Corona Man Sentenced To Life In Prison For Killing Toddler

A Riverside County man convicted of murdering his girlfriend's 17-month-old daughter was sentenced today to 25 years to life in state prison.

Norwalk Superior Court Judge Thomas I. McKnew Jr. denied the defense's request for a new trial for Mark Edward Vaughn, 22, of Corona, who was found guilty Jan. 25 of second-degree murder and assault on a child under 8 causing death.

"This was indeed a very sad case," the judge said.

In a statement read in court on her behalf, Jayden Brianne Turner's mother called her daughter "the happiest, most loving, genuine and fun- spirited little girl that God put on this earth."

"... One of the most disheartening reminders of Jayden's absence is the fact that I now possess a death certificate with her name clearly printed across the top of it. I've had it for a few months now, and it still makes my stomach turn when I read the word 'homicide' as her cause of death. This document is proof that Jayden's death was intentional -- at the hands of someone that both her and I loved. Because of Mark, I am forced to live the rest of my life without my precious daughter."

Koryne Turner said the only thing she could hope for is "that Mark remains in prison for the duration of his life, being mentally tortured by the reminder that he murdered an innocent little girl."

Lisa Turner, who lived with her daughter and granddaughter in La Mirada, said their lives were "devastated" by the Jan. 24, 2012, attack.

"Jayden was an innocent, defenseless, 17-month-old toddler with her whole life ahead of her. Mark was jealous of Jayden and all the love and attention she received from her family and friends. Mark took Jayden's life so he deserves to lose his freedom for the rest of his life," the victim's grandmother told the judge.

Vaughn -- who had been babysitting the toddler -- told sheriff's homicide detectives that she fell out of a chair and struck her head on the floor, prompting him to call 911 on Jan. 20, 2012. The floor was carpeted and padded, according to Deputy District Attorney Franco Baratta.

The child was taken to an Orange County hospital, where she was pronounced dead four days later. An autopsy by the Orange County Sheriff- Coroner's Department determined that she died from blunt force trauma to the head, and the death was ruled a homicide.

The case against Vaughn was filed after coroner's officials in Orange County and Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives spoke with prosecutors from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Vaughn was arrested on April 3, 2012, in Corona by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and has remained jailed since then. --City News Service