ALBUQUERQUE – This evening APD detectives took 11-year-old Messiah Hayes into custody for his role in the spring of 2024 murder of Scott Habermehl. Habermehl was riding his bike to work in NE ABQ as was his daily routine.
The child Hayes is one of three boys accused of intentionally crashing a stolen car into Habermehl, killing the 63-year-old man. Habermehl was innocently on his way to work at Sandia National Labs on a designated bike path.
Hayes will be placed in CYFD custody where he will be given an evaluation. Hayes went through a similar process in June of 2024 when APD took him into custody for other crimes committed around the same time period as the crash that killed Habermehl.
The boys brazenly videotaped the crash on May 29, 2024, from inside the car and discussed exactly how they would crash into Habermehl. The juvenile driver purposely swerved from the southbound lane of Moon St. NE onto a dedicated bike lane and struck Habermehl. The kids in the car could see the flashing light on the bicycle and audio of the recording indicated they planned to randomly hit the bicyclist.
Detectives arrested Johnathan Overbay on Monday based on several charges, including an open count of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, leaving the scene of an accident involving great bodily harm or death and unlawful possession of a handgun by a person.
Homicide detectives also charged William Garcia, who was 15 at the time with the murder indicating the same crimes. Detectives are still actively searching for Garcia.
APD’s Fatal Crash team initially investigated the deadly crash, but did not determine who was in the car that struck Habermehl. A Crime Stoppers bulletin publicized a video image of the car from a nearby church as it drove by.
In February of this year, APD received an anonymous tip that cell phone video of the crash had been posted on social media. The tip included the identity of the Instagram account and its user. The case was then turned over to the Homicide Unit on Feb. 25, 2025.
As detectives worked to investigate the Instagram account, which had been flagged in a separate investigation, a middle school principal reported to Albuquerque Public Schools police that a student reported the same video of the crash.
Detectives secured warrants for social media accounts and a search of phones that were previously seized from Hayes and Overbay during a separate investigation in June 2024. APD’s Digital Intelligence Team identified several video clips showing Garcia, Overbay and Hayes, including the original video of the crash.
That video, which includes audio, captured conversation between the boys as the driver, believed to be Overbay, said he was about to hit the bicyclist and the vehicle appears to accelerate. The back passenger, believed to be Garcia, even commented not to hit the bicyclist going too fast. “Just bump him, brah.” The driver responded, “Like bump him?” The back passenger repeated, “Yeah, just bump him. Go like…15…20.” Referring to miles per hour they should actually slam into Habermehl.
As the vehicle approached the intersection of Moon St. and Atkinson Ave., the front passenger, believed to be Hayes while waving a handgun, ducked and laughed as the front, passenger side of the vehicle struck Habermehl. There were loud sounds, including metal flexing, as the momentum of the crash carried Habermehl and his bicycle on top, and then off of the passenger side of the vehicle.
There are single digit days left in the New Mexico Legislative session and Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham released a statement urging lawmakers to revive efforts to update the juvenile crime code:
“I am appalled that with less than a week remaining in the legislative session, lawmakers have not passed any substantive legislation to deal with juvenile crime. I call on every New Mexican to contact their legislators immediately and demand that they act with urgency to provide our communities with the tools they need to address juvenile crime. Their refusal to seriously debate these issues during the 60-day legislative session is unacceptable when lives are at stake.”
We shall see if law makers care enough to do anything of any substance.
If you are old enough to decide on a sex change you are old enough to be tried as an adult for murdering someone. Where there is no accountability there is no justice. While it may not be the best service to society to sentence an eleven year old to live in prison, some lengthy sentence like 20 to 30 years would certainly be appropriate. The sentence could be served where the youth could be segregated from the adult community until the age of 18 and they serve the remainder or the term with the adult prison population.
Why would you post your first and last name on the internet?
That’s why I use the name of people I don’t like when I talk trash online. So whenever someone doxes or SWATs me… oh well
None of these juveniles are 18, so not old enough for sex reassignment surgery. It’s also incredibly doubtful any one of them have $30k for top *or* bottom surgery, not to mention many years of constant psychological monitoring, and hormone replacement therapy; all out pocket.
But aside from all that, what in God’s name does sexual reassignment surgery have to do with *armed* juvenile criminals terrorizing the public? Is your Trans Derangement Syndrome so debilitating that you just see “wokeism” and “the trans agenda” everywhere you look?
“…Long felony rap sheet.” ‘Aye my mijo is a good boy!’ The parents should be sent to prison too. Why won’t NM do a tent city prison? Do one for juvenile as well.
Someone explain the logic on catch and release felons, and they people vote for it. Is every dem a felon in the state or every dem has a “mijo” who is felon? Is that why?
They weren’t all Hispanic, you mayo-American asshat. And some Hispanic people actually claim their race as “white” and their ethnicity as Hispanic. Or did you not realize there is a difference between race and ethnicity, same as sex and gender?
No where did I say they were Hispanic or any Ethnicity!! See, that is the problem with bipeds like you in Tomorrow Land- You just react, without thinking. Next you will say, ethnic white, other ethnicity’s, or races, don’t speaka da Spanish? Then you want to ASSUME I am white- Mayo? oh, that’s rich. Or is that some Gen Zombie slang for something else? You should focus on how to clean up the crime, not deflect or project on to me. But yes, I am an American, so at least you got that part right.
[…] The child Hayes is one of three boys accused of intentionally crashing a stolen car into Habermehl, killing the 63-year-old man. Habermehl was innocently on his way to work at Sandia National Labs on a designated bike path. More Here […]
We should stop calling them “lawmakers.” They do NOTHING. They don’t care. They are all partnered with cartels, to include the Heavy Metal Mayor. They all get rich of this crime and misery that we are subjected to.
Sadly, no Dem politicos care more about coddling juvenile delinquents than the safety of our communities. No accountability is the name of the game and these juvies know full well they will not be held accountable and punished with justice. I feel terrible for the victim’s family and friends.
Supposedly these lawmakers voted for HB 255 which gives juvenile violent offenders a $2000.00 a month stipend till they are 26 yrs old. This would be if they are released after serving their time till age 21. The idea is if they give them money they won’t commit violent crimes.
Sometimes out of the box ideas are just stupid.
This is one of those times.
HB255 is not a novel idea, it’s a failure that has its roots in the idea that there are no bad people and everyone can be reformed. It’s dangerous and naive and the same kind of thinking that led Albuquerque to become the abject failure it has become.
Charge the parents!!!!!
They have ruined their lives. I have no sympathy for them. They need to be out of society permanently.
I pray for the strength of the victim’s family.
I’m scared to leave my home because of kids like this. I used to ride my little bicycle (seat removed of course, because I like the pole in my butt). But now all I can do is stay home and find other stuff to stick in my butt.
Ok dumbass
I don’t think you have a job, friends, family, or hobbies that would even necessitate leaving the house given how much effort you put into shit posting here.
You’re also not as anonymous as you think you are 😉
Yes I am.
Also, I, Whisper Pickle, am a massive faggot.
You should really use a VPN if you want to keep trolling. Just a heads up.
Come find me then, bitch.
So if someone makes a bad decsion and the law they break is of no harm to anyone, there is hope. But when they are this young, repeat offenders, and commit serious crimes….lock em up and throw away the key! If they are repeat offenders at this age, there is no hope and society is better off with out them. And their parents will be crying foul trying to make them victim. Parents no longer parent….i mean sheesh! parents allow their kids to live with them well into their 20s these days. Entitlement and enablement are alive and well.
@Ricky Retardo
The family that has stayed together succeeds together. It’s been like that since before you were born and then some! LoL it’s not new! LoL
The looser that some voted into the white house has a lot to do with it these days. The economy is shit fucking measles of all things is killing people. #vacinate
“The looser that some voted into the white house…” Some? Try an overwhelming majority and all seven swing states. In addition the economy has been in the crapper for years and measles is a result of the open border and unvaccinated illegal immigrants. Your TDS is showing dude. Ain’t saying….
I wasn’t aware the fundamentalist Christian freak jobs were illegals. That’s good to know, let’s deport them and their kids to keep the measles at bay.
I guess if the kids are released again no one should give them free bicycles
[…] Arrests Scum Bag Teen Who Killed Beloved Scientist /Cyclist, Two Other Involved Teens on the Lam APD Arrests 11-Year-Old Involved in Cyclist Murder, Pre-Teen Has Long Felony Rap Sheet Third Scum Bag Teen Arrested in Murder of Beloved Scientist/Cyclist Top Legislative Leaders MIA […]
An 11 year old with a long felony rap sheet!? What kind of pos parents, state, and schools allow such things to get to that point!? “Aye, don’t scold mijo.”