Family and friends mourned on Saturday a day care teacher who was stabbed to death allegedly by her daughter's boyfriend at a park while students were at recess.
Mourners came out to a service for Kellye Taylor, 53, at Long Beach's Orizaba Park park, where the stabbing occurred a day earlier.
"She fought," said her sister, Mary Bryant. "It was just her time and she knew she was going."
The day care teacher was watching about a dozen children on the playground during noon recess when she was stabbed from behind, police said.
No children were hurt. Teachers evacuated the students from the area to a safe place, police said.
"At no time did the suspect attempt to harm any of the children or other teachers," police said in a statement.
Police were trying to figure out what prompted the attack, but Steven Dwayne Brown, 50, (pictured below) was arrested after passersby helped police track him down at a shopping center. He was being held at a Los Angeles County jail on a murder charge.
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Brown knew her work routine and used recess as an opportunity to allegedly attack her, police said.
Brown was the father of Taylor's grandchildren, police said. Earlier reports said Brown was dating Taylor's daughter, but police said they were trying to confirm the status of their relationship.
Taylor had apparently been caring for his children up until the attack.
"I have to be strong for my mom and my dad," Bryant said. "I'm going to miss my sister very much. It was something I wouldn't wish on anyone."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"This is a nightmare," her sister said. "I'm so sad. My heart is broke."
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