Convicted rapist vanishes after cutting off GPS, last seen in Panorama City

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A convicted rapist who was out on parole cut off his GPS monitor and vanished. Police are asking for the public's help to track him down.

Joseph Serapiglia, 43, was last seen near the intersection of Sepulveda and Roscoe boulevards in Panorama City last Friday, according to authorities.

Detectives said Serapiglia is a dangerous felon who has shown violent behavior in the past.

"This is an individual who has shown a propensity towards violence. In 1991, he committed a heinous act on an individual, a very young mother of two, committed crimes against her," described LAPD Officer Jack Richter.

Serapiglia was sentenced to 42 years in prison for attempted murder and rape. 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.

Serapiglia is described as a Hispanic male, about 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing about 175 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and a thick mustache.

If you have any information about Serapiglia's whereabouts, you're urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department at (877) LAPD-24-7. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.