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A Newhall father who was arrested on a murder charge after his baby was found dead Saturday is facing additional charges, according to court records.
A Newhall father who was arrested on a murder charge after his baby was found dead Saturday is facing additional charges, according to court records.

Newhall Baby Murder Suspect Due Back In Court

A Newhall man charged with murdering and torturing his baby last month is due back in court on five charges after he missed his court date Tuesday morning, officials said.


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A criminal complaint against Matthew Brendan Warner, 30, of Newhall, charges him with the murder of Ellorah Warner, his 19-day-old baby girl, as well as assault on a child causing death, torture, oral copulation or sexual penetration of a child under 10, aggravated sexual assault.

He’s due in court March 12, when his hearing would be continued.

The case could be heard this afternoon because Warner is still in custody, according to Ricardo Santiago, spokesman for the District Attorney’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Julie Kramer of the county’s Victim Impact Program, which handles cases of elder abuse, child abuse, hate crimes, sex crimes, stalking and family violence.

At a preliminary hearing, a judge reviews the evidence and decides whether there is enough to merit a trial.

He faces a possible maximum sentence of multiple life sentences if convicted on all charges. The crimes as he’s charged, are not death penalty-eligible, according to an official with the District Attorney’s Office.

A 2013 murder case involved Canyon Country resident Lance Anderson, accused of what LAPD officials called “mercy killings,” was continued until March 9 for a preliminary hearing. Kramer also is prosecuting that case.

Ellorah Warner was discovered inside the cab of a parked truck in the 23600 block of Newhall Avenue around 7 a.m. Jan. 24, and pronounced dead at the scene, according to Lt. Holly Francisco, the homicide detective leading the investigation.

Warner led detectives to the area where the baby was found.

Warner is being held in lieu of $2.25 million bail.

From a previous story:

“(On Friday) at 9:35 p.m., the parents of a 3-week-old female walked into the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station lobby,” saidSheriff’s Station Lt. Brenda Cambra, “and reported that their baby was missing from their home on the 21300 block of Alder Street.”

KHTS AM-1220 tried to obtain a copy of the 911 call in connection with the incident, and Sheriff’s Station officials said no call was placed based on their records.

Deputies spent several hours searching for the baby reported missing in the Newhall area.

A helicopter unit assisted the search efforts, which stretched from Valle Del Oro to Sierra Highway, and Dockweiler to Newhall Avenue.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at 661-255-1121.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

KHTS AM 1220 - Santa Clarita Radio

Newhall Baby Murder Suspect Due Back In Court

4 comments

  1. Why the hell was he not jailed!!!? Children & Animals do not have a voice, so you’d think someone responsible should protect them. Obviously, he is innocent until proven guilty… Why on earth would he come to court on his own free will when he is obviously guilty of Murder?

  2. He led them to the baby’s body and must’ve given them details of the crime, guessing by the nature of the charges against him. I agree he’ll be convicted, and these heinous crimes against children are even further punished by other prison inmates. Chances are this guy won’t survive long either way.

    That poor mother. Their poor families. What an absolute nightmare.

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About Perry Smith

Perry Smith is a print and broadcast journalist who has won several awards for his focused, hyperlocal community coverage in several different regions of the country. In addition to five years of experience covering the Santa Clarita Valley, Smith, a San Fernando Valley native, has worked in newspapers and news websites in Los Angeles, the Northwest, the Central Valley and the South, before coming to KHTS in 2012. To contact Smith, email him at Perry@hometownstation.com.