On the night of October 28-29, 2023, Prospero Guadalupe Serna, 38, the biological father of four children all under the age of 10, attacked three of them at a home in Lancaster, California in the 1800 block of East Avenue J-2. The children's mother called 911 shortly before midnight reporting that the children were being harmed. Deputies found four children in a single bedroom with severe injuries including lacerations and stab wounds. Two children — Najila Serna, age 3, and her sister Ziasia Serna, age 7 — were transported to a hospital where they were pronounced dead; Najila's cause of death was determined to be multiple stab wounds. Two other children survived, including one who was injured, and were found hiding in the home. Serna was detained a few blocks away after a violent struggle with deputies and was subsequently charged with two counts of murder, attempted murder, assault on a child under 8, and child abuse, with a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Multiple sources describe the children being beaten and stabbed. The LA County Medical Examiner report lists the cause of death as "MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS." The CBS News article states "Deputies discovered that two of the children had been beaten and stabbed to death." The NY Post article describes the father as having "beat and stabbed two of his young children to death." The criminal complaint includes allegations that he "personally used a sharp object during the commission of the crime."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Multiple documents identify Prospero Serna as the biological father of all four children who was charged with their murder. The ABC7 initial report states he is "the biological father of all four children." The CBS News article reports he was "charged with two counts each of murder and assault on a child under eight causing death."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Multiple sources confirm that Prospero Serna was arrested and charged. The ABC7 update article states "the sheriff's department says enough evidence has been collected to place Serna under arrest for murder and child abuse." The CBS News article details the charges: "two counts each of murder and assault on a child under eight causing death and one count each of attempted murder and child abuse."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The CBS News article states that the criminal complaint includes an allegation "that he has a prior conviction from 2017 for unlawfully causing a fire of a structure or forest land." This 2017 arson conviction predates and is separate from the current fatal incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details are present. First, the criminal complaint includes a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, meaning Serna faces a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 25 years (CBS News). Second, the DCFS "declined to say if the family has been investigated for possible child abuse in the past, citing confidentiality laws" (ABC7 update), and LA County Supervisor Barger stated "the reality is that some families slip through the cracks and ultimately, children pay the price" and that she has "a lot of unanswered questions" (ABC7 update, CBS News). This language suggests potential systemic concerns about whether child protective services had prior contact with the family. Third, the father was a resident of San Bernardino County while the children lived in Lancaster (Los Angeles County), presenting a cross-jurisdictional element. Fourth, Serna "is refusing to cooperate with Sheriff's deputies... delaying his booking process" (CBS News).
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