Barbara Daly Baekeland, a member of the wealthy plastics family, met a tragic end at her opulent London residence when her son, Tony, fatally attacked her as he casually ordered takeout on the phone while police arrived.
Tony, a 25-year-old, was the only child of Barbara and Brooks Baekeland, the heir to the Bakelite fortune. Barbara, previously a model and considered one of New York’s most beautiful women, met Brooks, a trainee pilot and the grandson of Leo Baekeland, the inventor of synthetic plastic. Their son Antony was born in 1946.
Reports suggested a troubling relationship between Tony and his mother, with claims that she intervened in his personal life, including pressuring him to engage with sex workers in an attempt to alter his sexuality. Allegations even surfaced that Barbara had sexually abused her son.
The situation escalated into violence, with Tony once trying to harm his mother by pushing her into traffic. The nature of their relationship, possibly incestuous, remained uncertain.
Barbara had previously attempted suicide upon discovering her husband’s infidelity, leading to their separation. Brooks remarried and distanced himself from both Barbara and Tony.
Tony was later diagnosed with schizophrenia. Despite their affluent lifestyle in London, Tony exhibited threatening behavior towards his mother, including brandishing knives and choking her. Barbara’s claims of incest shocked those around her, although she was known for seeking attention.
On the night of Barbara’s death, a disagreement between her and Tony over a guest escalated into violence, resulting in Tony stabbing his mother. He later claimed that he felt controlled by her and was not in his right mind.
Tony, after being convicted of manslaughter, was sent to Broadmoor. Despite efforts by his paternal grandmother to advocate for his return to the United States, Brooks maintained that Tony posed a danger.
In 1980, following his release to his grandmother’s care in New York, Tony exhibited disturbing behavior, creating a shrine for his late mother and expressing unusual behaviors.
Just days after leaving Broadmoor, Tony attacked his grandmother, stabbing her multiple times. Despite his intentions to harm her, she survived the ordeal.
Tony was sentenced to life in Rikers Island, where his family’s wealth provided him with privileges and protection within the prison.
Tragically, on March 20, 1981, Tony was found dead with a plastic bag over his head, the circumstances of his death remaining unclear as authorities could not determine if it was suicide or murder.