Natalie Brothwell, 44, was taken into custody Tuesday at her home in Tucson, Arizona, on two counts each of murder and child endangerment, and will remain behind bars at the Pima County Jail pending extradition to California, according to the sheriff’s department. Sheriff’s officials did not release details about Brothwell’s role in the murders or why she wasn’t arrested sooner.
He is set to be arraigned Nov. 10 in a Lancaster courtroom.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the two older children were decapitated and that the two younger boys were shown their slain siblings and forced to stay in their bedrooms for several days without food.
The victims were stabbed Nov. 29, 2020, and their bodies were still inside the family’s home in the 45000 block of Century Circle when authorities arrived five days later on Dec. 4, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Eric Ortiz.
Taylor worked at a physical therapy center in Santa Monica, but had been conducting training sessions via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of his clients contacted authorities when they could not reach him for scheduled appointments in the week leading up to the discovery of the children’s bodies.
Without naming Taylor, District Attorney George Gascón noted last December that a defendant charged in a “horrific case in Lancaster” could face “more than a half a century” behind bars if he’s convicted.
The murder charges against Taylor do not include special circumstance allegations that could have made him eligible for the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. Taylor faces a potential state prison sentence of 57 years and four months to life if convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
It was not immediately clear whether Brothwell could face the same potential life prison sentence if she is convicted as charged.
The district attorney said last year he has heard about the “hue and cry” about how the filing decision may “somehow provide less safety for our community in the case.”
“What would be the utility to take somebody that is probably going to spend the rest of his life in prison to continue to add years and waste taxpayers’ money on additional litigation?” Gascón asked soon after being sworn into office.
Previous related stories:
Doubt about competency declared in Lancaster decapitation case
Father charged in decapitation of son, daughter in Lancaster
Two people dead in Lancaster; investigation underway [
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Rex Parris says
I wonder if the house sold with a decent discount. I should check if it’s still available.
Monty says
Kill em both. I’ll do it.
Linda in Southern California says
I don’t care if the father is “incompetent” or not. Innocent children were brutally killed and there is no doubt of at least one parent’s guilt. He does not deserve to live. The mother was in the house, clearly did not protect her murdered or surviving children, maybe even assisted in the abuse, torture, murdering. She maybe deserves capital punishment or maybe just life in prison. I don’t want to see taxpayers’ money wasted; further, take a life, lose a life (yours)! I say execute the father right now.
Lisa says
Damb the mother looks terrifying and she looks like she has no remorse dumb bit h
Jon says
Why did it take so long to arrest mom if she was there during the killings?
Gozer says
My wild guess is that the husband covered for her and took all the blame, possibly as an agreement they made (they had a whole 5 days to discuss) so that she could stay with the other kids, as deluded as that may seem. Then it took this long for them to be able to appropriately interview the surviving young children about what went on, and they ratted her out.
JT says
“What would be the utility to take somebody that is probably going to spend the rest of his life in prison to continue to add years and waste taxpayers’ money on additional litigation?” Gascón asked soon after being sworn into office.
It’s called “punishment” and “deterrence.” Terms that Socialist liberals don’t seem to understand anymore.
Arrest says
Slaincaster’s finest on display…