Muscatine County Attorney Alan R. Ostergren announced today that a charge of Murder in the First Degree has been filed against Hiram Serrano, Sr. (DOB: 6/13/1964), formerly of Muscatine, in connection with the death of Theresa Jackson.
The criminal complaint alleges that on November 14, 1990, Serrano slashed the throat of the victim and struck the neck of the victim. The complaint further alleges that the victim was left a quadriplegic as a result of her injuries. Serrano was arrested that date and charged with the offenses of Attempted Murder and Willful Injury. He was found guilty after a jury trial and was sentenced on May 3, 1991, to an indeterminate prison term of not to exceed 35 years. Serrano served approximately 13 years imprisonment before being paroled for these offenses.
The victim died October 5, 2012. The cause of death is alleged by the criminal complaint to be hydrocephalus due to fibrosis and adhesions of the exit foramina of the brain. The complaint further alleges that this condition was due to the injuries to the neck and spinal cord suffered on November 14, 1990. The manner of death was ruled to be homicide by the medical examiner.
Serrano was arrested today (February 21, 2013) by the Muscatine Police Department and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. He is being held in the Muscatine County Jail on $500,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 4, 2013, at 9:00 a.m.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed to be innocent.
