A Vacaville man was sentenced to 73 years to life in prison Thursday in connection with three murders – two caused by the LNU Lightning Complex fire he set in an attempt to cover the first killing.
Victor Serriteno, 33, a previously convicted felon, pleaded no contest earlier this year to killing Priscilla Castro, 32, of Vallejo, in the afternoon or early evening of Aug. 16, 2020, then burning her body on Aug. 18, which started the Markley Fire near Lake Berryessa. It merged into the Hennessey Fire and later became part of the LNU Lightning Complex, leading to the deaths of two men – Leon Bone and Douglas Mai — in rural Vacaville, and destroying numerous homes and property.
The sentencing followed emotional testimony from the families and friends of those who lost their lives, who filled the courtroom and took turns sharing heart-wrenching stories about their losses.
Jasmin Castro, Priscilla’s sister, described her as “a beautiful soul, inside and out. She wasn’t just my big sister — she was my friend. There are days I still want to call or text her to talk. She always wanted the best for me.”
Lisa Phelps, Priscilla’s mother, spoke of her daughter’s transformation after she became a Christian.
“She was making real changes. The night before she died, she called and we had a long conversation about her dreams,” she said. “She wanted to own her own hair salon, own a family business and maybe even get married and settle down one day. She had never talked like that before so I knew there was something new in this.”
And then she addressed Serriteno directly. “I know without a doubt where she is. She is in heaven in the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Do you know where you are going?” she asked. “You will have time now, to get right with the Lord. The fire you set was blazing but it’s nothing compared to Hell.”
Francis Reynolds, a survivor of the wildfire, recalled escaping the flames but losing everything else — her home, her pets, her memories. “This wasn’t an act of nature,” she told the court. “This was caused by one man.”
Jeff Shamrock, neighbor and friend of victim Douglas Mai, remembered the horrifying task of searching for Mai in the aftermath. “There is no place in civil society for a cold, calculated killer,” he said. “And that’s what he is.”
Other friends and loved ones echoed similar sentiments, calling Serriteno a coward and expressing hope that he would never find peace again — that the memory of Priscilla and the others would haunt him for the rest of his life.
“You didn’t just end one life,” her brother Xavier Francis said. “You shredded many others. Priscilla deserves to be remembered. Her life mattered.”
Emelina Corona, one of Castro’s close friends, said through tears, “You tore a hole through every single person who knew and loved her. Your prison time will never equal the pain you caused. But she will live on — long after you are forgotten.”
Throughout the years leading up to the sentencing and again on Thursday, families pleaded for an answer to one question: Why?
Ultimately they are left without an answer.
Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams, who prosecuted the case, pointed out that Serriteno “murdered and burned Priscilla, hoping she would never be identified — and he almost got away with it.” She added that when the fire was set, others were forced to make a devastating choice: fight or flee. Some never made it out.
“This wasn’t just one life lost,” Abrams said. “This shattered many lives, a family, and an entire community.”
She asked Judge Janice Williams to ask him directly to comment but defense attorney Felicia Carrington interceded on his behalf, saying he would have no comment.
The judge imposed the stipulated sentence: 15 years to life for the second-degree murder of Priscilla Castro, 25 years to life each for the first-degree murders of Leon Bone and Douglas Mai, and 8 years for arson and related charges.
Totaling 73 years to life, the sentence ensures that Serriteno will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars, Abrams noted after the hearing.
Before imposing the sentence, Judge Williams said, “You didn’t just take one life. You shattered many by your actions.”