Deranged California dad Prospero Guadalupe Serna, 38, is arrested after he 'beat and stabbed to deat

A California dad has been arrested after he allegedly 'beaten and stabbed' his two children to death in what has been describing as 'an astonishing act of brutality'. 

Prospero Guadalupe Serna, 38, has been charged with attacking three of his children, and murdering two of them at a property in Lancaster, California. 

The alleged attack happened late on Saturday night when deputies responded to a frantic call from the mother of the children, according to the LA Times

All four children were found in a bedroom with lacerations, and two died after being taken to hospital. ABC News identified the two children as Ziasia and Najila Serna.

His other two children were in a stable condition with non life threatening injuries, prosecutors said. 

Prospero Guadalupe Serna has been charged with attacking three of his children, and murdering two of them at a property in Lancaster

Prospero Guadalupe Serna has been charged with attacking three of his children, and murdering two of them at a property in Lancaster

When police moved in to arrest Serna, he was seen with blood on his face and was shouting obscenities

When police moved in to arrest Serna, he was seen with blood on his face and was shouting obscenities

Serna was eventually chased by deputies who tackled him and detained him in the street, with footage of the scene being captured. 

His face was bloodied and he could be hearing shouting obscenities as officers arrested him.  

Serna was subsequently charged with two counts of murder, one of attempted murder, two of assault of a child causing death, and one count of child abuse. 

If convicted as charged, Serna will face a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole plus 25 years determinate in prison. 

District Attorney George Gascón said: 'Two young lives were abruptly cut short in an astonishing act of brutality.

'This is a profoundly heart-wrenching tragedy that has shaken our community to its core. 

'Our hearts ache for the innocent lives lost and those who will have to live the rest of their lives reliving a nightmare.

'The loss of these young souls is a stark reminder of the urgent need to protect the most vulnerable among us. 

'I want to assure the community that we are committed to seeking justice for these children.'

If convicted as charged, Serna will face a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole plus 25 years determinate in prison

If convicted as charged, Serna will face a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole plus 25 years determinate in prison

Public records show he has had frequent run ins with the law since at least 2005

Public records show he has had frequent run ins with the law since at least 2005

Lt. Daniel Vizcarra with the Sheriff's Department said: 'We don't know where exactly the attack occurred, but they were all found in one bedroom.

'This is traumatizing for everybody who's involved. All the deputies who responded, all the parties involved, the investigators, everyone.' 

Public records show he has had frequent run ins with the law since at least 2005, with the LA Times reporting a restraining order was filed against him in 2006. 

The outlet reported that he was charged with contempt of court and disobeying a court order also in 2006, and was convicted in 2009 of a lower charge of failure to appear. 

In Los Angeles, a woman also filed a restraining order in a domestic violence prevention case involving minor children.

In 2016, Serna was again hit with a restraining order that said he could not harass, attack or strike another woman who was the mother of his children. 

Public records show he has had frequent run ins with the law since at least 2005

Public records show he has had frequent run ins with the law since at least 2005

Serna had previously posted on his Facebook page about allegedly being held inside a psychiatric hospital

Serna had previously posted on his Facebook page about allegedly being held inside a psychiatric hospital 

Serna then lots custody of four of his children in July 2022 according to the Times, with the mother being awarded sole legal custody. 

Just a few days before his arrest, had had been calling for an end to violence in the Middle East. 

He had also posted about his own apparent struggles with mental health, with one post reading: 'Do u guys remember that time I told u guys I was tortured and injected with different drugs at a mental facility (Arrowhead regional) well I wasnt lying. 

'So don’t judge the way I think. How would u think if u were injected by an unknown poison? 

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