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A 23-year-old California man is facing murder charges after allegedly beating and killing his 6-year-old godson the day after Christmas, say authorities.
Tyler Martin Brand of Downey was arrested on Dec. 26 after he allegedly beat Davvon Taylor, who was in his care for several days over the holiday break, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced in a statement.
On Dec. 26, Martin Brand allegedly beat the child at his apartment, according to the District Attorney’s office.
The child was taken to a local hospital, wherehe died of his injuries shortly after, thePress-Telegramreports.
Davvon’s mother, Kenya Taylor, is devastated.
“I wish somebody could get ahold of him and make him feel the way my heart feels, my family feels, my son felt,” Taylor told theLos Angeles Times.“Never, never, never stop feeling it. I want him to suffer every day of his life.”
“He was a little angel,” Taylor’s grandmother, Gwendolyn Nicholson, said at a vigil she held for Davvon, KTLA reports.
Martin Brand is the supervisor of an after-school program in South Los Angeles, theLos Angeles Timesreports.
Taylor said she asked him to be her son’s godfather because her son got along so well with the man they called “coach,” theLos Angeles Timesreports.
“I got close to him,” she said. “I put my trust in him,” she said. “I can’t believe it all came apart so fast.”
Taylor said she left her son with Martin Brand on Christmas because she was fixing up a new apartment for her son and wanted to surprise him with it, theLos Angeles Timesreports.
On Monday, Martin Brand appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court for his arraignment, which has been continued to Jan. 16.
He is being held on $2 million bail at the Men’s Central Jail. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if he is convicted.
Police are continuing to investigate.
It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf. He has not yet entered a plea.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Detective David Van at 562-904-2386. Tips can be reported anonymously at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or atlacrimestoppers.org.
source: people.com
