Bio

Angel P. Serna was born on May 19, 1923, in Franklin, Arizona. He was the fourth of eight siblings in his family. Growing up in a large household came with its own challenges. Angel attended school and managed to reach the sixth grade by the age of fifteen. However, he admitted that he did not enjoy school and was not a good student.

In his early adulthood, Angel worked mostly on ranches. From 1942 to 1945, he served in the ground forces of the Air Corps during World War II. After his service, he received an honorable discharge, but his military record included two instances of being court-martialed for drunkenness.

Angel's first brush with the law happened when he was twenty-four years old. He had been present during a store robbery and, despite claiming he was not guilty, he pled guilty based on advice he received. After serving time for this offense, he returned to work on ranches and preferred jobs where he could be alone. He expressed that being around many people made him feel nervous.

As an adult, Angel was not eager to share details about his past or his life after school. He often appeared defensive and struggled to communicate about his experiences. During a later interview while in prison, he showed signs of emotional instability and defensiveness. He described feelings of nervousness and sometimes thought the guards were upset with him, even when they treated him kindly.

Murder Story

On December 29, 1947, Angel P. Serna committed a murder near Apache Junction, Arizona. He went to a service station owned by Donald Thompson. In the station, he encountered Thompson's wife, Ferrie, and their two daughters. While in the station, he ordered a cup of coffee but then went to the back, where the customers were not present anymore.

When he returned, Serna drew a gun on Mrs. Thompson and ordered her and her daughters to another room. Mrs. Thompson initially thought he was joking, but when she realized he was serious, she told him the money was in the cash register. Without warning, Serna shot her in the chest. Mrs. Thompson and her daughters ran out of the back door towards the nearest station to seek help.

After the incident, law enforcement was notified. An extensive search led to Serna's capture near King's Ranch, about six miles from Apache Junction. During his time wandering, he encountered a cowboy named Paul Marchand, who noticed the blood on Serna's clothing. Serna asked Marchand for a ride. However, Marchand informed the police about the situation after Serna mentioned shooting two women.

The officers soon found Serna. After giving commands to drop his gun, they captured him. When he was arrested, he had in his possession Mrs. Thompson's belongings, including her car and personal items. Authorities later discovered that he had also been involved in a second murder when they investigated the home of another woman, Mrs. Cohen, who was also found dead.

Serna's gun was connected to both murders. After he was charged, he stood trial in May 1948. The jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to death. After his conviction, he attempted to appeal, but the courts upheld the death sentence. He was executed by asphyxiation-gas in Arizona on July 29, 1950.