Official: Immigrant murder suspect killed self
The undocumented immigrant accused of killing five people including a Montgomery County man took his own life in his jail cell, a St. Louis official said Tuesday.
St. Louis Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards said in an email that Pabol-Serrano-Vitorino, who was found dead early Tuesday in his cell in the St. Louis Justice Center, hanged himself. Police are investigating the death per St. Louis protocol, Edwards wrote.
A note written in Spanish was found in the cell, Edwards said.
According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, workers at the St. Louis Justice Center found Serrano-Vitorino unresponsive inside his cell around 2:02 a.m.
Serrano-Vitorino was pronounced dead at the hospital around 3 a.m. Serrano-Vitorino was accused of killing Randy Nordman on March 8, 2016 at Nordman’s home. Serrano was on the run at the time for allegedly killing four people in Kansas. Nordman’s death started a massive manhunt in Montgomery County and authorities captured Serrano nearly 24 hours later. Prosecutors were seeking the death penalty in the case. Nordman’s widow, Julie Nordman, wrote in a statement that she had “mixed emotions” learning of Serrano-Vitorino’s death. “My life is forever changed,” Julie Nordman wrote. “I live my life freightened every single day! The details of that day are burned into my memory forever!” Julie Nordman wrote that she had a sense of relief because she won’t have to relive a terrible day in court, but she will also never be able to confront Serrano-Vitorino in person. According to the Montgomery County Procecuter’s Office, attorney Nathan Carroz is not going to decide what to do with the case until he speaks with the family of the victims. A family member of victims Austin and Clint Harter also wrote a statement. “What was taken cannot be returned but we take comfort in this step closer to peace for all. This isn’t about an evil person committing multiple cowardly acts up until his death,” said Ruth Harter. “This is about those whose lives were prematurely and unnecessarily ended due to the failure of many and how their friends and family are coping, celebrating their legacy and moving forward. In that evil presence’s death, we celebrate life.” Sign up for email news alerts by clicking here
