BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 Deliberations will start over in the trial of three Bakersfield men accused of killing a Long Beach man in an alleged drug deal-turned-robbery after a juror indicated he had to leave and wouldn\u2019t be able to return for over a week. <\/p>\n
Judge Eric Bradshaw thanked that juror for his time and said an alternate juror will take his place. <\/p>\n
The jury will start deliberating anew Monday morning. <\/p>\n
On trial are Garret Cole, Juan Carlos Toscano and Javier Ontiveros, each charged with murder and other crimes in the death of Tyler Poulin, whose corpse was found buried in Arizona. <\/p>\n
In September 2022, Poulin and friend Edwin Menendez drove from Long Beach to Bakersfield to buy the drug Lean, a prosecutor said.<\/p>\n
When Poulin and Menendez entered a house on Real Road to conduct the deal, Cole and Toscano drew guns and Poulin was shot in the head during a struggle on the ground, according to the prosecutor. <\/p>\n
Menendez escaped, and Cole, Ontiveros and two other men allegedly drove to Arizona with Poulin\u2019s body in a van. Toscano stayed behind and cleaned the scene, a prosecutor said.<\/p>\n
The burial site was found Oct. 6, 2022.<\/p>\n
The defense has argued Poulin pulled a gun first and tried to rob the defendants, then was shot during a struggle.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n