California Parents Sentenced to Life for Decapitating Children
A California couple has received consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 2020 murder and decapitation of their two eldest children, a crime prosecutors described as a “monstrous act of cruelty.”
Maurice Jewel Taylor Sr., 39, and Natalie Sumiko Brothwell, 49, were sentenced Monday in a Los Angeles County courtroom. In addition to the life terms, they received an additional six years for child abuse. The pair was convicted in November of two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances and two counts of child abuse.
Case Details and Background
The crimes occurred around November 29, 2020, inside the family’s home in Lancaster, California. Prosecutors presented evidence that the couple fatally stabbed and decapitated their 13-year-old daughter, Maliaka, and 12-year-old son, Maurice Jr. Following the murders, the parents forced their two younger sons, then aged 8 and 9, to view their siblings’ mutilated bodies. The younger children were subsequently confined to their bedrooms without food for several days.
The grim discovery was made on December 4, 2020, when firefighters responded to reports of a possible gas leak at the residence. Taylor, a personal trainer, had failed to show up for scheduled Zoom sessions with clients, prompting concerns that led to the welfare check. At the time of the initial investigation, Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris noted that the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, including economic stress and isolation, may have contributed to the volatile environment in the home, though officials emphasized this did not excuse the brutality of the acts.
Defense and Objections
During the sentencing hearing, significant objections were raised by the defense. Natalie Brothwell addressed the court, maintaining her innocence despite the jury’s verdict. She stated, “I did not murder my children,” and claimed she had attempted to save them.
Additionally, Taylor’s defense attorney, Christopher C. Chaney, filed a motion for a new trial, arguing procedural issues. Superior Court Judge Lisa M. Strassner denied the motion, ruling that the evidence fully supported the jury’s decision. Judge Strassner noted a distinct lack of “genuine remorse” from the defendants, describing their reaction to the proceedings as “silence where accountability should be.”
Official Statements
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman released a statement following the sentencing. “Two innocent children were brutally murdered, and their young brothers were left to live through unimaginable horror,” Hochman said. “The jury’s verdict delivers justice for these victims and sends a powerful message: Those who commit such evil acts will be held fully accountable.”
The court also issued a 10-year protective order for the two surviving children, who have been placed in care since the arrests were made.
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