Man convicted of killing his father

A Los Angeles County jury convicted a 38-year-old man of second-degree murder Thursday in the death of his father, whose charred and dismembered remains were found last year in an abandoned strip mall in the Crenshaw district.

Prosecutors alleged that Wayne Taylor III murdered his father weeks after he assaulted and robbed the 65-year-old retired computer programmer of $23,000 in cash. Deputy Dist. Atty. Bobby Grace told jurors during the trial that a report about the assault prompted a family court judge to restrict the younger Taylor’s access to his son in an ongoing custody dispute.

Taylor’s father, Wayne Taylor Jr., was last seen Nov. 22, 2007, a day after the family court’s ruling. His head, feet and hands were discovered in a burning building nearly a month later.

Taylor faces more than 15 years to life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 5.

-- Jack Leonard