stevenbrownmugshot

stevenbrownmugshotUPDATE | A Long Beach man was sentenced to 86 years to life in prison Friday after being convicted in January of fatally stabbing a schoolteacher at a park as her students played nearby. The stabbing incident occurred in 2013.

Steven Dwayne Brown, 52, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Kellye Taylor, 53, on October 11, 2013. Authorities said Brown walked up behind the Huntington Academy School teacher and slit her throat at Orizaba Park while she was watching her students play during recess.

Brown’s three children—all under the age of 12—had been placed with Taylor, their grandmother, a prosecutor said late January.

“I am sorry, truly sorry,” Brown said during the sentencing hearing. But he claimed that Taylor was alive when she was taken to the hospital, and suggested that her family should sue the hospital over her death. He conceded, however, that he “did play a role in her death.”

City News Service contributed to this report.

PREVIOUSLY: Long Beach Man Convicted of Fatally Stabbing Teacher in Front of Students

1/27/16 at 2:48PM | A Long Beach man was convicted on Wednesday of fatally stabbing a schoolteacher in 2013 at a park as her students played nearby.

Steven Dwayne Brown, 52, was found guilty of first-degree murder for the October 11, 2013 killing of Kellye Taylor, 53, after jurors deliberated for about four hours.

Authorities said Brown walked up behind the Huntington Academy School teacher and slit her throat at Orizaba Park while she was watching her students play during recess.

Another teacher who was at the park took the children away from the scene, and a third teacher rendered aid to the mortally injured Taylor, according to Deputy District Attorney Diana Martinez.

Brown’s three children—all under the age of 12—had been placed with Taylor, their grandmother, the prosecutor said.

“He did not want his children to be in the care of the victim,” the prosecutor said. “He said he wanted anyone but her to take care of the children.”

Eyewitness testimony, as well as DNA on the knife, Brown’s clothing and boot, linked the defendant to the fatal stabbing, the prosecutor added.

Brown fled the scene but was arrested later that day near Anaheim Street and Redondo Avenue, a few blocks from the private Huntington Academy. He has remained jailed since then.

He has four prior felony convictions out of Los Angeles County between 1986 and 1998, including residential burglary, robbery and possession of a controlled substance, according to the criminal complaint.

Brown faces 86 years to life in state prison, with sentencing scheduled for March 4 at the Long Beach courthouse.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Above, left file photo. 

Stephanie Rivera is the community engagement editor. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @StephRivera88.