Dayvon Taylor. Courtesy photo.

A 23-year-old Downey man was charged with murder today for allegedly fatally beating his godson.

Six-year-old Dayvon Taylor, who’d just moved to Long Beach with his mother, died the day after Christmas.

The godfather, Tyler D’Shaun Martin Brand, is expected to be arraigned Monday afternoon in Downey on charges of murder and assault on a child causing death. Prosecutors said Brand had been caring for the Dayvon for several days over the holiday break.

Virginia Sewell lights candles during a candlelight vigil for her nephew Dayvon Taylor. Photo by Stephen Carr.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, Dayvon was severely beaten, and he died shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach.

Police described Brand only as an acquaintance of the boy’s mother, but prosecutors said Brand was the boy’s godfather.

Dayvon’s father, David Nicholson Jr., said he only knew Brand as “the coach” or “Coach Ty.”

David Nicholson Jr. is consoled by friends and family at a vigil in memory of his son, 6-year-old Dayvon Taylor, who died after allegedly being beaten by an acquaintance of his mother. Photo by Stephen Carr.

Dayvon’s parents had worked out a co-parenting agreement that included his mother having full custody of him and his 4-year-old sister and their father seeing them regularly, Nicholson Jr. said. But around September, the visits stopped.

“It was always, ‘He’s with the coach, call back later,’” Nicholson Jr. previously told the Long Beach Post.

Brand, who was arrested Thursday night, faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted, according to the District Attorney’s Office. He remains jailed in lieu of $2 million bail.

Valerie Osier is the Social Media & Newsletter Manager for the Long Beach Post. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @ValerieOsier