Louis Serbeck dedicated himself to bodybuilding and caring for his family. When his 19-year-old daughter, Brooke Serbeck, told her father someone had assaulted her, he didn’t hesitate to step in. On April 20, 2025, Serbeck, 54, went with his daughter to the home of Eric Hannah, 55, to confront him and his 17-year-old son about the alleged attack. The Serbeck and Hannah families reportedly shared a lifelong friendship. Sadly, it seems something changed that day, and it ended in tragedy.
Per a release from the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, Hannah’s son, J.H., opened the door for the Serbecks. A short time later, a physical altercation ensued. J.H. Hannah allegedly hit Serbeck on the head with a metal baseball bat. Per prosecutors, Eric Hannah allegedly joined in the attack and hit Serbeck in the head with a metal flashlight. As the attack continued, prosecutors say J.H. Hannah hit Serbeck’s daughter in the head.
Emergency responders arrived and took Louis Serbeck to an area hospital. He died a short time later.
Christopher Serbeck, the victim’s brother, spoke to WPVI about his brother and his kind-hearted nature.
“He would do anything for anyone. He would take the shirt off his back and give it to you, just cause you needed it. You call him, he’ll be there,” he said.
The grieving brother added that the fact the families were friends for so long made Serbeck’s death harder to understand. “A lifelong friend of the family. He went to school with my oldest brother. Known him our whole life,” Christopher Serbeck said, per WPVI. “No expectations of something like this happening at all.”
Kylie Chain created a GoFundMe account to help support Serbeck’s family. It surpassed the original $10,000 goal.
“Not only did they lose their father, son, brother, etc., but they lost him in the most crucial way as he was only doing what he does best, protecting his youngest daughter,” Chain wrote on the page. “He was one of the bravest, caring, outgoing, warmhearted, funny, and most protective men to be known. He would do anything for his two beautiful daughters, as many would know they were his lifeline!”
Serbeck leaves behind two daughters and two grandsons. According to his obituary, no one will forget him.
“There are many stories of Gus throughout our area; as with every Legend, the stories take a life of their own, they become myths, and those myths define the Legend. Gus’ Legendary life will never be forgotten, Gus will live on immortally through his many accomplishments,” the obituary reads in part. “The story of his death, is just one more myth that will define his Legendary life. He laid his life down to do what he does best, to protect his family; to protect his baby girl.”
Eric Hannah and J.H. Hannah each face homicide and weapons charges in connection with Serbeck’s death, the prosecutor’s statement notes. J.H. Hannah faces a separate assault charge related to Brooke Serbeck.
