The Deck: “Jodine Serrin (7 of Diamonds, California) – Part 2”

Podcast: The Deck
Host: Ashley Flowers (audiochuck)
Episode Date: August 27, 2025

Overview

This powerful episode of The Deck continues the story of the tragic murder of Jodine Serrin (“Jody”), focusing on the unique and rarely explored perspective of the killer’s ex-wife, Marissa Mabrito. Rather than recounting the case from the point of investigators or victims’ families, this episode gives voice to someone who loved, trusted, and shared a life with the perpetrator, David Mabrito. Through an extended and emotional interview, Marissa shares her memories, struggles, and heartbreak, grappling with the aftermath of both domestic trauma and shocking discovery. The show also traces how investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) helped solve the crime—a landmark for law enforcement—and addresses the overlooked needs of families related to offenders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Marissa and David’s Relationship — Origins and Dynamics

[03:38]–[13:30]

• Meeting David (1995): Marissa, then 16, met David (10 years older) on the beach in Oceanside, CA. A whirlwind romance began immediately.

  • “I'm gonna marry him and have his kids, and they're gonna have his eyes and my nose. And that's pretty much what happened.” — Marissa ([04:17])

• Early Relationship Struggles: Both dealt with substance abuse (meth), rushed into living together, and navigated volatile episodes, including violent incidents while David was high.

  • “He had me pinned on the couch and had dislocated my shoulders … the police came and he was arrested. That was the second time.” — Marissa ([06:15])

• Sobriety and Normalcy: After entering drug court, David got sober, and the couple’s life stabilized. He was attentive and active as a father after their son (“Dan”) was born.

  • “Once we had our son, everything was about him. And the sun rose and set on our son.” — Marissa ([08:16])

2. Fractures in the Marriage and Unusual Co-Parenting

[08:51]–[13:53]

• Growing Apart: The age gap and diverging interests, as well as David's infidelity, led to the couple’s separation and eventual amicable divorce. Despite this, they maintained open, intertwined custody—they continued holidays and family events together, often sharing the same home.

  • “We did it amicably. … We literally wrote something up on a piece of paper.” — Marissa ([10:51])

• David’s Instability: By 2007, David struggled financially and emotionally, frequently sleeping on Marissa’s couch due to unstable housing.

  • “When things got rough, he would sleep on Marissa’s couch. That’s where he was staying on Valentine’s Day 2007.” — Ashley ([12:29])

3. The Crime and Years of Oblivion

[12:29]–[16:59]

• Jodine’s Murder: After committing Jody’s brutal murder, David returned to Marissa’s home undetected. Marissa saw no change in his behavior.

  • “I never noticed anything. … I didn’t. And I don’t know if it was just me being oblivious, or I had focus elsewhere. I don’t know.” — Marissa ([13:30])

• Appearance and Behavior: The only change, Marissa notes, was David shaving his head—a behavior not unusual for him, thus not a red flag.

  • “He literally went from one extreme to the other. Long hair to bicking his head. So it wasn’t out of the norm…” — Marissa ([25:01])

• Police Perspective: Despite being a "regular guy" with no violent record, David flew under law enforcement’s radar for years.

  • “He’s not what you would picture in your head of some offender … Like some monster, right.” — Lt. Kovanda ([14:06])

4. David’s Suicide and Years Without Answers

[16:59]–[19:06]

• David’s Death (2011): After being DNA-swabbed (due to suspicion of an unrelated crime) but never processed, David falls into a spiral and dies by overdose—unexplained to Marissa and Dan for years.

  • “There was no warning, and he left no note. Until the toxicology report came back, they weren’t even sure that it was a suicide.” — Ashley ([16:59])

• Years of Guilt: Without clarity, Marissa and her son blamed themselves for his death, seeking support in suicide loss groups and lionizing his memory—until the truth surfaced.

5. Truth Revealed: Genetic Genealogy and the Aftermath

[19:06]–[35:56]

• Investigators Connect the Dots (2018): Using IGG, the Carlsbad PD identifies David through family DNA. Marissa’s own genealogy account and voluntary DNA sample from her and her son confirm the match.

  • “They said that with the DNA samples from Marisa and Dan, they could say with confidence that David was Jody’s killer.” — Ashley ([19:53])

• Confrontation and Recognition: During questioning, Marissa recognizes David’s shoes in crime scene photos.

  • “I knew that they were David’s because I bought them, and I got sick to my stomach.” — Marissa ([20:55])

• Devastation and Guilt: The confirmation destroys Marissa, who is wracked with anger, confusion, and guilt—not only for herself but for their son, grappling with their family’s new, horrifying reality.

  • “It destroyed me. … I had to go to the bathroom, and I got sick and couldn’t believe, like, what I was hearing.” — Marissa ([22:18], [23:51])

• Community Compassion: The Serrins, Jody’s family, express concern for Marissa’s son in the wake of the news.

  • “The first thing that Art asked is, what’s going to happen to the boy? … The depth of humanity involved … was really touching.” — Lt. Kovanda ([23:25])

• Impact of Publicity: Media swarm Marissa; she withdraws, overwhelmed by shame and scrutiny, including online harassment.

  • “Every day for a month straight, she couldn’t focus. She racked her brain to try and figure out if there were any signs at all … there weren’t.” — Ashley ([24:28])

6. Processing Trauma, Shame & the Unyielding Search for Answers

[26:00]–[36:44]

• Haunted by ‘What Ifs’: Marissa is tormented by the question: Why Jody and not her? Was she ever at risk?

  • “Was I ever in danger or was I the exception? Why her and why not me? Why? It just never made sense.” — Marissa ([30:44])

• Struggles of Offenders’ Families: Marissa faces a unique pain: defending her son and herself while reconciling the person she loved with the evil he committed.

  • “I would get angry because they would say something. It’s like I want to defend him … but at the same time, I’m so angry…” — Marissa ([31:39])

• Enduring Impact: Marissa and Dan continue to bear the stigma and emotional weight, even as they maintain a connection with the Serrin family and strive to process the trauma.

  • “Every Valentine’s Day, she goes to the cemetery and places flowers on Jody’s grave. And she actually still keeps in touch with the Serrins.” — Ashley ([35:35])

• Need for Specialized Support: The episode highlights a lack of dedicated support for families of offenders, with Marissa expressing a desire for community and resources that do not yet exist.

  • “If you want the compassion for the victim, have the compassion for the victims of the perpetrator’s family … They didn’t do it either.” — Marissa ([34:12])

7. Legacy and Law Enforcement Innovation

[36:44]–[40:16]

• IGG Training Advances: Jody Serrin’s case helped spur new IGG training nationwide, led by Lt. Kovanda and Aaron Tomlinson, reaching thousands of law enforcement personnel and enhancing cold case resolution capabilities.

  • “In the first run of the course … there were over 3,000 participants. … [It] has continued to run every couple of months across the country.” — Ashley ([38:43])

• Marissa’s Advocacy: Marissa bravely shares her experience at conferences to help investigators better understand and support relatives of offenders.

  • “It’s really cathartic. And if somebody can … have better tools to deal with the perpetrator’s family and know that they’re victims too, then I think the process goes so much better for everybody involved.” — Marissa ([39:33])

• Call to Action: Ashley urges listeners to contribute to public DNA databases and for those in Marissa’s position to reach out, aiming to fill the gap in family support for offenders’ relatives.

Memorable Quotes & Emotional Moments

On the surreal double life:

• “You can still find it [David’s obituary] online next to a smiling photo of him. And it still reads, ‘his love and selflessness will endure forever…’ The obituary site makes it shockingly clear just how much David was truly living a double life.” — Ashley ([33:19])

On inherited guilt and stigma:

• “Dan has wondered aloud to Marissa if there's any chance that the bad stuff got passed down, too. For Marissa, that's the most difficult conversation to have.” — Ashley ([34:48])

On the need for empathy:

• “‘If you want the compassion for the victim, have the compassion for the victims of the perpetrator’s family…’” — Marissa ([34:12])

On lingering grief and questions:

• “I always process this. I think it’s going to be a forever thing. It’s not something that you can really deal with…” — Marissa ([36:05])

Important Timestamps

• [04:17] Marissa predicts her future with David upon first meeting him.
• [06:15]/[07:04] Violent episode during drug use.
• [13:30] Marissa reflects on not noticing anything after the murder.
• [16:59] David's suicide and the years of confusion that followed.
• [19:53] Investigators confirm David as Jody’s killer via family DNA.
• [20:55] Marissa recognizes David’s shoes from crime scene photos—turning point in her realization.
• [22:18]/[23:51] Marissa describes being “destroyed” and overwhelmed with guilt.
• [23:25] Serrin family’s concern for Marissa’s son.
• [25:01] Only change in David’s behavior: shaving his head.
• [26:06] Marissa’s obsession with knowing every detail.
• [30:44] Marissa’s fear: could she have been a victim?
• [31:39] The unique pain and shame in being the killer’s family.
• [34:12] Compassion urged for offenders’ relatives.
• [36:05] Marissa’s grief is a “forever thing.”
• [38:43] IGG training now reaching thousands nationwide.

Conclusion

This episode is an unflinching look at the ripple effects of violent crime—beyond the victim’s immediate circle—illuminating the overlooked grief and upheaval borne by offenders’ families. Through Marissa’s candid testimony, listeners gain a rare empathy for secondary victims and the complexities of living with tragic, shameful truths. The episode is also a testament to the power of genetic genealogy in the pursuit of justice and highlights urgent calls for more compassionate, holistic support for all those touched by crime.

If you or someone you know is a family member of an offender and seeking support, or know of resources for families in this unique situation, the hosts encourage you to contact them. DNA uploads to public databases (with law enforcement opt-in) are also encouraged to help solve cold cases.