The son of Grammy-nominated opera singer Jubilant Sykes pleaded not guilty Thursday to murdering his father at the family's Santa Monica home last December, as newly released autopsy findings detailed the extent of injuries in the killing.
Micah Curtis Sykes, 31, was arraigned on one felony count of murder with a special allegation that he used a deadly weapon in the crime. Prosecutors also allege he inflicted great bodily injury on a victim 60 or older. He entered his not guilty plea after his arraignment had been continued multiple times since the case was filed Dec. 11.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement that the killing was "a painful reminder of how older adults remain vulnerable to violence, even from those closest to them," adding that his office's Elder Abuse Section is committed to holding accountable those who harm older victims.
According to the criminal complaint, Micah Sykes fatally attacked his 71-year-old father at approximately 9:20 p.m. on Dec. 8, 2025, at the family's home in the 1700 block of Delaware Avenue, using a dagger, garden shears and a barbell. Jubilant Sykes' wife, Cecelia, was home at the time and called emergency services after finding her son attacking his father, police said. Santa Monica Fire Department personnel pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
A Los Angeles County medical examiner's autopsy report found the singer suffered 68 stab wounds and multiple broken bones, according to the report. The autopsy showed Jubilant Sykes was stabbed in the heart, liver and lungs and was also struck with a 10-pound dumbbell during the attack. His son allegedly used garden shears in the assault, the criminal complaint states.
Micah Sykes was found inside the residence and taken into custody without incident, and he has remained held without bail since his arrest. A request for comment from the public defender's office was not immediately returned.
Detectives from the Santa Monica Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division secured the scene and obtained a search warrant, and forensic specialists processed physical evidence, including a weapon recovered at the scene. Police have said the incident appears to be isolated and occurred within a private residence, with no ongoing threat to the community.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Cesar Rodriguez and Julia Cohn of the DA's Elder Abuse Section and remains under investigation by the Santa Monica Police Department. A preliminary hearing setting is scheduled for Sept. 2 in Department 34 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. If convicted as charged, Sykes faces up to life in state prison.
Jubilant Sykes grew up in Los Angeles, where he sang soprano as a child, and went on to build a career as a baritone with performances at the Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, London's Barbican Centre, the Apollo Theater, the Hollywood Bowl and the New Orleans Jazz Festival. In 2010, he received a Grammy nomination for his recording of Leonard Bernstein's "Mass."
The District Attorney's Office is urging anyone concerned about the safety of an older adult to speak up. Its Elder Abuse Section handles cases involving elderly and dependent adult victims and said it seeks to use counseling, treatment and incarceration as appropriate while ensuring victims are protected and a just result is reached.
To report physical abuse, emotional abuse or neglect involving an older adult, the DA's office directs residents to contact local law enforcement or the Los Angeles County Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-877-4R SENIORS (1-877-477-3646). The office also publishes a pamphlet on how to identify and report elder abuse.
The charges against Micah Sykes are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.