Tag: Micah Sykes

SANTA MONICA—An autopsy report for renowned Grammy-nominated opera singer Jubilant Sykes, 71, has been released to the public nearly seven months after his death.

Sykes was murdered on December 8, 2025, inside his family home in Santa Monica. Authorities responded to a 911 call from Jubilant’s wife, Cecelia, around 9.20 p.m. after she reported that their son stabbed her husband.

According to the Santa Monica Police Department, Cecelia came out of the shower and saw their adult son Micah standing over Jubilant, stabbing him with what she described as a sharp-edged weapon. When officers arrived at the residence, Sykes was found suffering from critical injuries consistent with a stabbing.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the autopsy report from the Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner, the killing was ruled a homicide.

Sykes suffered 68 sharp force injuries and five blunt force injuries, for a total of at least 73 wounds. The report noted that Micah Sykes, 31, used a nine-inch curved blade and also struck his father with a 10-pound dumbbell.

Medical examiners concluded that multiple weapons were used in the attack. No motive has officially been released for why Micah allegedly killed his father.

Law enforcement and the victim’s family have made clear that Micah has a documented history of mental illness. He is currently being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in August 2026.

Jubilant Sykes has is a Grammy-nominated opera singer who has performed at venues including Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, The Kennedy Center, London’s Barbican Centre, Hollywood Bowl, the New Orleans Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl to name a few.

He has collaborated with artists including Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, Julie Andrews and John Beasley to name a few. He was nominated for Best Classical Album at the 2009 Grammy Awards.

By Milan Manesh

SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Police Department announced on Tuesday, December 9 that an arrest has been made in connected to a domestic incident that transpired on December 8. Authorities reported at approximately 9:20 p.m., on December 8, officers responded to a residence in the 1700 block of Delaware Avenue after a 9-1-1 caller reported an assault in progress.

Officers quickly arrived on scene and contacted the reporting party, who directed them inside the home.

Inside the residence, officers located an adult male, 71-year-old Jubilant Sykes, with critical injuries consistent with a stabbing. Santa Monica Fire Department personnel responded and pronounced the individual deceased at the scene. The suspect, the victim’s son, Micah Sykes, 31, was found inside the residence and taken into custody without incident.

Detectives from SMPD’s Criminal Investigations Division responded, secured the scene, and subsequently obtained a search warrant. Forensic specialists are processing physical evidence, including the weapon recovered at the scene.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. The suspect will be booked for homicide, and the case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.

This appears to be an isolated incident occurring within a private residence, and there is no ongoing threat to the community. The SMPD maintained a presence in the area throughout the investigation. Lt. Lewis Gilmour with the SMPD informed Canyon News via email no photos of the suspect will be released at this time.

Anyone with details related to this case is asked to contact SMPD Detective Peter Zamfirov at (310) 458-8451 (peter.zamfirov@santamonica.gov) or the Watch Commander (24 hours) at (310) 458-8427.

 

By Danny Jones