Breaking News
Home > 1

Nelson Serrano Sentenced to Death

MICHAEL WILSON/The Ledger
Buy photo
Maria Jacoby, right, hugs Phil Dosso, her former father-in-law, after Circuit Judge Susan Roberts sentenced Nelson Serrano to four death sentences.

By Suzie Schottelkotte
The Ledger

Published: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 8:50 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 3:00 p.m.

Polk Circuit Judge Susan Roberts today sentenced mass murderer Nelson Serrano to death for the murders of four people in 1997.

Related Links:

Click to enlarge
Circuit Judge Susan Roberts reads her order sentencing Nelson Serrano to four death sentences, one for each victim . Buy photo
MICHAEL WILSON/The Ledger


Click to enlarge
Convicted murderer Nelson Serrano shows no emotion as he leaves the courtroom after Circuit Judge Susan Roberts sentenced him to four death sentences, one for each victim during Serrano's sentencing hearing at the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow, Florida Tuesday. Serrano was convicted on four counts of first degree murder last last October for killing Frank Dosso, George Patisso, Diane Patisso, and George Gonsalves at the Erie Manufacturing plant in Bartow in December of 1997 where he was a partner in the business. Buy photo
MICHAEL WILSON/The Ledger


Click to enlarge
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent Tommy Ray, left, flanked by Assistant State Attorney John Aguero, right, smiles just slightly as he looks toward family members of murder victims Frank Dosso, George Patisso, Diane Patisso and George Gonsalves. Buy photo
MICHAEL WILSON/The Ledger


Click to enlarge
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent Tommy Ray, left, greets Nicoletta Dosso, mother of murder victims Frank Dosso, Diane Patisso, and mother-in-law of a third victim, George Patisso. Buy photo
MICHAEL WILSON/The Ledger


Click to enlarge
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent Tommy Ray, left, greets Phil Dosso outside the courtroom. Buy photo
MICHAEL WILSON/The Ledger

Serrano, 68, was found guilty late last year of murdering four at Erie Manufacturing in Bartow. Those who were slain were George Patisso Jr., 27, George Gonsalves, Frank Dosso and Diane Dosso Patisso. It is the worst mass murder in Polk County history.

Prosecutors said during the trial that Serrano killed his former partner, Gonsalves, and the two men in a dispute over the business. Diane Patisso is thought to have been killed when she walked in on the other murders.

Serrano did not flinch during the sentencing, which took about 10 minutes. Roberts sentenced him to death for each of the murders, and left without saying the customary "May God have mercy on your soul."

For more information on this story, see The Ledger or theledger.com on Wednesday.

To see the court order sentencing Serrano to death, click here.


Comments

Only moderator-approved comments are shown on this page. To see all comments, please visit the forum.
    Post a comment | View all comments on this topic.

Next Article in