Barbara Daly Baekeland, a member of the plastics dynasty, tragically met her demise at age 52 in her opulent London residence, where her son, Tony, was found near her lifeless body. Tony was the product of Barbara’s tumultuous marriage to Bakelite heir, Brooks Baekeland. Barbara, a former model known for her beauty, and Brooks, the grandson of Leo Baekeland, the inventor of synthetic plastic, welcomed their son Antony in 1946.
Speculations arose about the unusual closeness between Tony and his mother, leading to disturbing rumors. Tony’s involvement with a bisexual man from Australia prompted Barbara to intervene by taking him to Spain. Subsequently, she pressured Tony into encounters with sex workers in an attempt to change his sexual orientation. When these efforts failed, allegations emerged of Barbara herself engaging in sexual abuse with her son.
The relationship between Barbara and Tony escalated into violence, with Tony even attempting to harm his mother by pushing her into oncoming traffic. The true nature of their relationship remained ambiguous. Barbara, who had previously attempted suicide upon discovering her husband’s infidelity, faced challenges as Brooks remarried and abandoned both her and Tony.
Tony’s struggles with schizophrenia came to light later. Despite their affluent lifestyle in London, Tony’s increasingly erratic behavior included threatening Barbara with knives and strangling her. Although Barbara’s claims of incest shocked those around her, she was also known for seeking attention desperately.
On the fatal night, an argument between Barbara and Tony turned violent over a guest Tony invited but whom Barbara disapproved of. Tony, under the influence of his mother, attacked her and later confessed to feeling controlled by her. Tony, unaware of his actions, inquired about his mother’s condition to the police after the incident. He was convicted of manslaughter and sent to Broadmoor.
Efforts were made by Tony’s paternal grandmother, Nini Daly, to advocate for his return to the United States, but Brooks remained adamant about Tony posing a danger, labeling him as “evil.” Tony was released into Nini’s care in New York in 1980, where he exhibited concerning behavior, including creating a shrine for his deceased mother.
Just days after his release, Tony assaulted his grandmother, stabbing her multiple times during a disagreement over a phone call. Despite his intentions to harm her, Nini survived the attack. Tony received a life sentence at Rikers Island, where his family’s wealth provided him with companionship and protection.
Tragically, on March 20, 1981, Tony was discovered deceased with a plastic bag secured over his head. Authorities never definitively determined whether the cause was murder or suicide.