Crime & Safety
Valentine's Day Murder Haunts Parents of Disabled Carlsbad Woman
Jodine Serrin was killed in her home by an assailant her parents saw—and who escaped before they realized what was going on.
The brutal murder of a developmentally disabled Carlsbad woman remains unsolved six years after she was killed in her own home, and police need the public's help to bring justice to the family of Jodine Serrin.
Serrin lived on her own, but depended on her family for help due to her mental challenges. Late in the evening of Valentine's Day 2007, Jodine's parents went to the condo they had purchased on Swallow Lane for their daughter and walked in on what they thought was an awkward situation. Art Serrin went to find his daughter in her bedroom, and saw a man having sex with her.
According to a 10News report, Serrin told the man to get dressed and then he and his wife, Lois, went to wait for what they expected to be an embarrassed couple to join them in the kitchen. After several minutes, Serrin returned to the bedroom and found his daughter murdered, having been beaten and strangled to death. The man had escaped, possibly through a back door.
Police have no leads, but they do have a complete genetic profile from DNA collected at the scene, according to a 2012 UT San Diego report. There is a $52,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.
Investigators told the North County Times in 2007 the only description of the suspect is that he is white, in his 30s and has brown hair. Art Serrin said the man was heavyset.
"Somebody somewhere knows something, and eventually it's going to come out," Art Serrin told UT San Diego.
"We need to know this evil person is caught and never will be able to commit another horrendous crime," Lois Serrin told 10News.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact authorities:
—Carlsbad Police Department at 760-931-2197—Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477
—Information call also be submitted using an Online Tip Form (Crime Stoppers)
About this series:
Scores of cases throughout San Diego County go unsolved by local law enforcement investigators each year. A teen thought to be a runaway has still not come home. A dangerous parolee goes missing. A parent in a custody dispute kidnaps the children. A family member who is homeless and mentally ill disappears off the street. A loved one is murdered and there are few clues or no suspect.
No matter what the circumstances, police and relatives continue to search for those who are missing and wanted. They want the son, sister, or husband home. They want justice for the victims of crimes. They want the bad guys behind bars.
Find out what's happening in Carlsbadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Each day in October, our Patch sites will feature a different person who is missing and wanted in San Diego County. Look at their pictures. Have you seen them? Do you have information that might help them be located, or identify a suspect?
Each profile will have a phone number for you to call to provide information. Let’s help investigators close these cases!
Find out what's happening in Carlsbadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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