Steven Brown sentenced in fatal 2013 stabbing of Long Beach teacher in front of students

Steven Dwayne Brown, a 52-year-old Long Beach man convicted of stabbing his girlfriend’s mother to death, was sentenced to 86 years to life in state prison Friday following emotional speeches from the victim’s family.

Brown was convicted of first-degree murder Jan. 27 in the Oct. 11, 2013 killing Kellye Taylor, 53, at Orizaba Park. She and two other teachers were supervising children from the nearby K-6 Huntington Academy as they played during a weekly outing.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Laura Laesecke ordered Brown to pay $30,055.63 restitution as part of his sentence.

Several of Taylor’s family members were present in court Friday. Three of her sisters and her father addressed the court in a series of emotional speeches saying Brown’s actions hurt several generations of their family. One sister wished him peace in prison while Taylor’s father, Willie Bryant, said he hopes Brown suffers the same pain he’s been feeling since his daughter’s death.

“Let him hurt,” Bryant said, his voice booming inside the small courtroom. “Let him hurt real bad. Let him suffer like I’m suffering. [My daughters] call their daddy every day, and say ‘how are you doing,’ but one of them won’t.”

Seeking justice

The week-long trial began Jan. 19, more than 2 years after Taylor’s death.

Deputy Los Angeles County District Attoey Diana Martinez said during trial that the killing was motivated by revenge because Taylor had custody of Brown’s children. Tia Taylor, Kellye’s daughter and Brown’s girlfriend, testified during trial that conflict between Brown and her mother had been brewing for years. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services awarded Taylor custody of Tia Taylor’s five children earlier in 2013. Brown is the father of three of those children.

Ongoing pain

Her youngest sister, Pamela Huffman, said Friday that Taylor’s death took an irreplaceable person from her family, her fellow teachers, the children she served and the community she loved.

“I’ve watched [Brown’s] evil, ugly ways,” Huffman said. “I pray that he finds peace in his life somehow.”

Tammy Henry, another of Taylor’s sisters, told the court that she is now raising Brown’s three boys.

In a passionate, fiery speech, Henry said Brown “stole their grandmother from them,” but that she is going to make sure that the children succeed and become productive members of society.

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“I love them,” she said. “I’ll always fight for them. They’re going to make it.”

Vanessa Kelly, the oldest sister, said Kellye Taylor was less than a year younger than her and that they were like twins, raising their families together. She thanked the court, the attoeys and Laesecke for their efforts on the case.

Killer’s response

Brown, during each of the statements kept his head down, took notes and shuffled through papers.

Brown never looked back at Taylor’s family, but did address the court saying he was sorry for her death. He also continued to deny that he murdered her.

“Mrs. Taylor was a precious life,” he said. “I do feel that. Mrs. Taylor was not murdered. Unfortunately I did play a role in her death. Her resurrection is guaranteed . You know the Bible as well as I do.”

Father’s speech

Bryant leaned his body slightly against the podium as he spoke of the pain he and his family have felt at Taylor’s loss.

He worked hard throughout his life to make sure his children took the right path in life, he said.

Bryant, 81, looked at Brown and stood up straight.

“Mr. Brown goa call me a gangster?” he said. “He’s the gangster with his head down. You can always tell when someone’s guilty. They keep their head down. My head’s up.”

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