Brian Messina, a 42-year-old resident of Anza, California, was found dead on November 29, 2020, in a remote area of Bautista Road. His death was the result of a brutal murder, which involved severe beating and a fatal gunshot wound. The investigation revealed that Messina was targeted by three individuals who suspected him of gathering evidence against them related to a series of armed thefts at illegal cannabis cultivation sites in the Anza Valley.
The suspects, Joe Anthony Serna, Nico Manuel Zahir, and George Frank Holley Jr., believed that Messina was secretly recording their conversations and feared he might betray them.
The events leading to Messina's death began with a confrontation at a residence on Howard Road in Anza. During this confrontation, Serna and Zahir attacked Messina, with Zahir allegedly striking him on the head multiple times with a handgun, while Serna kicked him. After beating Messina into submission, the suspects forced him into a Toyota Tundra pickup truck and drove to a remote section of Bautista Road. There, Zahir allegedly executed Messina with a shotgun.
Following the discovery of Messina's body, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department launched an investigation that led to the arrests of Serna, Zahir, and Holley. Serna was charged with first-degree murder, assault, and a special-circumstance allegation of killing in the course of a kidnapping. Zahir faced similar charges, along with additional counts of firearm assault, making criminal threats, and false imprisonment. Holley, who was initially a fugitive from Oklahoma, was also charged with murder and kidnapping.
The legal proceedings for the suspects have been ongoing. Serna pleaded guilty to assault resulting in great bodily injury, firearm assault, and making criminal threats. He is currently being held without bail and is awaiting sentencing. Zahir and Holley are also being held without bail and are scheduled for trial. The case has drawn significant attention due to the violent nature of the crime and the involvement of illegal cannabis operations in the Anza Valley.
