Tennessee – In a disturbing case in Tennessee that has captured the attention of communities across state lines, a mother has been arrested in connection with the death of her two-year-old son, Anthony. The young boy’s death, resulting from severe beatings, has led to serious charges against both the mother, identified as S. Bakare, and her then-boyfriend, identified as A. Andrews.
On the morning of September 4, 2023, law enforcement was alerted to a distressing scene at a residence. Responding to a call made at approximately 5:49 a.m., first responders found two-year-old Anthony unresponsive, exhibiting signs of severe physical abuse, including injuries to the face and extensive marks across his body. Despite immediate life-saving attempts, the toddler was pronounced dead after being rushed to a hospital. The details provided by first responders painted a grim picture of the child’s final hours, highlighting injuries that suggested a prolonged and painful ordeal.
During the investigation, police interrogated both Bakare and her boyfriend, Andrews. Initially, Bakare claimed that her son was in good health the previous night when she left him in her boyfriend’s care before going to sleep. However, her account soon revealed a troubling awareness of the regular physical punishment her son endured under Andrews’ discipline, including beatings with a belt or a rope dog toy. She told authorities that she knew Andrews disciplined her son and saw him using belts, rope toys, and other items to hit the boy.
Andrews, after being read his Miranda rights, admitted to the police that he had indeed struck the child hard multiple times on the morning of the incident using a braided dog toy, and had also pushed the child violently, leading to further injuries. These confessions provided a stark and horrifying insight into the abusive environment that ultimately led to young Anthony’s death.
Andrews, was arrested earlier in May and is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. He remains incarcerated with a bond set at $250,000, pending further court proceedings. Bakare was apprehended nearly a year after her son’s death by federal agents in Texas. She faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child neglect, and aggravated child abuse. She was extradited back to Tennessee and is currently held on a $1 million bond in jail. Andrews, was arrested earlier in May and is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. He remains incarcerated with a bond set at $250,000 and is set to appear in court on Wednesday, July 24.
The death of Anthony serves as a tragic reminder of the dire consequences of domestic abuse and the critical need for vigilant protective services to prevent such atrocities against the most vulnerable members of our society.
