Accused Temecula CVS Killer Is Getting A Retrial

MURRIETA, CA — A jury was seated Wednesday for the retrial of a man accused of fatally bashing a 54-year-old woman with a liquor bottle while she was standing in line at a Temecula store.

Brian Eldon Saylor, 32, of Temecula could face 25 years to life in state prison if convicted of first-degree murder for the death of Tammy Serrano.

A Murrieta jury on Sept. 15 deadlocked 11-1 in favor of conviction, resulting in a mistrial.

After three days of jury selection, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Stephen Gallon swore in a panel to hear evidence over the next week at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta. Opening statements were scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday.

Saylor, who is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center, is acting as his own attorney for the second time.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Ray Huskey, deputies were called to the CVS/Pharmacy at 31771 Rancho California Road, in the shopping district just off of Meadows Parkway, to investigate reports of an assault on the afternoon of June 13, 2016.

Witnesses, including the victim's daughter, alleged that Serrano was standing in the checkout lane when a stranger -- Saylor -- walked up and struck her in the back of the head with a 750-milliliter bottle of Jim Beam whiskey.

Serrano died the next day at Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar. She and the defendant had no known prior encounters and a possible motive remains unclear.

When deputies arrived, pharmacy employees were holding the 6-foot-2, 240-pound Saylor, who was taken into custody without a fight, according to Huskey.

In addition to eyewitnesses, part of the attack was captured by store security surveillance video cameras.

An employee from a neighboring outlet told reporters that Saylor was often seen walking around the area and appeared intoxicated but did not seem violent.

Saylor has no documented prior felony convictions.

— By City News Service / Image via Riverside County Sheriff's Department