The Antelope Valley Times

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Man charged with killing 2 of his children in Lancaster

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Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched on Saturday, Oct. 28, involving a call of children “being harmed at the location” in the 1800 block of East Avenue J-2, authorities said. [BRYAN HALL]
LANCASTER – A man has been charged with attacking his three young children and murdering two of them at a home in Lancaster, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday, Nov. 1

Prospero Guadalupe Serna, 38, was charged with two counts each of murder and assault on a child under eight causing death and one count each of attempted murder and child abuse.

The criminal complaint includes the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, along with allegations that he personally used a sharp object during the commission of the crime, personally inflicted great bodily injury on a child under five years old, and that he has a prior conviction from 2017 for unlawfully causing a fire of a structure or forest land.

Serna allegedly attacked three of his children, killing two of them, while he was in the residence with his four children and their mother on Saturday, Oct. 28, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched around 11:50 p.m. Saturday involving a call of children “being harmed at the location” in the 1800 block of East Avenue J-2, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies discovered that two of the children had been beaten and stabbed to death, and two other children — including one who was injured — were found hiding in the residence, according to the District Attorney’s Office. The dead children were subsequently identified as Serna’s 7-year-old daughter, Ziasia, and 3-year-old daughter, Najila. Serna was detained a few blocks away, authorities said.

“Prospero Serna, the father of the children, was initially detained as a person of interest in the case,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement.

“Homicide detectives determined there was sufficient evidence to arrest Prospero Serna for the crimes of murder and child abuse,” the sheriff’s statement said. “However, Prospero Serna is refusing to cooperate with sheriff’s deputies … delaying his booking process.”

Serna could face a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 25 years if he is convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

“Two young lives were abruptly cut short in an astonishing act of brutality,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement announcing the charges. “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.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said she still has “a lot of unanswered questions” about the case.

“I want to ensure our county’s justice system works swiftly to ensure the perpetrator is held accountable and that the siblings who survived receive the care and support they deserve,” Barger said in a statement. “The county has made strides in bringing more social workers to serve the Antelope Valley and is investing in child abuse prevention programs that strengthen families. But the reality is that some families slip through the cracks and ultimately, children pay the price.”

Previous related story: Two children dead in Lancaster; child abuse suspected

57 comments for "Man charged with killing 2 of his children in Lancaster"

  2. AKA Truthteller, what are you talking about. This is a story about child abuse that happened in Lancaster.

    • It’s the point that they won’t run a true story but keep running the same news. They are boot lickers and love law enforcement

  3. Why isn’t this news? The first victim was discovered Monday at around 10:30 a.m. in Valencia. A little more than two hours later, at 12:53 p.m., LASD detectives responded to another death in Lancaster and a third at 5:40 p.m. in Stevenson Ranch. The fourth victim was discovered Tuesday at around 7:30 a.m. in the city of Pomona.

  4. Shockwaves of emotions’ after 4 L.A. Sheriff’s Department employees die of suicide in 24-hour span

  7. Gascon will say death penalty not an option because nothing brings the kids back anyways. What a clown.

    • Is that not just a true statement? If killing someone could bring someone else back I can think of plenty of people I would sacrifice you for with my own hands.

      • Another blathering reply, the only thing your hands are squeezing is that tiny weenie that dibbles short of your toilet.

      • For those who are too stupid to see the difference between “my own hands” and “my bare hands,” the point intended to be made by “my own hands” is that unlike all the wannabe killers that get off on the vicarious thrill of the state being their buffer, I don’t. If I think someone deserves to die I am willing to take on the job, and the consequences, directly.

          • Who said anything about “tough guys”? Do you think having the state kill for you or choosing not to is a question of “toughness”? How stupid are you?

        • Tough guy lol, you slipped threatening notes to young vulnerable female bank tellers. Because even though you advocate the theory of white privilege you were such an ignorant loser you couldn’t work, even though you were in your 30s. L

          • LOL…once again, the view from your alternate reality…how many times are you going to say the same stupidly wrong thing and get laughed at?

          • LOL…once again, your impression of “what I’m saying” clearly indicates that you just can’t read.

          • Tim Scott AND Templer
            Don’t you guys have ANYTHING better to do than THIS & if NOT, I’d like to put up to work if possible ????
            Natasha McCormick Palmdale CA.
            Google it!

          • Natasha,
            When working at my computer I make myself take a fifteen minute break every couple hours. Some quick stretches for the body, and something to take my mind in a different direction. The response to John above was just thoughts in a direction unrelated to my work that could have started a conversation to give me that distraction for my next few breaks, but instead it drew the somewhat common hate filled inanity of Templer…which actually works even better since responding to him is like a zero brain power reset mode.

            I am not totally unsympathetic to your request, but ultimately I do know that no one is making you read it so I am unlikely to change…and by all indications Templer can’t, though he used to occasionally make good posts before the hate bug crawled up him.

          • I can guarantee that either templer, myself or anybody but yourself and William are sitting at a computer all day and night with 15 minute breaks every couple hours. Your posts from anywhere between 12-4am are a telling sign of your degeneracy and willingness to makes a so called life’s mission of arguing with strangers in the internet.

            The work of a true loser.

        • We’re not too stupid, you just are the weirdest most awkward one in the thread. Sometimes you just need to read the room…….. right now its saying go away tim.

          • When timmy can’t take the L then comes on the fake Templers and #97XR typical thief and petty loser. Nuff said.

          • LOL…care to prove your claims, clown?

            The only time I use any other name than Tim Scott is if I am posting something a public figure actually said.

            I think it’s hilarious that you have no reservations about posting something that you obviously have no way of knowing the truth of. You couldn’t care less if you are right or wrong, you just have to wag your hate on.

          • It’s OK, this ain’t ‘ the Costco of News’…just because lame arguments are piled high and sold cheap does not make them good for you or even valuable.

            to reiterate, the DA said as quoted in the article“Two young lives were abruptly cut short in an astonishing act of brutality,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement announcing the charges. “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.”

          • Sorry timmy it’s just all too predictable every time you lose the conversation and the textbook grammar traits, and “hate filled”? It’s always you that has no problem calling people every name in the book here. Which defines moral loss. As stated here by someone else you can’t read the room.

          • ‘Read the room’

            I think this room is located in an insane asylum or mental health facility. Probably in another state.

          • I read the room. The only people in the room who are worth caring about what they think, I answered. Bashing the clown squad that wants to attack me with the same tired nonsense is just entertainment…all they are good for.

          • Bashing the clown squad? After reading this thread it’s pretty clear you’re on the bottom of a big shoe.

    • This is what Gascon ACTUALLY said: “Two young lives were abruptly cut short in an astonishing act of brutality,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement announcing the charges. “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.”

      • Gascon has no soul and his response was made by Chat GPT, I promise. he favors criminals over victims. tim will tell you that 2 recall attempts against him actually mean people like him and want him around even longer. He will also tell you Gascon is not corrupt. tim will tell you that Gascons assistant D.A.’s are the corrupt ones, not him. Does that sum it up? Soros’s money was used to get Gascon elected. He is from San Francisco and will turn LA into SF soon enough.

  8. Meanwhile, people who tried to elevate their losing candidate to dictator through a coup are making plea deals that they merely need to do a few weeks of community service, post VERY low or no bail amounts, and pay tiny fines ($5k). For nearly succeeding in dismantling our country’s democracy, they get punished less severely than and any common DUI. They belong to a criminal enterprise called the Republican Party, one willing to have stooges do the time to protect the Capo.

    • “Serna could face a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 25 years if he is convicted…”

      There is an election coming up.