Yuba City Man Denied Parole for 2006 Murder

Press Release

(Woodland, CA) - October 19, 2026 - On October 15, 2026, California Board of Parole Hearings commissioners denied parole to Bikkar Singh who is serving a life-sentence in state prison at the California Health Care Facility (CHCF) after being convicted by a Yolo County jury in 2008 of 2nd Degree Murder, a firearms enhancement, and vehicle thefts. He was sentenced to 44 years-to-life in state prison. Singh, who is now 43, was living on the farm of the victim, Gian Heer, in Yolo County at the time of the murder.

The victim, Gian Heer, immigrated to the United States from India in 1986. After many struggles, being a recent immigrant, Heer started a very successful pistachio orchard in Yolo County. Heer hired Bikkar Singh who needed work. Because Singh had no transportation, Heer allowed him to live on the farm. On May 4, 2006, Singh needed money for cigarettes, so he stole Heer's wallet which contained $100. Singh then smoked methamphetamine with his friends. Later that evening, Heer called the police to report his truck had been stolen. When Singh found out Heer had reported him, he angrily confronted Heer. Heer went into his house to retrieve a shotgun. Singh rushed Heer, knocked Heer down, grabbed the shotgun and shot him three times. He wrapped Heer up in his turban, tied his body with a rope, and placed it in the truck. He drove to a drainage ditch where he dumped Heer's body in the water and weighed it down with equipment form the orchard. Singh was convicted and sentenced in 2008.

In 2009, Singh's first appeal was denied. Another appeal was denied in 2014. Singh applied for clemency with the Governor, which was denied in 2018. On October 6, 2025, the Secretary of the CA Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) sent a letter to the Yolo Superior Court requesting that Singh be re-sentenced and his sentence be reduced. This action was permitted when the CA Legislature enacted Assembly Bill 1812 in 2018. In 2026, the Yolo County Public Defender filed a motion supporting CDCR's request. The Yolo County District Attorney opposed the motion. On May 29, 2026, Judge Sonia Cortes recalled Singh's sentence and struck the firearms enhancement and vehicle thefts, reducing Singh's sentence from 44 years-to-life to 15 years-to-life.

Singh's initial parole hearing occurred on October 15, 2026. The hearing was held using a virtual platform. Ten members of Heer's family attended the hearing at the District Attorney's office along with Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Raven and Victim Advocate Laura Valdes. Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) Commissioner Kevin Chappell presided over the hearing with Deputy Commissioner Ashley Allred assisting. Singh appeared from the prison and was represented by his attorney. When discussing the life crime, Singh admitted that he murdered Heer. During the trial, Singh testified that he acted in self-defense and felt threatened by Singh. Commissioner Chappell discussed the significant progress Singh had made during his nearly 20 years in prison. Commissioner Chappell also discussed the 17-page Comprehensive Risk Assessment completed three months earlier by prison psychologist Dr. Brad Barcklay. Dr. Barcklay diagnosed Singh with an antisocial personality disorder stating "his character flaws have led him to a lack of concern for the well-being of others, to avoid taking responsibility for his actions, and to act without consequences for others. He stated that "he may require more time to demonstrate sustained growth." He rated Singh a "moderate risk" for future violence. During the hearing, Singh admitted he was dating a 16-year-old girl at the time of the murder and had emotionally, sexually, and physically abused her. Deputy Commissioner Allred asked Singh questions about his Domestic Violence issues and his issues with "power and control." Singh also admitted to committing restitution fraud while in prison from 2009 to 2024. This occurs when one inmate who owes restitution to a victim asks another inmate to keep their money, used to purchase goods while in prison, to avoid having money taken out to pay restitution. The inmate keeping the money is paid 20% for "holding" the money. Singh stated he did this "countless times" - over 1000 times. This information was first disclosed by Singh very recently and Judge Cortes was not aware of this when she reduced Singh's sentence by over 25 years. At the end of the hearing, Heer's son and son-in-law read victim impact statements to the Commissioners.

After the four-hour hearing and 20 minutes of deliberations, the commissioners denied Singh's request for parole finding that Singh would pose an unreasonable risk to public safety if released. Commissioner Chappell commended Singh for having "grown and matured in various areas" but stated his aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating factors. He stated Singh was "violent and manipulative and he didn't understand the harm he caused to others." Commissioner Chappell commented on Singh's restitution fraud and stated he "had not demonstrated a lengthy period of rehabilitation." He stated the commissioners did not find him credible and that he was "telling the panel what he thought they wanted to hear." He also commented on Singh's limited awareness of domestic violence."

District Attorney Melinda Aiello commended the commissioner's decision. "It was clear to the commissioners that Mr. Singh still poses an unreasonable risk to public safety. This was a senseless crime and it's shameful that CDCR recommended a sentence reduction based upon his rehabilitation, yet the commissioners discovered behavior that is inconsistent with rehabilitation…information that the court was not aware of when deciding to dramatically reduce the prison sentence." Singh will be eligible for parole again in three years.

Victim Gian Heer

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