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Grammy-Nominated Baritone Jubilant Sykes, 71, Fatally Stabbed at Santa Monica Home as Son Is Arrested

Police describe an isolated family incident under review by the Los Angeles County District Attorney.

Overview

  • Officers responding to a 9:20 p.m. emergency call on Delaware Avenue found Sykes with stab wounds and pronounced him dead at the scene.
  • The victim’s 31-year-old son, Micah Sykes, was located inside the home and taken into custody without incident.
  • Investigators recovered a suspected weapon and other evidence and emphasized there is no threat to the wider community.
  • Authorities are preparing a murder case for prosecutorial review, and media reports cite a $2 million bail figure that police sources referenced.
  • A motive has not been established, and police noted a prior mental-health history for the suspect without linking it to the killing; Sykes was an acclaimed cross‑genre baritone known for performances at major venues and a 2009 Grammy nomination.