Convicted rapist found hiding under mattress in Palmdale after cutting off GPS monitor

PALMDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- A convicted rapist who cut off his GPS monitor while out on parole was taken into custody by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies Wednesday after being found in the Antelope Valley.

Joseph Serapiglia, 43, was arrested after being found hiding under a mattress at a residence in the 36000 block of Auburn Court in Palmdale at 3:45 a.m. Deputies responding to a burglary alarm found Serapiglia during a search of the residence.

He initially gave the deputies several false names, deputies said. Serapiglia, 43, had last been seen near the intersection of Sepulveda and Roscoe boulevards in Panorama City last Friday.

Detectives described Serapiglia as a dangerous felon who had shown violent behavior in the past.

Serapiglia was sentenced to 42 years in prison for attempted murder and rape on July 30, 1991. After serving 23 years of his sentence, he was released to live in the city of San Fernando in April 2014.

He was fitted with a court-ordered GPS device just a few days before he cut it off and disappeared Friday.

Serapiglia is being held without bail on the parole violation. A second suspect, identified as 40-year-old Adrian Madrigal, was also arrested for being under the influence. Their relationship, if any, remains unknown.