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A Wisconsin college professor has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his pregnant girlfriend and her dog and trying to eliminate the evidence by setting her house on fire.
Matthew R. Serra Arrested on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree intentional homicide of an unborn child, arson and alleged homicide followed by animal cruelty resulting in death Alexis Pickettaccording to jail records reviewed us weekly.
The La Crosse Fire Department responded to the home around 3:30 a.m. on Nov. 13 after receiving reports of a fire, according to the La Crosse Fire Department. criminal complaint. When firefighters entered the home, they found Pickett, 27, dead.
An autopsy was performed on Pickett’s body, which showed there was no soot in her lungs and low levels of carbon monoxide in her body. The findings mean she died before the fire. However, her cause of death has not yet been announced.
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Authorities also determined that Pickett’s dog was killed before the house caught fire.
Surveillance video shows Serra, 38, arriving at Pickett’s home around 12:45 p.m. on the day of his death. He left about two hours later, and when he got into his car, the home’s smoke alarm started going off.
In addition to being pregnant with Serra’s child, Pickett also shared a child with the professor. Police said they believed he wanted her to have an abortion and threatened to seek custody of their first child if she refused.
After the arrest, one of Pickett’s friends spoke with detectives and shared insights into the dynamics of her relationship with Serra. “All I know is they were on and off and fighting because he found out she was pregnant with his child and he wanted nothing to do with it,” the friend said.
Serra claimed he was at the gas station when the fire broke out. However, his cell phone data showed he was at Pickett’s home when the fire broke out, linking him to the crime.
One month after the fire, Police confirmed Serra was arrested on Tuesday, December 16, and taken to the La Crosse County Jail. Sierra remains in jail on $1 million bail. He will appear in court on Tuesday, December 23.
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It was unclear whether he had entered a plea or obtained legal representation.
“This was a very diligent, comprehensive and strategic investigation conducted in partnership with the La Crosse Fire Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigations and the Wisconsin State Fire Marshal’s Office,” said the La Crosse Police Chief. Sean Kudron said in a statement. “Our thoughts remain with the Pickett family.”
According to reports, Serra currently serves as a professor of mechanical design at Western Technical College in La Crosse, Wisconsin DimensionXOW. He has been placed on administrative leave as a result of his arrest.
