysis on the left side of her body, making it difficult to grip objects. A metal plate in her forehead and a shattered jaw are constant reminders of the horror she endured.
Her childhood was equally challenging. Raised by her paternal grandmother, Vanessa struggled with insomnia, anger, and bullying. In eighth grade, she was sent to live with her aunt and later attended boarding school. But the deep wounds of her past continued to shape her path.
Falling Into Darkness
Vanessa turned to drugs as an escape, spiraling into addiction. “I smoked weed in high school and did some drinking, but at 19, when my son was taken away from me, I started doing cocaine and heroin. That hit me hard.”
Homeless and struggling to survive, she lived under a bridge with a boyfriend. She used a nearby hospital to wash her hair. Her criminal record grew—shoplifting, assault, domestic violence, trespassing, drug possession. But even through the darkest times, she never fully gave up.
The Emotional Toll
Vanessa’s trauma manifested in mental health struggles. She was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. As a teen, she self-harmed, even attempting to take her own life. The pain of her past was overwhelming.
Rebuilding and Moving Forward
Meeting her son as an adult in 2018 was a bittersweet moment. “He’s a straight-A student. It’s nice to see that I created somebody in my image who portrays good things because I felt I was so evil.” Though her two daughters are being raised by family members who won’t allow her contact, she remains hopeful for the future.
Vanessa has found strength in writing. “It releases a lot of stuff for me. My emotions can go from 1 to 100 so easily, but on paper, I can process them.” She hopes to share her full story in a book.
A Life Forever Changed
When Ewing was finally caught, Vanessa was shocked. “I figured they would never catch him. I thought he was either in jail or dead.” But did she feel relief? “Not really. My life had already been ruined. If it made everybody else comfortable, then great. But for me, the damage was done.”
Attending the trial was harrowing. Hearing her grandmother’s panicked 911 call, seeing crime scene evidence—Vanessa walked out before they showed the pictures of her sister. Delivering her victim impact statement brought an entire courtroom to tears.
Finding Strength in Survival
Life is still a challenge. Vanessa and her husband survive on disability, struggling financially. But despite it all, she has an unbreakable will to live.
“People always ask how I kept going after losing my parents,” she says. “It’s my will to live. No matter what, I never gave up. And I never will.”
Her story is a testament to resilience, proving that even in the face of unimaginable darkness, survival is possible.
