BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (TCN) — A 17-year-old boy has been charged as an adult in connection with the killing of his father and the attempted killing of his mother.
According to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a residence on July 5 after receiving a report of an assault. When they arrived, they located 37-year-old Samantha Baker and 46-year-old Lance Baker, both suffering from stab wounds, and attempted lifesaving measures until paramedics arrived. Samantha Baker was pronounced dead at the scene and Lance Baker was airlifted to the hospital to be treated.
Their 17-year-old son was detained at the scene, according to police. Due to his age, his name has not been released by authorities. The New York Post identified him as the couple’s oldest son, Brandon Baker.
WWNY reports that Brandon Baker allegedly stabbed his parents indoors and outdoors; the crime scene reportedly extended across the street and into multiple yards. WALA reports he allegedly stabbed both his parents after an argument over being disciplined.
According to deputies, after the alleged attack, the teen locked himself in the home and dialed 911, per WWNY.
Lance Baker was reportedly running between houses trying to get help and was located by first responders in a neighbor’s yard. Neighbor Shawn Scurry reviewed her home security footage following the incident and said, “That was probably the hardest part — was pulling up my camera and listening to it and listening to the father yelling for help. ‘Please help me. I don’t want to die.’ … And it just carried on down and it looks like he was trying to find an open door and I didn’t know where he was or where anybody was.”
Lance Baker remains hospitalized in critical condition, per WWNY.
The New York Post reports that the Bakers met while serving in the U.S. Army Reserve. Samantha Baker was a realtor and Lance Baker was Battalion Commander with the 1184th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion in Mobile, Alabama. The couple reportedly has a younger son who was not home when the attack occurred.
In a Facebook post, the New York Post reports that Samantha Baker wrote of her son, “Happy birthday to my first born! 17 years has flown by! You are an amazing person and yet at the same time you make my blood boil…I love you, B!”
The New York Post reports that Samantha Baker frequently posted about the challenges she had with her son. A meme she shared on social media in May 2025 read, “Only parents with gentle children can gentle parent. The rest of us have to square up, and fight for our lives with the tiny bullies we made,” along with a caption she wrote that said, “And I do square up! I don’t have gentle kids! They are feral.”
Brandon Baker was charged with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder, per police. WWNY reports that his bond was set at $1 million at his July 6 hearing.
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