Farmersville Man Convicted of Murdering Sleeping Roommate

By Bill McEwen, News Director

Published 3 years ago on

February 16, 2022

A Tulare County jury has convicted a Farmersville man of murdering his sleeping roommate with a metal bar in December 2018.

The jury convicted Alexander Shinn, 28, of first-degree murder on Monday. Shinn’s sentencing is scheduled for March 29. He faces life in prison.

According to Tulare County prosecutors, tensions built up over several weeks precipitated Shinn’s murder of Brian Garza, 25.

Body Dumped in Orchard

Prosecutors said during the trial that Shinn disposed of the victim in an orchard near Strathmore. After the body was found that afternoon, Shinn called dispatch at the
Farmersville Police Department and admitted to the killing.

A search of the residence and a vehicle in the 900 block of West Ponderosa Street uncovered trash bags filled with bloody clothes, gloves, a mask, packing tape, and a 30-inch metal breaker bar.

Supervising Deputy District Attorney Douglas Rodgers prosecuted the case. Farmersville police and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office investigated the murder.

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Bill McEwen,

News Director

Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email