Millionairess tried to cure her son’s homosexuality with incest — Instead, he killed her
A Life of Privilege and Turmoil
Barbara Daly Baekeland was born on September 28, 1921, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Her early life was marred by tragedy. Her father, Frank Daly, a businessman, died by suicide in 1933.
He used carbon monoxide poisoning in the family garage, staging it as an accident for insurance purposes.
Barbara was only 11. She and her mother, Nina, known as Nini, relocated to New York City. They settled in the luxurious Delmonico Hotel.
In New York, Barbara became a celebrated socialite. Her beauty earned her a spot among the city’s ten most beautiful women.
She modeled for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Her charm drew attention from artists and high society.
Yet, Barbara battled mental health issues. Depression plagued her. She attempted suicide multiple times.
In 1946, Barbara married Brooks Baekeland. He was the grandson of Leo Baekeland, inventor of Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic.
The marriage connected Barbara to immense wealth. The couple lived extravagantly, splitting time between New York’s Upper East Side and Europe.
They rented villas in London, Paris, Switzerland, and Italy. Their parties attracted luminaries like Greta Garbo and Tennessee Williams.
However, the marriage was troubled. Brooks, a self-described writer, rarely wrote. He pursued extramarital affairs.
Barbara also had affairs. Their relationship deteriorated. By 1960, Brooks met a diplomat’s daughter and sought a divorce.
Barbara attempted suicide again. The couple divorced in 1968.
| Key Details of Barbara’s Early Life | Description |
|---|---|
| Birth | September 28, 1921, Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Father’s Death | 1933, suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning |
| Move to New York | Lived at Delmonico Hotel with mother, Nina |
| Career | Modeled for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar |
| Marriage | Married Brooks Baekeland in 1946 |
The Complex Bond with Her Son
Barbara and Brooks had one child, Antony, born on August 28, 1946. Antony, often called Tony, became the center of Barbara’s life.
As a child, he was charming and intelligent. Some described him as a prodigy. But as he grew, signs of mental instability emerged.
In his teens, Antony revealed he was homosexual. This deeply troubled Barbara. In the 1960s, societal stigma against homosexuality was strong.
Barbara viewed it as a flaw to be fixed. She took extreme measures to “cure” him.
Initially, she arranged for Antony to be with women, including hiring prostitutes. These efforts failed.
Reports suggest Barbara then took a shocking step. She allegedly engaged in an intimate relationship with Antony, believing it could make him heterosexual.
Her sister-in-law recalled Barbara saying, “You know, I could get Tony over his homosexuality if I just took him to bed”.
This claim is controversial. Samuel Adams Green, a former lover, disputed it, arguing Barbara fabricated the story to justify her actions (Wikipedia).
Antony’s mental health worsened. He showed signs of schizophrenia. Brooks dismissed psychiatry as “amoral” and refused treatment for his son.
Barbara, too, was inconsistent in addressing Antony’s condition. Their relationship grew co-dependent and volatile. Arguments often turned physical.
| Key Details of Barbara and Antony’s Relationship | Description |
|---|---|
| Antony’s Birth | August 28, 1946 |
| Barbara’s Fixation | Obsessed with “curing” Antony’s homosexuality |
| Alleged Intimacy | Claimed by some sources, disputed by others |
| Antony’s Mental Health | Diagnosed with schizophrenia, untreated initially |
Descent into Madness
After the 1968 divorce, Barbara and Antony moved to London. They lived in a luxurious apartment in Chelsea’s Cadogan Square.
Their relationship deteriorated further. Antony’s behavior became erratic.
He experimented with drugs, introduced by an acquaintance in Italy. Barbara tried to control him, but her efforts backfired.
In July 1972, Antony’s violence escalated. He attempted to kill Barbara by pushing her in front of a moving vehicle.
She survived but did not press charges. Instead, Antony was admitted to The Priory, a psychiatric hospital.
A psychiatrist diagnosed schizophrenia and warned Barbara of Antony’s potential to kill her. Barbara dismissed the warning, saying, “I don’t”.
Antony was released after a brief stay. Barbara believed she could manage him. Friends expressed concern.
The mother-son dynamic was a toxic mix of possessiveness and mental illness.
The Fatal Night
On November 17, 1972, Barbara dined with a friend in London. She spoke glowingly of her life with Antony.
Hours later, tragedy struck. In their Cadogan Square apartment, an argument erupted.
The trigger was reportedly Antony inviting a friend over, which Barbara opposed.
The argument turned deadly. Antony grabbed a kitchen knife. He stabbed Barbara in the heart.
She died almost instantly. Police arrived to find Barbara dead on the kitchen floor. Antony was at the scene, calmly ordering Chinese food.
He showed no remorse. He later confessed, saying, “My mind was slightly wacky and I was very much under my mother’s influence. I felt she was controlling my mind” (Crime+Investigation UK).
Antony was arrested and charged with murder. His trial considered his mental state.
He was convicted of manslaughter, not murder, due to his schizophrenia. He was sent to Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security psychiatric facility.
| Key Details of the Murder | Description |
|---|---|
| Date | November 17, 1972 |
| Location | Cadogan Square apartment, Chelsea, London |
| Weapon | Kitchen knife |
| Outcome | Barbara died instantly; Antony convicted of manslaughter |
Aftermath and Legacy
At Broadmoor, Antony remained unstable. Influential friends, including wealthy visitors, advocated for his release.
Against Brooks’ wishes, Antony was freed on July 21, 1980. He moved to New York to live with his grandmother, Nina Daly.
Six days later, on July 27, 1980, Antony attacked Nina. He stabbed her eight times, breaking bones.
She survived. Antony was arrested and charged with attempted murder. He was sent to Rikers Island.
On March 20, 1981, while awaiting trial, Antony was found dead in his cell.
He had suffocated himself with a plastic bag. His death marked the end of the Baekeland saga.
Brooks later called Antony “an enormous failure of intelligence”.
The tragedy inspired the 2007 film Savage Grace, starring Julianne Moore. The film faced criticism for inaccuracies, particularly a disputed ménage à trois scene (Wikipedia).
The Baekeland story is a stark reminder of mental illness’s devastating impact. Wealth and status offered no protection.
Barbara’s obsession with controlling Antony’s life led to her death. Antony’s untreated schizophrenia fueled his violence.
Their tale underscores the need for mental health intervention and the dangers of toxic family dynamics.
