Canyon Country man gets 15 years to life in prison for murder of 2-month-old daughter

SAN FERNANDO, Calif. (KABC) -- A Canyon Country man pleaded no contest Wednesday to second-degree murder in connection with the death of his 2-month-old daughter in 2021.

Marcel James Taylor, now 30, was immediately sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison. Taylor sat in the San Fernando courtroom with a blank expression as the judge handed down the sentence.

Taylor has been locked up since the death of his 2-month-old child, Jelani.

The tragic death was reported Sept. 26, 2021. Sheriff's deputies responded to a home in the 1800 block of Grace Lane in Canyon Country and found the 2-month-old girl unresponsive.

She was rushed to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Santa Clarita and then to Children's Hospital Los Angeles, where she was pronounced dead Sept. 29, 2021.

Authorities concluded that the girl died from blunt force trauma.

After an exhaustive investigation, which included Taylor cooperating with detectives, authorities determined Taylor was their prime murder suspect.

By pleading no contest to the charges against him, Taylor avoids a possible lengthy trial which could have netted him a longer sentence.

City News Service contributed to this report.