Jubilant Sykes found dead, son suspect in stabbing death
Baritone Jubilant Sykes was found dead in a Santa Monica home with fatal stab wounds. His son was arrested on suspicion of homicide, authorities said.
The son of Grammy-nominated singer Jubilant Sykes has pleaded not guilty to killing his father inside his home.
Micah Sykes, 31, was arraigned at a Los Angeles County courthouse on Aug. 6. He was formally charged with one felony count of murder with a special allegation of using a deadly weapon.
Micah Sykes, who has been jailed without bail since December 2025, entered a not guilty plea. He is next due to appear in court for a preliminary hearing setting on Sept. 2.
Micah Sykes was arrested on Dec. 9, a day after first responders found his 71-year-old father “with critical injuries consistent with a stabbing” in the family’s Santa Monica, California, home, where they declared him dead at the scene.
Micah “did unlawfully, and with malice aforethought murder” his father with a deadly weapon, according to a felony complaint filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Dec. 11, which was reviewed by USA TODAY.
“In the commission and attempted commission of the above offense,” prosecutors allege that Micah used a knife, garden shears and a barbell.
Who was Jubilant Sykes?
Jubilant Sykes was a classically trained baritone singer whose rendition of Leonard Bernstein’s “Mass” was nominated for a best classical album trophy at the 2010 Grammy Awards.
His musical career led to performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Metropolitan Opera House and the Hollywood Bowl over the years.
He was also a film and stage actor, making his movie debut in 2014’s “Freedom” alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. His theater career took him to venues such as the New York City Center, where he performed in productions of “Bloomer Girl” in 2001 and “1776” in 2016.
According to his website, he and his wife, Cecelia, had three sons.