David Mabrito has been identified as the lead suspect in the February 14, 2007 murder of 39-year-old Jodine Serrin in Carlsbad, California. Serrin had been sexually assaulted, and she died from blunt force trauma to her head. The case was cleared by exception due to the death of Mabrito.
Serrin was developmentally disabled but was able to live on her own. Her parents checked in on her often. They went to her apartment at 10:00 pm on Valentine’s Day and found a man in her bedroom. They waited in the living room for him to leave. When he did not, they went back into Serrin’s bedroom and found him gone. She had been sexually assaulted and beaten and had died from strangulation. She was cold to the touch at that point, indicating that she may have died up to several hours before her parents arrived.
The FIGG investigation was conducted by Barbara Rae-Venter, with assistance from Colleen Fitzpatrick, and Parabon Nanolabs. The confirmation to Mabrito’s DNA was made through a law enforcement sample that the Oceanside Police Department had on file. This DNA sample was taken at a traffic stop when Mabrito was a suspect in an unrelated crime but was never processed. Mabrito died shortly after the sample was taken, committing suicide in 2011.
Another disabled male who was known to Jodine was investigated as a suspect in the case. He was cleared of involvement after providing a DNA sample.
Sources:
City of Carlsbad Police Department. “Using Advancements in DNA Marching Technology.” Facebook (Post), November 13, 2018. Accessed December 31, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/CarlsbadPoliceDepartment/posts/2066076076833153.
Figueroa, Teri. “Genealogy Helps Solve 2007 Murder Mystery of Woman Killed in Carlsbad Apartment.” San Diego Union-Tribune, November 13, 2018. Accessed December 26, 2020. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/sd-me-serrin-solved-20181113-story.html.
Garske, Monica. “DNA Technology Identifies Suspect in Woman’s Unsolved Valentine’s Day 2007 Killing.” NBC San Diego, November 13, 2018, last modified November 18, 2018. Accessed December 26, 2020. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/jodine-serrin-carlsbad-cold-case-murder-suspect-david-mabrito/168412/.
Thompson, Emily. “The Unsolved Valentine Murder of Jodine Serrin.” Morbidology, June 16, 2018. Accessed December 26, 2020. https://morbidology.com/the-unsolved-valentine-murder-of-jodine-serrin/.