Linda Wilborn, 34, Seal Beach, was convicted Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2012, of second degree murder in the 2009 death of her 23-month-old daughter Millicent.
A jury found Wilborn guilty of one felony count of second degree murder, one felony count of assault on a child with force likely to produce great bodily injury resulting in death, and two felony counts of child abuse. She faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison at her sentencing Dec. 7.
At the time of the crime, Wilborn had four young children, including 23-month-old twins Millicent and John Doe. Between Oct. 17, 2009, and Dec. 17, 2009, the defendant physically abused the twins.
On Dec. 17, 2009, Wilborn was home with her four children while her husband was at work. The defendant inflicted tremendous blunt force trauma to Millicent’s stomach. At approximately 4 p.m., Wilborn called 911 to report that the victim was unresponsive. Authorities responded to the Wilborn home on Anchor Way.
Millicent was transported to the hospital, but later died due to a ruptured heart, despite the life-saving efforts of medical staff. Further examination of the victim revealed that she had fresh and old fractures to her ribs. An examination of her twin, John Doe, revealed that he had a fractured skull. The other two children did not have any physical signs of trauma.
Wilborn’s three surviving children were placed in protective custody. The Seal Beach Police Department investigated this case and arrested the defendant while she was at the Orange County Social Services Agency visiting her children.
In a related case in late May 2012, the U.S. Army court-martialed her husband Derrick Wilborn for negligent homicide in the death of Millicent Wilborn. Derrick Wilborn was convicted of negligent homicide and child endangerment by culpable negligence.
The panel found that Derrick Wilborn failed to protect his four children from the abuse of his wife.
The Army sentenced Derrick Wilborn to 90 days incarceration and demoted him from sergeant first class to specialist.
