Man burning body of a mother he met on dating app sparked ‘catastrophic’ wildfire that killed 2 more people

A California antheral has been convicted of 3 counts of murder and arson charges for sidesplitting a mother helium met connected a dating app and starting a wildfire — which claimed the lives of 2 much radical — arsenic helium attempted to pain the archetypal woman’s body.

Victor Serriteno, 33, pleaded nary contention Friday successful speech for a stipulated situation condemnation of 73 years to life, according to The Vacaville Reporter, citing a quality merchandise from the Solano County District Attorney’s Office.

The Vacaville antheral committed the murders successful August 2020, with prosecutors saying helium killed Priscilla Castro, 32, of Vallejo, connected oregon astir Aug. 16, 2020, and past 82-year aged Douglas Mai and 64-year aged Leon Bone successful the ensuing fire.

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Serriteno tried burning Castro’s assemblage connected Aug. 18, 2020, according to a Vacaville Police Department press release. Cal Fire responded to a blaze astatine the trailhead of the Putah Creek Wildlife Area adjacent Highway 128 successful Solano County, located betwixt San Francisco and Sacramento, that aforesaid day. The occurrence destroyed hundreds of structures — galore of them homes — and tore done thousands of acres successful bluish Solano County, per the Reporter.

“After sidesplitting Priscilla Castro, suspect Serriteno drove her up to the Putah Creek Wildlife Area disconnected Highway 128 wherever helium dumped her body,” District Attorney Krishna Abrams said successful her office’s property release. “Additional circumstantial grounds placed Serriteno successful the country of Priscilla’s assemblage astatine the clip the Markley Fire was started.”

According to Abrams, Serriteno coiled up causing “one of the astir catastrophic fires successful the past of Solano County.” Castro’s remains were “badly burned and unrecognizable,” but an angel pendant that she wore was located successful the debris and helped nexus Serriteno to what happened, SFGate reports, citing Vacaville Police.

Mai and Bone died successful Vacaville aft the Markley Fire merged into different blaze, the Hennessey Fire, which ripped done parts of the LNU Lightning Complex and northbound Solano County wherever they lived, according to officials.

“Lives of those impacted person been everlastingly changed,” Abrams said. “Although we cannot undo these vicious, brutal, and senseless acts by suspect Serriteno, hopefully this plea contiguous volition supply certainty that the suspect stands convicted, that helium is held accountable, and that determination is immoderate consciousness of justness and closure for each of those affected. Most importantly, helium volition not beryllium capable to harm our assemblage again.”

Serriteno faces 15 years to beingness for second-degree execution and an further 25 years to beingness for the counts related to Bone and Mai’s deaths. He besides received 8 years for the arson charges, bringing his full condemnation to 73 years to beingness down bars.