
Daniela Tabares and accused murderer Yvonne Serrano of Coral Springs
By Ryan Yousefi
The case involving murder charges against Yvonne Serrano, the Coral Springs woman accused of the 2019 killing of Daniela Tabares Maya, has seen significant developments in recent weeks, including a change in Serrano’s legal representation.
Coral Springs Talk last reported on the status of Serrano’s case in March 2022. At that time, she was kicked out of a live-in drug rehabilitation facility where he was housed while awaiting trial for her alleged slaying of Maya.
At the time, roommates of the halfway house alleged Serrano was bullying and intimidating them, violating the conditions of her release that led to her re-arrest.
As the legal proceedings have continued, Coral Springs Talk has kept an eye on court documents to provide updates.
Here is an updated timeline of recent legal proceedings in 2023.
- June 8, Sealed Indictment and Formal Charges: On June 8, a sealed indictment was ordered, officially charging Yvonne Serrano with three crimes. The charges include murder in the first degree with a firearm and two counts of tampering with physical evidence.
- June 9, Special Instructions for No Bond: The following day, on June 9, special instructions are sent to the state, with the court ordering NO BOND for Yvonne Serrano, emphasizing the seriousness of the charges against her.
- June 12, Invocation of Fifth Amendment Right: On June 12, Yvonne Serrano invokes her fifth-amendment right to remain silent. From then on, she declines to answer any further questions from law enforcement, asserting her right to avoid self-incrimination.
- June 22, Arraignment and Plea: An arraignment is held on June 22, during which Yvonne Serrano enters a Not Guilty plea. The court schedules a hearing for July 28 at 9:00 a.m. to continue the legal process.
- June 28, Public Defender Motion to Withdraw Representation: On June 28, the law office of the Public Defender filed a motion to withdraw representation of Yvonne Serrano. The motion cites that Clarisa Mondejar, currently employed at the Public Defender’s office, may be subject to cross-examination in the case, potentially creating an adverse interest to Serrano. A hearing is set for July 10 to address this matter.
- July 11, Public Defender’s Motion Granted: The motion to withdraw representation of Yvonne Serrano is granted on July 11. As a result, the court appoints a new public defender from the Criminal and Coceral Region Counsel for the fourth district to represent Serrano. A hearing date is subsequently scheduled for July 19.
- July 19, Hearing Date Deleted from Docket: As of July 19, the scheduled hearing has been deleted from the docket.
In 2019, Serrano was arrested after Maya was found deceased with a gunshot wound to the forehead in her driveway.
Although first claiming not to know who the dead body in her driveway could be, following a thorough investigation by Coral Springs Police, it was determined that Serrano, the initial 911 caller, was responsible for shooting and killing Maya.
CSPD discovered that the day before the incident, Maya and Serrano were seen together at World of Beer in Coconut Creek, part of a larger group of friends who attend the same gym.
Surveillance footage showed them leaving the bar together before 2:00 a.m., and Serrano contacted the police at 5:55 a.m., reporting the discovery of an unknown female’s body in her driveway.
During the police interview, Serrano initially claimed she had no recollection of how she got home but later changed her story, stating she woke up to find the victim’s body in her driveway.
As a result of the investigation, Serrano was arrested and charged with Tampering with Physical Evidence, including deleting footage from her doorbell camera, and Murder in the Second Degree. She was subsequently taken into custody and transported to Broward County Jail.
Send Your News to Coral Springs #1 Award-Winning News Site Here. Don’t miss reading Parkland Talk, Tamarac Talk, Coconut Creek Talk, and Margate Talk.
Author Profile
Related
Crime & SafetyJune 30, 2025Coral Springs Man Threatens Ex-Wife With Hammer After 911 Warning
NewsJune 30, 2025Dollar Tree Set to Open New Location in Maplewood Plaza
NewsJune 30, 2025Hurricane Grill & Wings Closes Coral Springs Location After Years of Service
Crime & SafetyJune 22, 2025Check, Please!: Woman Arrested After Allegedly Slapping Chase Bank Teller in the Face with a Check