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Palmdale man pleads to killing girlfriend’s baby

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Prosecutors said Worthen assaulted two-year-old Zanai Noel on Sept. 22, 2013, when the child was left in his care for only a few minutes.
Prosecutors said Worthen assaulted two-year-old Zanai Noel, on Sept. 22, 2013, when the child was left in his care for only a few minutes.

PALMDALE – A Palmdale man has pleaded no contest to beating to death his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter last September, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Matthew Worthen, 24, entered his plea Wednesday to one count of second-degree murder before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Kathleen Blanchard. Worthen made his plea shortly before jury selection was set to begin.

The case stems from the death of 2-year-old Zanai Noel, who passed away on Sept. 22, 2013 after she was left in Worthen’s care for only a few minutes.

Zanai died from multiple internal injuries, including five broken and displaced ribs, a collapsed lung, a shredded liver and internal bleeding, according to the county medical examiner.
Zanai died from multiple internal injuries, including five broken and displaced ribs, a collapsed lung, a shredded liver and internal bleeding, according to the county medical examiner.

At a preliminary court hearing in February, a medical examiner testified that Baby Zanai received forceful blows to her back and side, and she died a short time later from multiple internal injuries, including five broken and displaced ribs, a collapsed lung, a shredded liver and internal bleeding. (Read more here.)

Worthen had a history of domestic violence with the child’s mother. He was arrested for allegedly choking the child’s mother about two months prior to Baby Zanai’s death, and there was a restraining order in place, homicide detectives said previously.

“I was ashamed that I was still with Matthew,” Baby Zanai’s mother said, in testifying at the preliminary court hearing in February.

She testified that Worthen had moved out of her apartment about two months prior to her daughter’s death, but on Sept. 22, she invited Worthen over because she was still trying to maintain a relationship with him.

Worthen is scheduled to return to court Sept. 8 when he is expected to be sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

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Previous related stories:

Man accused of killing girlfriend’s baby to stand trial

Man pleads not guilty to killing girlfriend’s baby

Palmdale toddler beaten to death, mom’s boyfriend charged with murder

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

39 comments for "Palmdale man pleads to killing girlfriend’s baby"

  1. how do we know this wasn’t planned??? maybe after the restraining order was placed and she seen him having fun with other girls so it pissed her off and she could have did this to her own daughter and invited him over to cover it up or maybe they were both off something and was torturing the baby together and to cover it up she went to the store because something isnt right and im not saying this is true but its a possibility

  2. Let’s not forget little Mariah Howard from Compton. This beautiful 2 year old was beaten to death on Aug 27 2007, by her mothers boyfriend, Randy Woods, but was covered up by her mom, Marilyn Sisson. Very sad.

  3. My ex tried to move my kids in with some criminal/drug user/woman abuser. I told her and the judge who agreed with her to go [removed] themselves, and I took custody of my kids. That’s what the birth father of this little girl should have done.
    Men need to know that we fathers have rights, and there are times when we need to exercise those rights in order to protect our kids.

  4. Her mother should be charged as well, if for nothing else but violating that restraining order. One could argue that because of her blatant disrespect for the law, her actions were in direct correlation with the events causing her daughters death. As a mother, I cannot fathom one incident where I would consider holding on to a relationship with a man as being more important than loving myself or my children. Regardless of what is said, I’m willing to bet that this was NOT the first time that this “man” had put his hands on that little child. Her mother should face charges as well.

  5. I used to see her and her mother all the time.. they would get on the bus I drive.. She was the most cutest little girl with the biggest smile.. I really miss seeing g her all the time.. I hope he never sees the light of day again… RIP Little angel…

  6. Why is no one asking or wondering why this woman & women alike who was in a relationship with an abusive guy who had history of physically abusing her & her child would stay committed to him much less leave her child in his custody without her supervision? Not trying to excuse what this pathetic excuse of a man did but the mother is just as responsible. It’s not like she didn’t know he was abusive. She knew and stayed around him and let her child be alone with him as well. It’s just like the Michelle Rowling’s story from East St. Louis, IL. Woman dates thug, protects thug, houses thug, feeds thug, has babies by thug and thug eventually kills her, her baby or both inevitably.

  7. Unfortunately this kind of thing does indeed happen all too frequently. I’ve tried many times over the course of my lifetime to help women (and one gay man) leave their abusive boyfriends/spouses. Too often until they make up their minds to leave, they make up excuses for their abusers and for why they can’t leave.

    Women are not helpless morons. They need to be held responsible for the consequences of choosing a violent man over the safety and welfare of their children.

  8. Coming from someone who’s spent several years in prison himself before turning his life around 5 years ago, I can guarantee you this guy will receive the death sentence way before he ever gets out. And it won’t be by lethal injection. It will be a much more violent death. He will be beat to death just like he beat this poor little girl to death. Rest in peace Matt. A little early but Rest in peace. I just wish I could be a part of the execution.

    • I love how everyone says “the inmates this, the inmates that”. Well your statement isn’t true. If the SOB is a good liar he will be worshiped and protected inside. My daughter was sexually assaulted and there was DNA evidence to prove it and the SOB was in jail talking about its a lie, it’s a set up and EVERYONE believed him. He was provided extra food by inmates and called “gramps”. So NO the inmates don’t always take care of it.

      • Trust me he will ….. the CO’s will shoot the rep or house mouse his paper work. Plus his wrist band will tell it all… lol I hope he get a gold band. On top of that its in the paper… wait till ya head swell like a melon punk….

  9. There have been Many abused and murdered Babies at the hands of so called Mothers and stupid Boyfriends……Let’s not forget
    EMMA LEIGH BARKER 18 months killed by her Momster Stacey M Barker
    DIONNE PARKER 8 months killed by her loser sperm donor Dion Parker
    The HORTON CHILDREN ages varied Killed by a so called teenaged family friend Corey King
    DESIREE YBARRA MACIAS 7 killed by lowlife gang member brothers Carlos & Jesus peralta
    JUSTIN 9 & JAMIE 13 PARK Killed by Mothers ex husband
    PHARAOH VANVECTOR 2 killed by yet another loser Mothers boyfriend
    STEVONA CAMPBELL 13 not sure if murderer ever found
    GABRIEL FERNANDEZ 8 BEATEN TO DEATH BY A PAIR OF EVIL SCUMBAGS
    ZANAI NOEL 2 BEATEN BY MOTHERS VIOLENT POS BOYFRIEND..
    These are just a few that I remember I am sure there are MANY MANY more I have forgotten….
    These are ones that CANNOT be forgotten due to their brutality…I say hang all CHILD KILLERS…..they are just a waste of Tax money to jail them!

    • Excuse me may you not speak
      up on my family death yes the ppl that
      Cory king killed are my blood family and he was
      A friend of the family so speak up on what
      you know and not what you hear

      • Does that excuse him for the brutal way he killed them…..what’s to know except they are no longer here due to a monster that had no RESPECT for human life…I did NOT SPEAK ON THEM, I just put down their names that they had been taken by a loser…if that offens you that their names get mentioned every so often, sorry, but it was in every paper in the free world and HAPPEND RIGHT BEHIND MY HOUSE!

        • Ms. Eva
          What is it you trying to say here?
          There is nothing negative said about your Blood Family.
          Cory King was a cold blooded killer of other people besides your family.
          High, your friend or Just crazy (as he acted in Court,I was there that day) is no justification for him to do what he did.
          You may not want this painful memory dredged up again but it is already common knowledge and people are going to speak on it when other horrid acts are committed in this Valley.
          Sorry for your loss and will pray for you and your Family to have strength when their names or mention of the crime comes up.

  10. I don’t think it’s fair to be so harsh on the mother. If she had any suspicion that this man would kill her daughter I’m sure she wouldn’t have invited him over; maybe he claimed to have changed, maybe he had only been violent with her once. No one ever thinks someone is going to kill their child; she is obviously just as shocked as the rest of America. She is probably being tormented with enough feelings of guilt and depression, she doesn’t need any more grief, she lost her daughter. Hopefully this serves as an example for single mothers to never leave their children alone with men and to always be careful about who they let into their child’s life. Single moms, be careful and protect your kids! One mistake or lapse in judgment is all it takes.

    • Sounds like you have never been in an abusive relationship before. I have. I was married to one for 3 years. I should have left him after his kicked me in the stomach when I was 6 months preg! but instead I told him if he ever touched me again I’d kill him (had never stood up to him before). Then baby was born and less than a month later he comes home drunk and starts tossing her in the air. I took her away from him and told him to get out. He did (thinking he was hurting me). The next day I rented a UHaul truck, packed up and moved out of state. He found me and wanted to come back, so sorry he said he was. I made him wait until I was sure he had changed. (He used to punch and slap me on a fairly regular basis). He got a job, quit drinking and doing drugs … even quit smoking cigarettes. Got a good job and rented us a house. I moved back. Things were good for about 6 months and then he began hitting me again and cheating on me again. I told him it was over. He left and I filed for divorce. Bottom line, where your child is concerned NEVER TAKE THE CHANCE. I never should have taken him back and I am fortunate that it was me he chose to hit and not my child. He’s dead now, don’t know or care how. Good riddance!

      • jdbean, that was a very personal story and I thank you for sharing it. Many women who have been in this situation recognize that they made terrible mistakes reconciling with an abusive significant other and they stay quiet about it because of shame. You sharing your story took a lot of courage.

  11. Hmm, another child death and guess what!! Another Heroic Single Mom. Aren’t feminism great. Every single freaking day, I hear stories of children deaths and abuses; and 99.9% of the time, it’s the single-mom.

  13. 15 years is a joke. This guy should get life. That beautiful little girl was so precious. Why are some women so needy? As soon as she let him in, she voided the restraining order. What a fool! She’s guilty of child endangerment.

  14. That mother should be jailed and charged with the childs murders with him she had no business leaving her child with a man who previously whooped her ass AV protest this that mother needs to be in prison not out probably twerking her [removed] on a new guy with no worries. Poor excuse for a woman

  15. I don’t understand. first Gabriel Fernandez now this little precious littler girl. Why do they have kids, if they don’t want them? I just cry and I get so angry. just to imagine how they are tortured. The mom is to blame too. she shouldn’t have left her with him, if she new he was a violent person. I pray to God that he gets his punishment with lots of pain also.
    And the mom should be in jail too.

    • Oh believe me he’ll get his in prison as they don’t LIKE guys who 1) kill a child, 2) beat a child, and 3) child molesters! He better NOT DROP THE SOAP!

      This just breaks my heart. This precious baby girl and Gabriel are sweet little Angels playing together in Heaven.

      God bless both of these children!

  17. the mother should face charges as well because if he was arrested for DV 2 months prior there was an active restraining order on behalf of the DA and she broke the law by allowing him back their life let alone her home so he can do such horrible thing to that poor baby girl.

      • If she wasn’t dead, she should have been defending her child. She was at the store and left her daughter with him. She needs to be in jail too.

  19. Matt, i am so sorry to hear this. Many people will have bad things to say. As people, we all make mistakes. Matt, i love you and will never forget you and the talks we had. Many people will never know the Matt i knew. The boy next door always willing to help out and go that extra mile. The genleman that i knew. We will be in touch Matt. I love you kid.

      • Maybe he was on something? Maybe he has a mental problem? He was not tested for anything at the time of her death. There are and will always be a lot of unanswered questions here. Its just so sad. He used to live right next door to me when he was a teen. I don’t know what went wrong with him if anything, but I am completely sadend by this whole thing. Love you Matt!

        • Having a mental problem isn’t an excuse. He was already known to be violent, he should have sought help. If he was under the influence of something, that is his own fault for using.

          The mother does bare some responsibility for this though. She should never have let her back into her life.

          • Matt….. everyone is entitled to their own oppinion. I just wish i was there to help you. I didnt know Matt. i didnt know. Matt, i love you. I hope you find peace through this challange. And like ive said before…. No one will know the Matt we knew.

  20. Your Star will shine bright for us each night. Although, we never met you, we know you are rejoicing in heaven with the Angels.