Man With Five Prior Domestic Assault Convictions Held Without Bond After Recorded Threat to Kill
Updated: 5 days ago
TROY, Mo. — Five domestic-assault convictions spanning 15 years were already on Ignacio Serna’s record when a Ring doorbell captured a new threat outside a Troy home Tuesday evening.
Minutes later, the victim’s phone began ringing. Three calls came within one minute, followed by another call and continued text messages. By the end of the night, Serna was back in custody. The following day, a Lincoln County judge ordered him held without bond.
Ignacio Serna, Troy, Mo.
CHARGES
Aggravated DWI — Class D felony
Harassment, first degree — Class E felony
Driving while revoked or suspended — Class E felony
Domestic assault, fourth degree — Class A misdemeanor
Serna arrived at the home shortly after 6:20 p.m. Oct. 28 and knocked on the front door. The victim kept the door closed.
As Serna turned to leave, he yelled that “he would kill” the victim if someone was around the children. The threat was captured and recorded by the home’s Ring doorbell.
The victim was shaken, nervous and wiping away tears when an officer arrived. The victim expressed fear about what Serna might do.
Then the phone began ringing.
Three calls came from an unknown number within one minute. The victim answered the third call on speakerphone, and Serna identified himself on the other end.
He immediately began demanding to know who was inside the home. His voice grew angry, he began swearing and he said he was heading back to the residence before ending the call.
Serna called again about one minute later. This time, the officer spoke with him directly and told him to stop contacting the victim.
Serna responded with racial slurs. Even after being told to stop, the text messages continued.
Police located Serna later that evening during a traffic stop. He was arrested and taken to Mercy Hospital Lincoln for a fit-for-confinement examination before being transported to the Lincoln County Jail.
At the hospital, Serna denied visiting the home and claimed his only contact with the victim had been by phone. The Ring recording showed a man wearing a white shirt and blue-and-black gym shorts—the same clothing Serna was wearing when he was arrested.
Serna later acknowledged being at the residence but continued to deny making the threat.
His confrontation with the officer also escalated. Serna’s face turned red, veins became visible in his face and neck, and he began shaking, yelling and swearing.
“Get out of my face,” he yelled.
Serna was on parole for possession of a controlled substance when the latest case was filed.
The arrest warrant also charges Serna with aggravated DWI and driving while revoked or suspended. The probable-cause statement does not provide the circumstances supporting those two charges beyond his arrest during a traffic stop.
The new case adds another chapter to a domestic-assault record dating to 2010.
Serna was convicted of third-degree domestic assault in Callaway County in 2010 and 2014 and in Cole County in 2011 and 2015. In June 2025, he was convicted of fourth-degree domestic assault in St. Charles County.
He was also convicted that day of violating an adult order of protection.
Judge Michael R. Jacobs signed the latest warrant Oct. 29 and ordered Serna held without bond. The court found “clear and convincing evidence” that no combination of financial or nonfinancial release conditions would protect the victim, witnesses, the community or another person.
Serna remains in custody. No hearing was listed when this article was published.
The victim’s identity and identifying details are being withheld.
All charges are allegations. Serna is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Sources
Troy Police Department probable-cause statement dated Oct. 29, 2026, report No. 26-9638
Arrest warrant and no-bond order issued in Lincoln County case No. 26L6-CR00702
Missouri Case.net docket information for case No. 26L6-CR00702
Custody information reviewed by Lincoln CountyWatch
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