By Samuel Alioto

A Lancaster father of four has been charged with decapitating his teenage son and daughter and abusing his other two boys last week, LA County D.A. said.

For almost ten years, Taylor apparently worked at a physical therapy center in Santa Monica. Recently, his work had been conducted on Zoom due to the worldwide pandemic.

He is listed on their website as a physical trainer for VERT Fitness & Physical Therapy at 3011 Wilshire Blvd.

"Maurice has been involved in the fitness industry since 2004 and has remained a certified personal trainer with the ACSM since 2006," said the VERT website, which has now been scrubbed of any mention of Taylor.

"He has almost a decade of experience working with a diverse range of individuals and personal trainers, specializing in many issues ranging from weight management to athletic performance."

Maurice Jewel Taylor Sr., 34 faces two felony counts each of murder and child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death.

Taylor is charged with fatally stabbing Maliaka T., 13, and Maurice T., 12, on November 29. The defendant's other two boys, ages 8 and 9 were allegedly shown their murdered siblings and were forced to stay in their bedrooms for several days without food, the prosecutors said.

If convicted as charged, Taylor faces a possible maximum sentence of more than 57 years to life in state prison.