Boy, 17, murdered his mother and tried to kill his screaming father during argument about discipline at comfortable Alabama home, prosecutors say

By NATASHA ANDERSON, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 13:43, 7 July 2026 | Updated: 13:44, 7 July 2026 A 17-year-old boy stabbed his mother to death and tried to kill his screaming father during an argument over disciplinary actions, prosecutors said. The teen attacked his mother, Samantha Baker, and father, Lance, 46, at the family's $314,000 Daphne, Alabama home on Sunday night. He had been arguing with his parents when the situation turned violent, according to investigators with the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office.  The boy, whose name has been withheld due to his age, allegedly stabbed the couple inside their residence, prompting them to flee to separate neighbors' houses. He followed his parents outside and continued his horrific attack, police said.  Lance was heard screaming 'please help me… I don't want to die' as he ran from house to house looking for refuge, a neighbor told WALA. The teen locked himself inside the home and called 911, reporting that he had an argument with his parents and 'believed he had stabbed one to death.' He told dispatchers he was 'unsure' about the condition of his other parent. Samantha Baker, a realtor who previously served in the Army National Guard, and her husband Lance, a US Army Reserve Battalion Commander, were stabbed by their 17-year-old son at their Alabama home on Sunday night, prosecutors say Samantha, 37, was pronounced dead outside the family's $314,000 residence in Daphne When police arrived at the scene, they found Samantha outside her home with multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Lance was life-flighted to a nearby hospital and, as of Monday, remains in critical condition.  The teen was arrested at the scene and charged with murder and attempted murder.  He, who has been charged as an adult, appeared in court for his bond hearing Monday. His bond was set at $1 million. Capt Justin Correa of the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office said during a press briefing Monday that Lance is 'hopefully going to survive.' 'He was running to houses trying to get some help,' the officer added.  'It is really sad. It's very sad for this family, having to deal with it. From everything we can see at this point, this was an isolated domestic incident that really just got out of control.'  Baldwin County Assistant District Attorney Patrick Doggett, speaking to WKRG after the bond hearing, said the investigation remains in its early stages. He said he believes the teen is a 'danger to himself and the public at this point.' Lance, with his wife, survived the attack, but suffered serious injuries. He was life-flighted to a nearby hospital and remains in critical condition The couple, who met while serving in the Army, have two sons together. The family, originally from Mississippi, moved to Daphne in 2016, public records showed Samantha and Lance met while serving in the Army, according to their online profiles. They welcomed two sons together, before marrying in October 2012. Their boys attended the wedding. The Bakers, originally from Mississippi, moved to Daphne in 2016, public records showed. Samantha, who served in the Army National Guard and Reserve for six years, was working as a realtor at the time of her death. Lance has served in the US Army Reserve for more than 26 years and is currently a Battalion Commander with the 1184th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion. He also worked in the physical security and security management sector for nine years.