The glittering life of American socialite and former model Barbara Daly Baekeland came to a violent and shocking end in her luxurious London home. On November 17, 1972, she was stabbed to death by her only son, 25-year-old Antony 'Tony' Baekeland.
A Privileged Life Descends into Darkness
Barbara Daly, once listed among New York's ten most beautiful women, married into immense wealth. Her husband was Brooks Baekeland, grandson of Leo Baekeland, the inventor of Bakelite, the world's first synthetic plastic. Their son, Antony, was born in 1946. Despite the family's fortune and glamorous residences in New York, Paris, and London, their personal lives were deeply troubled.
Brooks Baekeland eventually left Barbara, remarried, and largely abandoned both her and their son. This rejection profoundly affected Barbara, who had previously attempted suicide upon discovering her husband's infidelity. The focus of her life became Tony, but their relationship developed disturbing and allegedly incestuous dimensions.
A Toxic Bond and Attempted 'Cures'
As Tony grew older, rumours swirled about the inappropriate nature of his bond with his mother. When Tony began a relationship with a bisexual man, Barbara travelled to Spain to intervene. Later, in a misguided attempt to influence his sexuality, she reportedly pressured him into encounters with sex workers. According to investigations, when these efforts failed, Barbara allegedly began sexually abusing her son herself.
The situation grew increasingly volatile. Tony, who was later diagnosed with schizophrenia, began threatening his mother with knives and physically attacking her. On one occasion, he even tried to kill her by pushing her into oncoming traffic. The pair lived in a state of escalating fear and manipulation within their opulent London flat.
The Fatal Night and Its Aftermath
The final confrontation began with an argument about a friend Tony had invited over, whom Barbara did not want to meet. The row turned deadly. Tony lashed out and stabbed his mother to death. When police arrived, they found Tony standing over her body, casually ordering a takeaway on the phone.
He later told officers, "My mind was slightly wacky and I was very much under my mother's influence. I felt she was controlling my mind." He seemed unable to comprehend that she was dead, asking if she was still alive while in custody. In 1973, Tony was found guilty of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility and sent to Broadmoor high-security hospital.
A Second Attack and a Mysterious Death
In 1980, after a campaign led by his paternal grandmother, 87-year-old Nini Daly, Tony was released into her custody in New York. His Broadmoor consultant later admitted this release was a mistake. Just six days after arriving in America, Tony violently argued with his grandmother over a phone call and stabbed her eight times.
Miraculously, she survived. Tony was sentenced to life at Rikers Island, where his family wealth bought him protection. His story ended on March 20, 1981. He was found dead in his cell with a plastic bag fastened over his head. Authorities never determined if his death was suicide or murder.
The tragic saga of the Baekelands remains a harrowing tale of how immense privilege could not shield a family from mental illness, toxic obsession, and ultimate destruction.
