The death of Priscilla Sesanto, a 74-year-old resident of West Covina in Los Angeles County, was formally pronounced on Friday, January 2, 2026, at a hospital where she was taken following a violent attack in her own home. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner determined the manner of her death was a homicide caused by blunt-force head trauma.
The fatal assault took place on New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1, 2026. The attacker was the victim’s own 28-year-old grandson, Joshua Philip Day, who was living in the home at the time. Day allegedly punched his grandmother, Priscilla Sesanto, and his 77-year-old grandfather, Philip Sesanto, multiple times during the attack. The brutal beating left Priscilla Sesanto in a coma from which she never recovered, while her husband of more than 50 years survived but suffered serious injuries.
Blunt-force trauma to the head, such as that inflicted by repeated punches, is a severe and life-threatening injury. It occurs when the head is struck with a non-penetrating object, causing the brain to collide violently with the inside of the skull.
This type of trauma can cause catastrophic internal damage including brain bruising (contusions), bleeding on the brain (hematomas), skull fractures, or a severe condition known as diffuse axonal injury where nerve fibers in the brain tear. Such injuries can lead to loss of consciousness, coma, and death.
Paramedics rushed both victims to the hospital after neighbors called 911. Despite medical intervention, the injuries inflicted upon Priscilla Sesanto proved fatal. She passed away the following day, on January 2. Joshua Philip Day was arrested by police just a few hours after the initial attack.
Los Angeles County prosecutors have since charged Day with one count of murder for his grandmother’s death and one count of elder or dependent adult abuse causing great bodily injury for the attack on his grandfather. District Attorney Nathan Hochman called the crime a “senseless and violent” act that illustrates the tragic reality of violence against the elderly, often perpetrated by family members. If convicted on all charges, Day faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in state prison, plus an additional nine years.
Day was denied bail following his arrest. His arraignment on the charges was scheduled for January 14, 2026. The case highlights the devastating physical consequences of assault, where blunt-force impacts can cause fatal brain injuries, and the profound personal tragedy when such violence erupts within a family.