Florida | Nelson Serrano, who spent over 3 decades on death row, dies at 85

Nelson Serrano died today [Aug 8] after being hospitalized for quite some time with a terminal condition. Serrano spent over 3 decades on Florida’s death row and was almost 86 years-old.

Serrano was awaiting a new penalty phase that was granted in 2017 after Hurst. He maintained his innocence throughout his time on death row.

DOC’s records have not yet been updated. His current location is listed as “Unknown” and he is still listed on the Death Row Roster.

Background

Nelson Serrano was sentenced to death for crimes that occurred in 1997 following the jury’s recommendations for death by a vote of 9-3 on four counts of first-degree murder. He was in his late 50s at the time of the crime and has always maintained his innocence.

The Florida Supreme Court originally affirmed his sentences of death on direct appeal in 2011.2 In 2017, Serrano was granted a new penalty phase in light of Hurst. His new penalty phase remains pending.

Nelson Serrano hospitalized with terminal illness

A Forbes article written by Serrano’s attorney published on July 19 said:

Nelson Serrano is dying in a hospital bed in Jacksonville, Florida. He has a brain tumor that has left him bedridden, on the verge of unconsciousness, and with several silent blood clots that are accumulating in his legs and are on their way to his heart. The situation is hopeless, the doctors have said.

The article further states that Serrano’s family did not learn of his condition from the prison but, instead, from another prisoner at Raiford who called the family to advise them of Serrano’s condition.

A Twitter account run by Serrano’s family posted similar information on July 19:

Serrano has a brain tumor, he became unconscious without medical assistance, nobody from Raiford prison notified Nelson's family, they found out thanks to the call of another prisoner, Nelson is in the hospital, he has a brain tumor that has left him prostrate, on the verge of unconsciousness, and with several silent clots that accumulate in his legs and are on their way to the heart. The situation is irremediable, the doctors have said.

On Monday, July 22, the account posted that “Ecuadorian Nelson Serrano is dying in a Florida hospital,” and “his children ask[ed] Governor Ron DeSantis to let them be by his side in his last hours of life.” Serrano’s son was interviewed on the news in Ecuador on July 22, and the video (which is in Spanish) can be found here.

Yesterday evening, an account for Francisco Serrano (Serrano’s son) posted that “Ecuador sent a letter to Gov DeSantis this morning requesting clemency so Nelson Serrano’s family can be by his side immediately.”

Serrano is still listed on the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) death row roster. The DOC Inmate Search shows his sentence as pending because he was granted a new penalty phase in 2017, which remains pending. The docket indicates a status conference is set for August 16.

Source: fladeathpenalty.substack.com, Staff, August 8, 2024

Nelson Serrano, el ecuatoriano condenado a la pena de muerte en Estados Unidos, murió por un infarto

Nelson Serrano murió por un infarto, tras años de permanecer preso en el ‘corredor de la muerte’ en una cárcel de Estados Unidos, donde fue condenado a la pena de muerte. Su familia indicó que lucharán por demostrar su inocencia. Su caso ha sido blanco de críticas pues se lo acusó de haber cometido una masacre.

A los 85 años, el 7 de julio de 2024, murió Nelson Serrano, ecuatoriano que estuvo en el llamado corredor de la muerte de Estados Unidos. Oscar Vela, abogado del ecuatoriano escribió: “Nelson Serrano ha fallecido de un infarto anoche en el Hospital de Jacksonville (…) Finalmente es libre, ahora nos queda luchar por su inocencia”.

Serrano fue condenado a la pena muerte (desde 2006) en Estados Unidos, acusado por el asesinato de Frank Dosso, Diane Patisso, George Patisso y Geror Gonsalves, el 3 de diciembre de 1997 en la ciudad de Bartow, en Florida.

En 2007, la jueza Susan Roberts lo condenó a muerte por inyección letal, pero su defensa sostenía que él era inocente ya que cuando se cometió el delito no estaba en Bartow sino en Atlanta. Fue así que la defensa logró posponer varias veces que sea ejecutado.

Su historia inspiró el documental ‘Soy Inocente’ y cuenta cómo Serrano fue detenido en Ecuador y llevado a Estados Unidos.

Nelson en los más de 20 años que estuvo encarcelado– según su familia– mantenía la esperanza de que se le declarar libre.

Fuente: lahora.com.ec, Staff, Agosto 8, 2024

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