New details have been released in the death of a Grammy-nominated gospel singer who was allegedly killed by his son inside his Santa Monica home in December.
According to details in the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s autopsy report, Jubilant Sykes was brutally attacked on Dec. 8, suffering 68 stab wounds and several broken bones.
The assault took place in Sykes’ home. His wife, Cecelia, reported the incident as an assault after she discovered her son, Micah Sykes, attacking his father. Shortly after police arrived, Sykes was pronounced dead at the scene, and Micah was arrested on suspicion of murder.
According to the autopsy report, Sykes suffered stab wounds to his organs, including his heart, liver and lungs. He was also beaten with a 10-pound dumbbell, the report said.
Sykes’ son allegedly used garden shears in the attack, according to his criminal complaint.
Jubilant Sykes’ death was a shock to the gospel singing community.
Over his career, Sykes performed in venues around the world and across genres — opera, gospel, spirituals, show tunes, folk and pop — working with figures including Renée Fleming, Terence Blanchard, Carlos Santana, Julie Andrews and Brian Wilson. His résumé included performances at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater and the Metropolitan Opera. In 2010, he earned a Grammy nomination for his recording of Leonard Bernstein’s “Mass.”
Micah Sykes has been in custody without bail since his arrest in December. He is charged with murder as well as infliction of injury on a vulnerable victim.
His arraignment has been delayed repeatedly, and his next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 6, records show. A request for comment from the public defender’s office was not immediately returned.
“We previously placed our objection to any further continuance of the arraignment on the record,” the district attorney’s office said in a statement. “We remain committed to achieving a prompt and just resolution in this matter.”
Times staff writers Gavin J. Quinton and Christie D’Zurilla contributed to this report.
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