A pair of San Diego parents were sentenced Wednesday to 15 years to life in prison for the death of their baby girl, Delilah, after both were convicted of second-degree murder in March.  Brandon Copeland and Elizabeth Ucman have been jailed since the baby died in late 2021. Prosecutors say their three month old weighed less than four pounds at the time of her death, which was half of what she weighed when she was born. San Diego police body camera video showed the lifeless body of Delilah inside a filthy apartment in City Heights. Crime scene photos revealed piles of trash, spoiled food, and animal feces strewn throughout the apartment.  Though the couple was initially charged with first-degree murder, prosecutors modified that during the trial, only seeking a second-degree murder conviction.  During the trial, defense attorneys said a combination of mental health issues for the parents and perceived failures by social workers contributed enough to mitigate the punishment. But jurors disagreed, siding with evidence that prosecutors said was proof the parents had a full understanding of the harm they inflicted on their helpless baby. The involvement from county social workers For the first month of her life, Delilah was in the care of her great-aunt, who begged to take the child until the couple cleaned their apartment. During that time, reports were made to the San Diego County Child Family Well-Being Department (Child Welfare Services at the time). Many of the details from the trial had been revealed after NBC 7 Investigates successfully won a court ruling to gain access to the county’s social worker case files. They revealed that social workers created a safety plan for Delilah that the parents agreed to as part of Voluntary Services with the county.  That’s a type of social worker supervision in cases where children are at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Children may either safely remain in the home or in a voluntary out-of-home placement. Documents stated that the parents agreed they wouldn’t get Delilah back until the home was clean and safe. A month later, that happened, against the fervent pleas of family members, who told social workers that both Copeland and Ucman were unfit because they were immature and suffered from a slew of mental health issues. While they initially kept in contact with family members and social workers, prosecutors said they broke off contact over the next couple of months.  The case files revealed that the last time Delilah was seen by a social worker was 55 days before her November 10, 2021 death. Delilah’s great-grandmother, Adrienne Arnett, told NBC 7 Investigates that she believes the system failed her – that the county should have stepped in to remove Delilah from the home.  During closing arguments, Deputy District Attorney Franciesca Balerio downplayed criticism for county social workers, and said, “The system broke down is what we hear … that is not what the evidence in this case showed.” NBC 7 Investigates reached out to the county multiple times in 2023, asking to have a conversation about what happened in this case and discuss departmental policies. It repeatedly declined to comment or make staff available for questions. The sentencing of Delilah’s parents On June 17, 2026, Copeland and Ucman appeared before San Diego Superior Court Judge Robert Amador for sentencing. Before sentencing, attorneys for both defendants argued for a mistrial, claiming the court had oversimplified the legal issues presented to jurors and prevented them from reaching an accurate verdict. Both Balerio and Amador rejected those arguments. Amador noted jurors reached their decisions after only one day of deliberations following weeks of testimony, which he said reflected the strength of the evidence. The defendants were then given an opportunity to address the court. Ucman’s attorney read a written statement on her behalf that said, in part, “I know my actions caused my daughter’s death and not a day goes by that I don’t think about it. I wish I could change what happened or that I can trade my life for hers, but I can’t.” Throughout the hearing, Ucman mostly looked down, occasionally crying and using tissues. Copeland also addressed the court directly and said, in part, “I just want to first start by saying nobody knows how much this pains me and the amount of grief I’ve suffered in four years.” He later added, “I want to say I’m sorry to everybody who was involved in this case, but most of all I’m sorry to my daughter.” After reviewing the evidence, witness testimony and mental health arguments presented by the defense, Amador sentenced both defendants to 15 years to life in prison, consistent with the prosecution’s recommendation. The sentence includes credit for time already served. Explaining his decision, Amador criticized attempts to shift responsibility away from the parents. He said, “Constantly, the defense is pointing the finger and blame on other people, whether it’s the prosecution in this case for the way they look at this, whether it is social services, whether it is other parties who were there. ‘It’s not the defendant’s fault.’ It is their fault.” Amador said Copeland and Ucman will be eligible for parole in approximately 13 years, or in 2039. Both defendants retain the right to appeal. At least one defense attorney indicated plans to pursue further review of the case. ...read more read less