Albuquerque –
Today, a judge ruled 16-year-old, William Garcia, will remain in custody as his case goes through the judicial process. Garcia is connected to the murder of murder of Scott Habermehl. In the early hours of May 29, 2024, at 4:40 AM, police responded to a fatal pedestrian crash at Moon and Aspen in northeast Albuquerque. Garcia was part of a trio that ran over Habermehl while he was riding his bike to Sandia National Laboratories.
On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, a juvenile court judge ruled that 13-year-old, Johnathan Overbay, charged with the murder of Scott Habermehl, will remain in custody. The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office has filed a motion to charge the 16-year-old, Garcia, as an adult. He was 15 at the time of the incident.
According to police, they recently uncovered social media video with the three juveniles who were reportedly in a stolen vehicle. The video shows the juveniles intentionally striking Habermehl while he was riding his bicycle to work at Sandia Labs. Reports allege that 13-year-old Overbay was driving, 11-year-old Hayes was seen brandishing a firearm in the front passenger seat, and Garcia recorded the incident. Garcia was believed to be the back passenger. Garcia encouraged the driver, Overbay, to hit Habermehl.
“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.
The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office has charged both Overbay and Garcia with First-Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder, Knowingly Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Great Bodily Harm or Death, and Unlawfully Carrying a Handgun by a Person Under 19.
APD located 11-year-old Messiah Hayes on Tuesday, March 18, and placed him into CYFD custody. According to the Bernalillo County DA’s office, Hayes will face murder charges in this case. New Mexico law prevents detaining children under 12 in juvenile facilities, but they can still face murder charges. Although just 11, Hayes has had prior violent felony encounters with APD, including at least one incident involving a firearm. Garcia and the 13-year-old will be housed at the Juvenile Detention Center in Bernalillo County.
APD detectives arrested William Garcia on March 19 for his involvement in the 2024 murder of Scott Habermehl.
DUE TO THE LACK OF AN UPDATED JUVENILE CHILDREN’S CODE, WE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS OR TWO OF THE TRIO’S BOOKING MUGS. GARCIA’S BOOKING MUG WAS RELEASED FROM A WANTED POSTER SENT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I feel the parents of these teen s and child should also be prosecuted for neglect and contributing to the delinquency of minors.
Good. At least they won’t be able to behave quite so badly while in custody.
But my jito and his friends are such good boys . . .
Kids like those make feral jackals and hyenas look good. Those kids and all their cohorts are little monsters waiting to grow into big monsters.
Exactly Paul! But most likely these POS idiots will just end up with a slap on the wrist and let out with a clean record at 18 since the juvie record will be sealed (and for all intensive purposes, destroyed) . Sadly we will hear about these young apprentice criminals in the near future.
Where the HELL are the parents?? They need to be held responsible also!
Wake up New Mexico!!
Agreed Kevin. They SHOULD be held responsible and made an EXAMPLE of so other parents can start shitting in their pants if their kids do something as heinousness as this.
Parents first need to tell their kids the two letter word “NO” !! NO!!! You have to be home by dark and be ready for school tomorrow!! NO!!! You cannot spend the night at your friend’s house! NO!!! You are not going to be playing video games all day!!! As a parent of four, I know it is not easy and very challenging but as a parent, you are responsible for them as juveniles.
All part of being a parent. Parents want to be friends with their kids instead of being a parent. But still, these asshole kids committed serious felonies and should be held accountable since their parents didn’t do that as responsible parents.
11 years old?????? Who was responsible for this kid? They should be charged too-maybe then people will start to take more responsibility for how these kids turn out! Unbelievable…
I think they should all suffer in their for life. They took an incident human life for no reason. I hope these punks never see day light again or freedom again & given the electric chair when they are of age to be charged as adults in any state that still has that law. Scum bags should pay for this the rest of their lives especially that 11 yr old that doesn’t know when to stop
Why does Northern Mexico aka Tomorrow Land, rank #1 in Crime, but #50 in Education? A state is only as good as it’s leadership.
Why did they label them “first scumbag” second “scumbag” and third “scumbag”? I understand they are terrible children but this is sinking to their level and name calling like a child. SMH. Things will NEVER change as long as “ADULTS” are not adulting. SMH
[…] ABQ RAE REPORTS: A judge ruled 16-year-old, William Garcia, will remain in custody as his case goes through the judicial process. Garcia is connected to the murder of Scott Habermehl. In the early hours of May 29, 2024, at 4:40 AM, police responded to a fatal pedestrian crash at Moon and Aspen in northeast Albuquerque. Garcia was part of a trio that ran over Habermehl while he was riding his bike to Sandia National Laboratories. More Here […]
I’ll bet anyone on here: going spread –
3 to 1 – and I’m giving the 3 – that this DA pleads all these down to manslaughter or less – out in less then 8 years.
The da says he wants to charge all (3) with first degree murder. That’s what he says. – yet look to the case of the 17 year old that killed the mother in the Maverick parking lot. He drove around for (3) hours with a gun looking for someone. Wrong woman, wrong car, innocent. That dude got 8 years. Although the da says he’s going to charge FD murder.
Like I said I’ll got 3 to 1
10.000 dollar minimum bet. Because I’ll win. You can come by my gas station and I’ll write it up all proper and legal for all of us. Da says murder – I guarantee plead down to involuntary at best.
And since you guys voted for and continue to vote for this DA any mayor.
Easy money – like taking money from a handicap baby. You, the residents of ABQ are my handicap babies.
Well, Aren’t you a condescending arrogant little bastaaard. I feel bad for you working at a gas station (I know, you said you own your little monopoly of gas stations lol). I see you really like tooting your own horn there. BTW, I only put Shell petrol in my vehicles so if you have a stake in Brewer (BOC), good for you. Any other gas is just shit.
But I digress. I have to sadly agree with you and go even further. I would say they probably won’t get 8 years between all three of them since a jury may not find willful and deliberate intent to commit murder (FD if even charged like you say). Defense would argue it was more impulsive and opportunistic rather than planned / deliberate and I am sure the jury will eat it up hook sinker and line.
Another basis for FD would be acting with a depraved mind but defense would arguably counter that with they said to ” . . . just bump him brah”. So yeah, most likely I believe they will get 2nd degree at best and at worst, MS and be aged out at 18 with nice clean sealed records and start a new fresh criminal career. But anything can happen in the circus they call a courtroom here and I hope we are both wrong.
The 11 YO wasn’t even enrolled in school. Parents should also be charged but that’s a different story and that won’t happen either.
[…] Courts Order 16-Year-Old and 13-Year-Old to Remain in Custody for Murder of Sandia Physicist Third Scum Bag Teen Arrested in Murder of Beloved Scientist/Cyclist APD Arrests 11-Year-Old Involved in Cyclist Murder, Pre-Teen Has Long Felony Rap Sheet APD Arrests Scum Bag Teen Who Killed Beloved Scientist /Cyclist, Two Other Involved Teens on the Lam […]