Connie Serbu, 43, was found guilty as charged with Second Degree Murder following a trial in
Collier County. She faces up to life in prison when she is sentenced on January 3rd.
In June 2016 the defendant contacted an 18-year-old boy offering him a way to make easy
money. She met up with him in July of 2016 and confronted him, along with her brother, about
alleged allegations from her daughter. Serbu and her brother then drove the victim to a secluded
area in Naples. They had two stun guns, two handguns, an ice pick and a potato to silence the
gun.
The victim ran after getting out of the car and was chased. Serbu and her brother began firing at
the victim hitting him multiple times as he ran. They caught up with him in nearby mangroves
and the defendant began fighting with the victim over the gun. The gun discharged resulting in
the death of John Vargas, the defendant’s brother. Shortly thereafter Serbu was able to subdue
the victim and shot him one final time in the chest, killing him.
The Naples Police Department investigated the crime scene with assistance from the Collier
County Sheriff’s Office. They were able to develop evidence leading to Serbu’s arrest in August
2017 for murder.
Assistant State Attorney Steve Maresca and Collier County Deputy Chief Assistant State
Attorney Nicole Mirra prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
ssyoen@sao20.org
239-533-1125