Man Accused Of Killing Temecula Woman At Local CVS With Liquor Bottle Must Stand Trial, Judge Says

MURRIETA, CA – A man accused of fatally striking a 54-year-old woman standing in line at a Temecula store must stand trial for murder, a judge ruled Thursday. Brian Eldon Saylor, 32, of Temecula was charged last June for allegedly inflicting severe head trauma that ultimately claimed the life of Tammy Serrano, also of Temecula.

Following a preliminary hearing at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, Riverside County Superior Court Judge John Monterosso found there was sufficient evidence to warrant a trial and scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for May 18.

Saylor, who is being held without bail at the Southwest Detention Center, is acting as his own attorney.

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

Deputies learned from witnesses, including the victim's daughter, that she was standing in the checkout lane when a stranger – later identified as Saylor – walked up and struck her in the back of the head with a large liquor bottle.

The victim died the next day at Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar.

When deputies arrived, pharmacy employees were holding the 6-foot-2, 240- pound Saylor, who was taken into custody without incident, 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 the defendant was often seen walking around the area and sometimes appeared drunk, but did not seem violent.

He has no documented prior felony convictions.

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