A father of four reportedly decapitated his two eldest children and ordered his other two kids to look at their dead bodies for nearly a week.
Prosecutors allege Maurice Jewel Taylor Sr., 34, fatally stabbed his 13-year-old daughter Maliaka and 12-year-old son Maurice Jr. on Nov. 29.
The younger children, ages 9 and 8, were shown their siblings’ dead bodies for five days, and kept in their own rooms without food.
Firefighters made the shocking discovery of their dead bodies last Friday after they arrived at his Lancaster home in response to a call about a possible gas leak.
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Following his arrest, the Homicide Bureau of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department have questioned his youngest kids, as well as their mother, who was inside the home at the time, but isn’t considered a suspect.
Taylor worked as a personal trainer at physical therapy center in Santa Monica. His clients, who had been trained by him via Zoom due to the pandemic, contacted authorities when he couldn’t be reached for their scheduled appointments.
His bail was originally set at $2 million bail, but was increased to $4.2 million on Tuesday.
Details of what pushed him to carry hour such a horrible act are yet to be disclosed, however his arraignment will take place on Dec. 21.
If found guilty, Taylor faces up to 57 years to life in prison.