News Releases

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Prospero Serna is charged with viciously attacking his three young children and murdering two of them in Lancaster.

“Two young lives were abruptly cut short in an astonishing act of brutality,” District Attorney Gascón said. “This is a profoundly heart-wrenching tragedy that has shaken our community to its core. Our hearts ache for the innocent lives lost and those who will have to live the rest of their lives reliving a nightmare.

The loss of these young souls is a stark reminder of the urgent need to protect the most vulnerable among us. I want to assure the community that we are committed to seeking justice for these children.”

Prospero Guadalupe Serna (dob 12/12/84) is charged in case MA086014 with two counts of murder; one count of attempted murder; two counts of assault of a child under eight years of age causing death; and one count of child abuse; including an alleged strike prior of having been convicted of a felony.

It is further alleged that Serna committed the multiple murder special circumstances, that he personally used a deadly weapon, and that he personally inflicted great bodily injury on a child.

Serna is scheduled to be arraigned today in Dept. A01 of the Michael D. Antonovich Courthouse, North District.

On October 28, Serna allegedly attacked three of his children, killing two of them, while he was in the residence with his four children and their mother.

When deputies arrived, they discovered that the two children had been beaten and stabbed to death. Two other children, one who was injured, were found hiding in the residence.

Deputies apprehended Serna a few blocks away.

Serna is expected to be held on no bail.

If convicted as charged, Serna will face a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole plus 25 years determinate in prison.

If you or someone you know is a victim of child abuse, please call 911.

The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.