LOS ANGELES, CA — Matthew Warner, 30, was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for the sexual assault and murder
of his 19-day-old daughter.
On January 23, Warner was at home watching his infant daughter, Ellorah Warner, while his wife was at work. Later that evening, he would tell police that his daughter was missing and had been kidnapped.
Before a search for the baby began, neighbors told investigators that they saw Warner carrying a bundle away from the couple’s home. Around 50 personnel surrounding sheriff’s stations, as well as search-and-rescue crews and air units started searching for the girl.
The following morning, Warner would lead police to a truck parked in a parking lot located a half-mile from the couple’s home. Hidden inside the cab of the truck was the dead body of Ellorah, wrapped up in towels and bags.
At first it was reported that the baby had been drowned, but it was later reported she had been beaten to death. Warner was arrested and charged with the murder of his daughter. But that’s not all.
Warner was also charged with assault on a child causing death, torture, oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child under 10 years old and aggravated sexual assault of a child.
On September 2, Warner would agree to a plea deal that had him plead guilty to first-degree murder and have all of the other charges dropped. On Tuesday, Warner was sentenced to 50 years to life in state prison.
At the time of the murder, Warner was on probation after being released from state prison due to their realignment program. He was on post release community supervision stemming from a Nov. 14, 2012, conviction for unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle with three priors.