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Parents Convicted of Starving 3-Month-Old Baby to Death Sentenced to Prison

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that the parents who starved to death their 3-month-old daughter and who were convicted of second-degree murder by separate juries at a trial in February, have been sentenced to prison.

Brandon Copeland and Elizabeth Ucman each were sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

“Baby Delilah entered this world healthy and full of promise and within three months she died of starvation at the hands of her parents,” DA Stephan said. “Cases that involve parents who harm their babies are haunting and our specialized child abuse prosecutor Franciesca Balerio fought to be the voice for this defenseless baby and to bring a measure of justice and dignity where none existed in her short life. Her parents chose to withhold the care every infant deserves, and because of that, baby Delilah never had the chance to grow or thrive. It’s time the defendants have the time to fully reckon with the consequences of their actions.”

Copeland, 25, and Ucman, 26, were arrested in November 2021 after police responded to their City Heights apartment following a report that their infant was unresponsive and in need of medical attention. Baby Delilah was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, and her parents were taken into custody shortly afterward.

The parents, who were 21 and 22 at the time of Delilah’s death, were tried in February in a single proceeding before two separate juries, with each panel responsible for determining the guilt of one defendant.

During the trial, Deputy District Attorney Franciesca Balerio told jurors that Delilah weighed only 3.64 pounds at the time of her death, less than half her healthy birth weight. With no underlying medical conditions, the evidence showed her death resulted solely from prolonged starvation and neglect. Starvation is slow, visible, and impossible to overlook. Delilah’s decline unfolded in plain sight, yet the defendants sought no help, provided inadequate nutrition, and failed to obtain medical care.

Photo of a gavel over law books and scales of justice.

Deputy District Attorney Michael McCann Named 2025 Wildlife Prosecutor of The Year

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that Deputy District Attorney Michael McCann has been named the 2025 Wildlife Prosecutor of the Year by the California Fish and Game Commission and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Division. The prestigious annual award recognizes a courtroom champion who demonstrates exceptional dedication to protecting California’s fish, wildlife, natural resources and environment through outstanding prosecution of wildlife-related crimes. McCann was selected unanimously by the President of the California Fish and Game Commission and the Chief of Law Enforcement for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife from a field of nominees from across the state.

McCann serves in the San Diego County District Attorney’s Environmental Protection Unit which is part of the Economic Crimes Division, and he has worked closely with wildlife officers and investigators to prosecute crimes that threaten California’s wildlife, habitat and natural resources. His work has helped ensure accountability for those who violate laws designed to protect the state’s unique environmental treasures for future generations.

“Deputy District Attorney Michael McCann’s commitment to environmental protection is exemplary,” DA Stephan said. “His work to hold violators accountable, protect California’s natural resources, and collaborate closely with our law enforcement partners has made a lasting impact. We are extremely proud of him and grateful to the California Fish and Game Commission and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for this well‑deserved recognition.”

The Wildlife Prosecutor of the Year Award honors prosecutors who demonstrate:

  • Exceptional skill and an outstanding commitment to protecting California’s fish, wildlife and natural resources
  • Superior performance in prosecuting wildlife, natural resource and environmental crimes
  • A relentless pursuit of justice against the most egregious violators and an ability to successfully prosecute complex, controversial or landmark cases
  • Exemplary collaboration with wildlife officers in conserving California’s natural resources

The award was presented during the California Fish and Game Commission meeting held today at the California Natural Resources Headquarters Building in Sacramento.

The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office remains committed to protecting public safety, consumer rights and the natural resources that contribute to the quality of life enjoyed by all Californians.

Photo of a court gavel over a law book on a desk with the scales of justice and more books in the background.

Ex-Convict Who Viciously Stabbed MTS Bus Driver Sentenced to Prison

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that a man who stabbed an MTS bus driver in August 2024 nearly a dozen times as passengers looked on, has been sentenced to prison.

Mario Felix, 51, who pleaded guilty to attempted murder in March, has been sentenced to 26 years in prison.

“No one should fear for their life as they are performing their job, especially while they are in service to others as the victim was in this case by providing transportation to commuters,” DA Stephan said. “Unfortunately, attacks on bus drivers and other transportation workers have increased. As District Attorney, I want these valuable workers to know that they deserve safety and dignity and attacks against them will be taken very seriously. I want to commend the victim for his courage in persisting in the pursuit of justice alongside our team despite all of the severe injuries from this vicious attack and the emotional trauma that this caused.”

In August 2024, the MTS bus driver was making a stop at the Escondido Sprinter Station when Felix boarded the bus and asked for a free ride. When the driver told Felix that he must pay, he became enraged and demanded the driver’s wallet and threatened to kill him before unleashing a series of ferocious stabs, severely injuring the victim.

Witnesses followed Felix and he was later arrested by police hiding behind a dumpster and the bloody knife was found nearby.

Deputy DA Keith Watanabe and Deputy DA Miranda Tomaneng prosecuted this case with care and dedication. The DA victims services team provided support to the victim all along the way.

 

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Three Additional Murder Charges Filed Against Man Linked to Southcrest Human Remains Investigation

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that Dwight Rhone, 74, who is currently charged with one count of murder in connection with the 2023 killing of Bernardo Moreno, now faces three additional murder charges, as well as a special circumstance for committing multiple murders. The new charges are tied to two cold cases involving bodies discovered in 1993 and 2002, as well as human remains found at a Southcrest home in December of 2025.

“These additional murder charges reflect years of dedicated work by Deputy District Attorney Jalyn McNee and our law enforcement partners, whose persistence and attention to detail helped uncover critical connections between this defendant and multiple victims, including victims whose cases had gone cold,” DA Stephan said. “This outstanding work and remarkable development were also made possible through the invaluable partnership and expertise of SDPD, FBI, NCIS and CHP. Together, we were able to crack these cases, uncover critical evidence, and advance our pursuit of justice for multiple victims and their families.”

Murders tied to the defendant now include the following:

Michael Brown (remains found December 2025): Brown’s remains were discovered beneath a former residence of the defendant on Newton Avenue after investigators executed a search warrant at the property.

Bernardo Moreno (October 2023): Moreno was found dead in burned debris near the Interstate 5 and State Route 905 interchange. He died from a gunshot wound to the base of the skull. Rhone is currently being prosecuted on this case.

Ronald Johnken (September 2002): Johnken’s body was discovered in Chollas Creek near 3300 National Avenue. The Medical Examiner determined he died from blunt-force trauma to the head.

Heriberto Ruiz (December 1993): Ruiz was found dead in an alley near the 3500 block of Acacia Street. The Medical Examiner determined he died by strangulation.

Rhone was arraigned on the three additional murder charges today and pleaded not guilty. He will be in court again on March 24, 2027.

“Our commitment to holding violent offenders accountable remains as strong today as it was on the day these crimes were committed,” DA Stephan said. “The District Attorney’s Office will never stop seeking the truth no matter how many years have passed. Victims deserve justice and their families deserve answers.”

The investigation remains ongoing and investigators continue to examine additional missing-person cases and unidentified or deceased persons potentially associated with the defendant. Anyone with information regarding Danice Galloway (DOB 12/15/1955), whose body was discovered on May1, 1989 in the north alley located at 3700 Main Street in San Diego, or Antenogenes Gomez Velasquez (DOB 7/16/1981), who was last seen in 2021 and was last known to reside at 3456 Newton Ave in San Diego, is encouraged to contact the San Diego Police Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

Deputy DA Jalyn McNee and Deputy DA Annie Sanchez are prosecuting this case.

Photo of a court gavel over a law book on a desk with the scales of justice and more books in the background.

Escondido Man Charged with Murder after Victim Dies from Severe Beating

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that Thomas C. Butler has been charged with murder following the death of Escondido resident Kerry Sheron. Butler was previously charged and arraigned on May 22 for attempted murder in connection with the brutal May 20 assault. Mr. Sheron later died from the injuries inflicted during the attack, leading to the murder charge.

“The violent assault and murder of Kerry Sheron outside his own home has left his family and community shaken and grieving for the veteran’s senseless loss of life,” DA Stephan said. “My office has filed a murder charge along with related charges against the perpetrator and will seek justice and accountability under the law while providing support for the victim’s family. The investigation will continue to seek answers to the relevant aspects of this case.”

Butler did not appear in court today as scheduled and was not arraigned on the murder charge. A new court hearing has been set for June 5 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 6 of the Vista Superior Court. If convicted, he faces 28 years-to-life in prison.

Deputy DA Ross Garcia and Keith Watanabe are prosecuting this case.

Photo of Deputy District Attorney Jack Yeh with his name and title below with a backdrop of the Hall of Justice building.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Jack Yeh

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the month of May, we are featuring stories of DA employees, what inspired them to pursue a career in public service and their contributions at the DA’s Office.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Jack Yeh, who has been with the DA’s Office since 2018, and is currently the misdemeanor team leader in the South Bay Branch.

Read more about what inspired him to pursue a career at the DA’s Office, below.

Why did you choose a career in public service/what inspired you to pursue this career?

“I’m an immigrant from Taiwan. My mother and my grandparents were all public servants for the Taiwanese government. When I arrived in Texas in 1998, I saw that members of the Chinese American community generally regarded law enforcement with fear and apprehension. As I grew older, I saw that this fear often led to an under-utilization of public services and under-reporting of crime within the Chinese American community. One of the many reasons I chose this career is to show, through representation, that the criminal justice system belongs to everyone in the community.”

What does AANHPI Month mean to you/why is it important?

“Asian American history runs deep in California, but it’s also important to celebrate the impact that AANHPI have had on the arc of the broader American history. Some of the earliest non-native settlements in continental North America were established by Filipino sailors brought to Louisiana on Spanish ships. After the founding of the United States, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1907 reversed demographic trends on the West Coast and indirectly led to the landmark United States Supreme Court case of U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) 169 U.S. 649, which established birth-right citizenship for all under the 14th Amendment, regardless of ethnicity. AANHPI Heritage Month is a celebration of the accomplishments and impact AANHPI have had on our home.”

A fun fact about you or what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

“When I’m home, I enjoy spending time with my baby, Atticus. When I’m away, I enjoy talking about the best boy in the west: Atticus. Explore AAPI in prosecution with the National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutor’s Association (NAPIPA)!”

Photo of Deputy District Attorney Min Yoon with her name and title below with a backdrop of the Hall of Justice building.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Min Yoon

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the month of May, we are featuring stories of DA employees, what inspired them to pursue a career in public service and their contributions at the DA’s Office.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Min Yoon, who has been with the DA’s Office since 2012, when she was a summer intern, and she officially joined as a Deputy District Attorney in 2015 at our North County Branch. Most recently, she served in the DUI Homicide Unit, and has now transitioned into a new role within the Family Protection Unit.

Read more about what inspired her to pursue a career at the DA’s Office, below.

Why did you choose a career in public service/what inspired you to pursue this career?

“I was drawn to public service by a desire to advocate for victims. When I was an intern, I had the chance to observe a young girl testifying about her traumatizing experience. Seeing how she handled the testimony and her resilience afterward was a life-changing moment for me. That moment made me realize that I want to dedicate my career to serving our community and making a meaningful impact on people’s lives during their most vulnerable moments.”

What does AANHPI Month mean to you/why is it important?

“As an AANHPI prosecutor, this month is a reminder of how important representation is in our field. It’s about community building, celebrating our shared culture, and opening doors for the next generation. This is a major reason why I serve as a board member for NAPIPA (National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutors Association), to help ensure our voices are heard and to support the attorneys coming up after us. “

A fun fact about you or what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

“These days, my weekends are usually spent cheering for my two kids as they just started to get into youth sports. I love being there to support them as they try out new activities. When we are not at the fields, I really enjoy spending quality time with my family, hosting friends for home karaoke nights, or planning out elaborate dinner party menus.”

Photo of Departmental Safety Coordinator Lavena Agarma Lavena Agarma with her name and title below then there is a background photo of the Hall of Justice building.

Meet Departmental Safety Coordinator Lavena Agarma

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the month of May, we are featuring stories of DA employees, what inspired them to pursue a career in public service and their contributions at the DA’s Office.

Meet Departmental Safety Coordinator Lavena Agarma, who has been with the DA’s Office since 2012, when she was a Student Worker then she became an Office Assistant in 2013. In her current role in Facilities, some of her duties include analyzing facility needs, monitoring building maintenance as well facility improvement and new building projects and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and safety standards.

Read more about what inspired her to pursue a career at the DA’s Office, below.

Why did you choose a career in public service/what inspired you to pursue this career?

“I wanted to make a difference in the community and at the time as clerical staff, I wanted to be a part in serving justice to victims.  Although my role in the office has changed and I worked more on the facilities side of things—I still love being here at the DA’s office.”

What does AANHPI Month mean to you/why is it important?

“AANHPI is important because it honors our culture, traditions, and our heritage. I want to raise my second-generation kids to know and love who they are and where their ancestors came from.  My parents both migrated from Laos and worked tirelessly to give our family a great life here in America and I want to be able to do the same for my kids while teaching them the importance of our culture.”

A fun fact about you or what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

“I enjoy cooking, gathering with friends and family for different occasions and watching my boys grow up.”

Photo of Deputy Crime Analysis Administrator Peter Villaver with his name and title below with a backdrop of the Hall of Justice building.

Meet Crime Analysis Administrator Peter Villaver

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the month of May, we are featuring stories of DA employees, what inspired them to pursue a career in public service and their contributions at the DA’s Office.

Meet Crime Analysis Administrator Peter Villaver, who has been with the DA’s Office for eight years. Peter provides business intelligence and data analysis that support executive decision-making and collaboration with government and justice partners. His work includes analyzing case issuing and disposition trends, analyzing crime trends in the region, as well as evaluating the regional implementation and impact of new laws such as Proposition 36. He also specializes in application of digital evidence analytics on criminal investigations where he still gets the opportunity to directly work with our Deputy DAs and investigators to help build and review their cases. Prior to joining our office, he worked for the San Diego Police Department.

Read more about what inspired him to pursue a career at the DA’s Office, below.

 

Why did you choose a career in public service?

“Public service wasn’t my first career option when I graduated from college during the Great Recession, especially because many agencies were under hiring freezes at the time. I began my career working in transportation systems consulting for government agencies in the D.C. metro area, and that experience gave me firsthand exposure to how public agencies shape safe, connected and livable communities through infrastructure and public safety initiatives.

Over time, I developed a real appreciation for the responsibility that comes with serving the public. I realized that effective public service requires not only technical expertise, but also integrity, honesty, and objectivity in decision-making.

I come from a family of public servants. My father served in the military, both my siblings are in federal government service, my partner also works for the County and I’ve encouraged my niece to pursue public service as well.

Ultimately, I chose public service because I value work that has a direct and lasting impact on communities and the people who live in them.”

 

What does AANHPI Month mean to you/why is it important?

“America is shaped by people from many different backgrounds, and AAPI communities represent one important piece of that larger cultural mosaic. Celebrating is not just about highlighting one group — it is about recognizing how diverse cultures together strengthen the country through different perspectives, traditions, languages, and experiences.”

 

A fun fact about you or what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

“Fun Facts about me –

  • I have a 10-month-old Corgi named Portia Valentina.
  • I grew up in Japan and lived there from sixth grade to junior year of high school. I’ve been visiting the country almost every other year even before the pandemic.
  • I regularly get invited and enjoy presenting topics on digital evidence in criminal investigations to students at a local law school.
  • I have been in two crime documentaries on VH1 and Peacock/NBC talking about major cases that occurred in San Diego!”

 

 

Photo of woman, Ericka Wilson, in front of photo of Hall of Justice building.

NorCal Man Sentenced to LWOP for Brutal Murder of Estranged Wife

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that a 34-year-old Northern California man was sentenced for the January 2022 stabbing death of his estranged wife in Spring Valley.

Kandynn Wilson, who was found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder and a lying in wait special circumstance in December, was sentenced to life without parole plus one year in prison for killing Ericka J. Wilson, 29, his wife of six years and mother of their child. [WATCH the emotional victim impact statements from her family at the sentencing hearing.]

“This Defendant murdered his estranged wife in cold blood displaying a vicious brutality in lying in wait and stabbing her multiple times,” DA Stephan said. “We must keep fighting to safeguard victims of domestic violence and hold their abusers accountable. I’m grateful for the service of the jury that rendered this just verdict and for the work of law enforcement and our prosecution team. I hope today’s sentencing brings a measure of justice to the heartbreaking loss of the victim’s family.”

In January 2022, Kandynn Wilson took a vacation day from work and drove from Oakland to the victim’s place of employment, waiting for her to get off work so he could ambush her in the parking lot. After realizing he was at the wrong location, he drove to her apartment complex and parked in her parking lot. He reclined his seat and waited for her to return from work. Close to midnight, as Ericka Wilson pulled into the parking area and began to get out of her vehicle, the defendant approached her wearing a ski mask. He grabbed her and carried out a brutal stabbing attack, inflicting 23 wounds to her neck. She died at the scene. A brave neighbor saw the attack, and chased the defendant with a bat, forcing him to flee on foot and leave behind his vehicle, gloves, and murder weapon.

He was located a few hours later covered in Ericka’s blood.

“Intimate partner violence continues to be one of the most common and dangerous forms of violence we confront, and this case is a stark reminder of its devastating impact,” DA Stephan said.

In 2024, seven people were killed by a current or former intimate partner and there was one additional homicide victim, such as a family member, new boyfriend, or bystander, who died during domestic violence related incidents. While this is an increase from five domestic violence-related homicides the prior year, these types of homicides continue to remain lower than the average from the prior two decades. Figures for 2025 won’t be available for several months.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Alexandra Lorens.