A chilling exchange between two young parents in California has come to light amidst accusations that they starved their infant daughter to death. The disturbing details emerged as Elizabeth Ucman, 26, and Brandon Copeland, 25, face trial concerning the tragic demise of their three-month-old daughter, Delilah.
Authorities discovered the baby unresponsive on November 9, 2021, and prosecutors have described her condition as one of ‘severe malnutrition.’ Despite being rushed to the hospital, Delilah was pronounced dead shortly thereafter, marking a heartbreaking end to her short life.
During the trial, the prosecution unveiled a haunting transcript of a conversation between Ucman and Copeland, recorded post-arrest while they were left alone in a room. The dialogue reveals the couple’s chilling acknowledgment of their alleged neglect.
In the conversation, Copeland reportedly confessed to Ucman, “We’re guilty as hell. We neglected her,” and starkly admitted, “I mean, technically, what we did was murder.”
Ucman, expressing her fear, was met with a sobering response from Copeland: “Oh well, how do you think Delilah felt?” This exchange has added a grim layer to the already shocking case, drawing attention to the severe allegations against the parents.
Later, Ucman allegedly told Copeland she was ‘scared,’ to which Copeland responded: ‘Oh well, how do you think Delilah felt?’
Ucman and Copeland both pleaded not-guilty to first-degree murder charges.
The pair appeared in court last week for opening statements, where prosecutors accused the couple of starving and neglecting the once-healthy baby girl.
Elizabeth Ucman, 26, and Brandon Copeland, 25, are on trial in San Diego, California, after the death of their three-month-old baby daughter Delilah
Delilah was allegedly half her body weight when police discovered her in 2021 and rushed her 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’
‘She was reduced to less than half of her birth weight,’ prosecuting attorney Francesca Ballerio said, per NBC 7. ‘You could see the outline of her abdominal organs.’
The couple’s defense team claimed that the pair suffered abuse as children and had a variety of mental health issues that kept them from looking after themselves as well as their daughter, Law & Crime reported.
When Delilah was born, Ucman’s aunt Annie Chapman was given emergency custody. Social services discovered the couple’s filthy apartment and determined the pair were not fit to have custody of the child.
Court documents reportedly seen by NBC 7 revealed that the pair’s apartment was littered with trash, spoiled food, and animal feces.
Chapman testified during a preliminary hearing in 2023 that Copeland and Ucman’s home was filled with trash ‘up to your hips,’ City News Service reported at the time.
She said she took Delilah so that the couple could create a safer environment for the child, but the parents never once checked in on their infant.
Chapman added that she offered to take Delilah permanently and even suggested the idea of adoption, but Ucman had refused.
She returned Delilah to her parents and continued to check in on the child, testifying that she reported the home to Child Welfare Services ‘hundreds’ of times.
Delilah was born in July and her great-aunt cared for her during the first month of her life. She died just a few months later after suffering from malnutrition
The couple’s defense have claimed that the pair suffered abuse as children and had a variety of mental health issues that kept them from looking after themselves as well as their daughter
Ucman and Copeland have been in custody in San Diego since their arrest in 2021. They both face first-degree murder charges, and Copeland faces an additional obstruction charge
Deliliah was returned to their care despite multiple warnings from other relatives that it wouldn’t be safe for the child due to substance abuse and mental health issues, according to the outlet.
San Diego Police Detective Kelly Thibault-Hamill testified during the preliminary hearing that Copeland allegedly told her he would leave Delilah in a playpen in the living room all day while Ucman worked, and he stayed in his bedroom.
Copeland allegedly admitted to Hamill that when Deliliah cried he would cover her in blankets to muffle the noise, according to Hamill’s testimony.
He also allegedly told the detective that Ucman would occasionally go days without feeding Delilah or changing her diaper because she ‘didn’t feel like it,’ Hamill’s testimony added.
Copeland’s attorney, Courtney Cutter, said the pair were ‘completely overwhelmed’ and ‘functioning at the level of children themselves.’
‘The government only wants you to see the outcome and see it as malicious. Nobody wanted her to die. Everybody failed her,’ she added.
Ucman’s attorney, Anthony Parker, argued that the young mother suffered from post-partum depression.
She is currently in custody at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility, while Copeland is being held at San Diego Central Jail, according to inmate records.
