murder charge

‘God Only Knows': Grandma Calls Parents Charged With Infant's Murder ‘Dangerous'

The 22-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man are accused of first-degree murder and are due in a San Diego courtroom on Monday

NBC Universal, Inc.

A 22-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man are in custody in San Diego County, California, accused of killing their infant child, according to law enforcement.

Officials said that 911 operators got a call on Wednesday around 11:15 p.m. about an unresponsive infant at a home in the 3300 block of Maple Street in Colina del Sol. Investigating officers began CPR on the child upon arrival, according to authorities. The 3-month-old was brought to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Elizabeth Ucman and Brandon Copeland have been charged with first-degree murder in the case, officials said. They are both being held without bail.

Ucman, who is currently being held at Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in Santee, and Copeland, who is incarcerated at the San Diego Central Jail, are both due to appear in court in downtown San Diego at 1:30 p.m. on Monday.

Adrienne Arnett, Ucman's grandmother and the infant's great grandmother, told NBC 7 Delilah’s great aunt was given emergency custody because, at birth, social services determined the parents and their apartment were unfit. After cleaning up the place Delilah was returned to her parents.

NBC 7's Dave Summers spoke with the child's grandmother about the incident.

“God only knows what that baby suffered between the time they got their hands on her till the time that baby died," Arnett said.

Arnett said she pleaded with county Child Welfare Services not to return the baby to her parents, but they did about a month-and-a-half ago.

"Social services was told by every member of the family that she was dangerous. We knew the boy was dangerous," she added.

Next door neighbor Sabrina Camacho said she didn’t even know the couple had a baby. She said she never saw them outside but often heard the couple argue.

“I know they’ve had domestic disputes in the past. At least you could hear it. Yelling at each other," Camacho said.

Based on the questions from investigating officers, it appeared the baby was tortured, according to Arnett.

“The baby was seriously injured, and how do you injure infant babies? They just lie there. You cuddle them. So, the baby obviously had pretty serious injuries," she said.

NBC 7 reached out to San Diego County Child Welfare Services several times Friday but did not hear back.

Anyone with information about the child's death is being asked to call the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477, where tips can be called in anonymously. 

Contact Us