Jubilant Sykes body found, suspected of stabbing son to death
Baritone Jubilant Sykes was found dead of fatal stab wounds in his Santa Monica home. The son was arrested on suspicion of murder, authorities said.
The son of singer Jubilant Sykes is being held in a Southern California jail without bail after being arrested on suspicion of stabbing Sykes.
31-year-old Micah Curtis Sykes’ bail was changed from $4 million to no bail following his Dec. 11 court appearance on a felony murder charge. He was arrested on Dec. 9, a day after first responders found 71-year-old Jubilant Sykes “with severe stab wounds” in a Santa Monica home and pronounced him dead at the scene.
According to ABC7, Los Angeles County prosecutors have requested that Micah Sykes’ bail be modified. The news station reported that Deputy District Attorney Cesar Rodriguez told Judge Teresa R. McGonigle that Sykes was not receiving proper medication for his schizophrenia diagnosis.
ABC7 reported that a deputy district attorney told the judge that Sykes’ mother, Cecilia, witnessed the alleged attack and that McGonigle had obtained an order of protection barring him from having contact with her.
Meanwhile, Sykes’ defense team requested that his arraignment be postponed until 2026. Sykes’ next court appearance is Feb. 11 in downtown Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department inmate records.
On December 13, he was transferred from the Los Angeles County Jail to the Peter J. Pitches Detention Center in rural Castaic, California.
Micah Sykes charged with murdering father Jubilant Sykes with deadly weapon
A felony complaint filed with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Dec. 11 and obtained by USA TODAY on Dec. 15 says Sykes used a deadly weapon to “unlawfully and maliciously kill” her father.
“In the commission and attempt of the crimes described above,” Sykes “personally used deadly and dangerous weapons, including knives, garden shears, and barbells, but stated that such use was not an element of the crimes described above,” the complaint states.
Micah Sykes’ attorney could not be reached at the time of publication.
Who is Jubilant Sykes?
Jubilant Sykes is a classically trained baritone whose rendition of Leonard Bernstein’s “Mass” was nominated for the 2010 Grammy Award for the Best Classical Album trophy.
His musical career led to performances at Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Metropolitan Opera House, and Hollywood Bowl over the years.
He is also a film and stage actor, making his debut in 2014’s Freedom, starring Cuba Gooding Jr. Her theater career has taken her to venues such as New York City Center, where she appeared in productions of Bloomer Girl in 2001 and 1776 in 2016.
