A fatal stabbing that left a mother dead and her husband critically wounded in Alabama reportedly stemmed from an argument between the teen son and his mother over her social media posts, according to a neighbor.
Samantha Baker, 37, was found with multiple stab wounds outside their home on Augustine Drive in the Belforest complex late Sunday. Her husband, Lance Baker, 46, also sustained numerous stab wounds. Their 17-year-old son, Brandon, has been charged with murder and attempted murder in the incident.
Shawn Scurry, the couple's next-door neighbor, told The Post that the argument between mother and son escalated hours before the attack. Scurry reported hearing a loud exchange on the front porch around 2:30 p.m. Sunday, which surveillance footage from his home captured tense audio snippets of.
Scurry believes the dispute was about Samantha Baker's Facebook posts, which sometimes mentioned her two sons and family life in a critical or humorous manner. "She does talk kind of rude about the kids … and, you know, they are teenagers," Scurry said. The neighbor recalled the teen asking about a comment, with his mother asserting it was just a story and not directed at him.
Samantha Baker's social media activity included posts that hinted at less than idyllic family dynamics. In a post for National Sons' Day last year, she described her son Brandon as "a sweet guy" but noted "his mouth and attitude," adding, "He's a calm presence until he isn't. He marches to the beat of his own drum."
In another post, she wrote, "You are an amazing person and yet at the same time you make my blood boil."
More recently, in January, Samantha Baker shared a meme that read, "Gentle parenting is for gentle children. My thugs will be handled accordingly." She had previously shared a similar meme stating, "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," adding, "I don't have gentle kids! They are feral."
According to Scurry, Samantha Baker ultimately ended the argument by instructing her son to do his chore: mow the lawn. Scurry noted that the teen typically did this chore and it didn't appear to be a point of contention.
The violence erupted later that evening, around 9 p.m. Police stated that the parents had a separate disciplinary argument with their son inside the house before Brandon allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife and attacked them. Both parents were chased out of the home, with Samantha Baker pronounced dead at the scene. Lance Baker was airlifted to a local hospital in critical condition.
Scurry's Nest camera audio captured the sounds of the assault, including Samantha Baker's scream and Lance Baker's pleas. "Why are you doing this?" Lance Baker could be heard saying, followed by "I don't want to die. Please stop. No." The audio also reportedly captured the teen saying he was going to kill his father.
Lance Baker ran to neighbors' homes seeking help, leaving bloodied handprints on doors, while his son pursued him, Scurry recounted. The teen eventually returned home and called 911, authorities said.
Authorities described the attack as an isolated domestic incident. Brandon Baker, who will be tried as an adult, is being held on $1 million bond. Lance Baker remained in stable condition at the hospital as of Wednesday. He is identified as a US Army Reserve Battalion Commander with the 1184th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion in Mobile.