Father, Juvenile Son Beat Man To Death, Assaulted Victim's Daughter In NJ: Prosecutor

VINELAND, NJ — A Cumberland County man and his juvenile son were arrested after beating a man to death and assaulting the victim's daughter on Sunday, authorities said.

Eric D. Hannah and his 17-year-old son — identified with the initials J.H. — were both charged in the incident that killed Louis "Gus" Serbeck, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.

On Saturday, J.H. assaulted Serbeck's daughter at the suspects' home in Vineland, authorities said. One day later, Serbeck and his daughter returned to the home to speak with Hannah about the incident.

Serbeck and J.H. met at the front door and got into a fight, which Hannah later joined, officials said. J.H. hit Serbeck's head several times with a metal baseball bat, and Hannah struck the back of the victim's head with a flashlight, according to prosecutors.

J.H. also struck Serbeck's daughter in the head during the fight, authorities said.

Vineland police and emergency personnel later reached the scene. Serbeck, 54, was brought to a city hospital to be flown to Cooper University Hospital, but he died while en route, authorities said.

Hannah, 55, was charged with murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses. He was placed in the Cumberland County Jail and has a detention hearing scheduled for Friday.

J.H. was charged with homicide, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, authorities said. He's detained at a juvenile facility as of Thursday.

Hannah's listed attorney did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation can contact Det. Christopher Fixler of the Vineland Police Department at 856-691-4111. Tips can also be sent to njccpo.gov/tips.