A Lancaster couple will spend the rest of their lives behind bars for the horrific murders of two of their children in 2020.
Maurice Jewel Taylor Sr., 39, and Natalie Sumiko Brothwell, 49, were sentenced on February 2, 2026, after being found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in November 2025, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Sentenced to Life Without Parole
The court sentenced both parents to six years in prison, followed by two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. The court also issued a 10-year protective order for the couple’s two surviving sons.
Details of the 2020 Crime
In November 2020, Taylor and Brothwell carried out one of the most disturbing child abuse cases in recent memory. The couple stabbed and decapitated their 12-year-old son, Maurice, and 13-year-old daughter, Maliaka, in their home.
They then forced their younger sons, aged 8 and 9 at the time, to look at the bodies. The boys were later locked in their rooms for several days without food or proper care.
District Attorney: ‘A Monstrous Act of Cruelty’
Following the November 2025 conviction, the Los Angeles County District Attorney described the crime as “a monstrous act of cruelty that shattered an entire family,” according to KTLA.
Judge Denies Request for New Trial
Taylor’s defense attorney reportedly filed a motion for a new trial, which was later denied, as reported by KTTV. During sentencing, Judge Lisa Strassner expressed the emotional weight of the case, stating:
“There is silence where accountability should be.”
Surviving Children Protected
The two surviving children, who endured unimaginable trauma, remain under court protection as part of a 10-year protective order, ensuring their safety and shielding them from further harm.
