Brandon Copeland and Elizabeth Ucman were convicted of second-degree murder in March.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Two San Diego parents were sentenced Wednesday to 15 years to life in prison for the starvation death of their 3-month-old daughter, Delilah, after a jury convicted them of second-degree murder.
Brandon Copeland and Elizabeth Ucman have been jailed since Delilah died in late 2021. Prosecutors said the baby weighed less than four pounds when she died, about half her birth weight. The sentence closes a criminal case that also raised questions about county child welfare oversight before the child’s death.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Robert Amador sentenced both parents on June 17 after rejecting defense requests for a mistrial. Defense attorneys argued the court had oversimplified legal issues for jurors, but prosecutors disagreed. Amador said the jury reached its verdict after one day of deliberations following weeks of testimony, which he said showed the strength of the evidence.
Police body camera video showed Delilah’s body inside a City Heights apartment. Crime scene photos showed trash, spoiled food and animal feces throughout the home. Prosecutors first charged the parents with first-degree murder, but later sought second-degree murder convictions at trial. Jurors sided with prosecutors, who said the parents understood the danger to their child and failed to act.
The case also focused on county social workers. For Delilah’s first month, she stayed with a great-aunt while relatives asked that she remain outside the apartment until it was cleaned. County records showed social workers made a safety plan with the parents through voluntary services. The plan said Delilah would not return home until the apartment was clean and safe.
Family members later objected when Delilah went back to her parents. Relatives told social workers the couple was unfit and had mental health concerns. Prosecutors said Copeland and Ucman initially stayed in contact with relatives and social workers, but then stopped contact. Records showed a social worker last saw Delilah 55 days before her Nov. 10, 2021, death.
Before sentencing, Ucman’s attorney read a statement in court. “I know my actions caused my daughter’s death and not a day goes by that I don’t think about it,” the statement said. Copeland also apologized, saying he was sorry to everyone involved, “but most of all I’m sorry to my daughter.”
Amador said the defense wrongly tried to shift blame to others, including social services. He sentenced both parents in line with the prosecution’s recommendation and gave them credit for time already served. They are expected to be eligible for parole in about 13 years, in 2039, and both retain the right to appeal.
Author note: Last updated June 18, 2026.