Murder of Lisa Trubnikova

Background

Lisa Berlanga Trubnikova was originally from Midland, Texas. She came out as lesbian to her supportive family before joining the United States Coast Guard in 2008. At the time of her death she was married to Anna Trubnikova, then 30, whose last name she had taken; the couple married in New York and moved to Monument Beach, Massachusetts. Lisa was stationed at Joint Base Cape Cod, and Anna, a petty officer, was stationed at Woods Hole.

Trubnikova had met Adrian Thomas Loya years earlier in Kodiak, Alaska, while both worked for the Coast Guard. Trubnikova's family said Loya had unreciprocated feelings for her.

The Killing

Loya began planning the killing in April 2014. He drove from his residence in Chesapeake, Virginia, to Monument Beach, where he surveilled the couple. At around 2:00 am on February 5, 2015 — his 31st birthday — Loya broke into their home armed with multiple firearms and opened fire while they were in bed, killing Trubnikova and seriously injuring Anna, who called police during the attack. Loya recorded the attack on a body-mounted camera and had set a car on fire nearby to divert police. When officers arrived, he shot one before being apprehended. Anna was hospitalized for her injuries.

Trial and Conviction

Loya was found competent to stand trial and was charged with more than 30 counts, including first-degree murder, armed home invasion, and assault and battery on a police officer. He pleaded not guilty. At the trial, which began in August 2017, Loya testified that he had acted out of a grievance he traced to an incident years earlier in which he claimed Trubnikova had behaved inappropriately toward him — an account challenged by the prosecution — and his lawyer argued he suffered from a mental disease or defect. In September 2017, Loya was found guilty of first-degree murder and assault and battery on a police officer, and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Appeal

In 2020, Loya sought a new trial, but the request was rejected by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

In Media

The case was covered in "Killer with a Camera," the third episode of season 1 of the series *Love and Hate Crime*.