Two-year-old Anthony Jay Bakare died on September 4, 2023, in Memphis, Tennessee, after being beaten by his mother's boyfriend, 22-year-old Anthony Andrews. While the child's mother, Sharday Bakare, was sleeping, Andrews allegedly struck the toddler seven to eight times with a braided dog toy on his back, face, and buttocks, slapped him in the chest with an open hand, and shoved him into a corner. Andrews then placed the child in his bed, and the boy was found unresponsive minutes later when he fell out of bed. The child was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, having sustained bruises to his face, jaw, and forehead, and was bleeding from the mouth. Andrews admitted to the abuse and also acknowledged having previously hit the child "harder than he should" with a belt. The mother told police she had seen Andrews hit her son with the dog toy and a belt and had noticed increasing bruises. Andrews was initially charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect and later indicted on first-degree murder; the mother was charged months later with first-degree murder, aggravated child neglect, and aggravated child abuse and was apprehended as a fugitive in Texas in June 2024.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Multiple documents describe inflicted injuries in detail. The Newsweek article states Andrews admitted to "striking the child 'seven to eight times' with a dog toy, as well as slapping him" and that "Mr. Andrews also admitted to striking the child with an open hand in the chest at least once or twice before shoving the child into a corner." The actionnews5 article adds that he struck the toddler "in the back, face, and buttocks." The WREG article confirms: "He also stated he smacked the child in the chest and shoved him into a corner." Andrews also admitted to hitting the child "harder than he should" with a belt weeks prior.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The child's biological mother, Sharday Bakare, was charged in connection with the death. The WREG article states: "a warrant was issued for the arrest of Sharday Bakare for first-degree murder, aggravated child neglect, and aggravated child abuse." The People article notes: "Bakare allegedly told police she had seen Andrews previously hit her son with the dog toy and a belt," indicating she was aware of prior abuse. The actionnews5 article states the mother told police "she's seen more bruises on her son lately, but her boyfriend brushed off as being due to her son 'falling off the bed.'" Her failure to protect the child and knowledge of prior abuse formed the basis of her charges.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Anthony Andrews, 22, the mother's boyfriend, was the primary perpetrator. The Newsweek article states: "her boyfriend Anthony Andrews, 22, beat the boy with a 'braided dog toy.'" He admitted to striking the child multiple times and was charged with aggravated child abuse, aggravated child neglect, and later first-degree murder, as confirmed by the WREG article: "On May 9, Andrews was indicted on charges of aggravated child abuse and first-degree murder."
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Both caregivers were charged. The Newsweek article states: "Andrews was charged with aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect." The WREG article states: "a warrant was issued for the arrest of Sharday Bakare for first-degree murder, aggravated child neglect, and aggravated child abuse" and "On May 9, Andrews was indicted on charges of aggravated child abuse and first-degree murder."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the documents. First, the mother Sharday Bakare was not charged until approximately eight months after the child's death (warrant issued May 14, 2024), after which she fled to Texas and was captured as a fugitive in Glenn Heights, Texas on June 17, 2024, by U.S. Marshals. The WREG article states: "The Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force in Memphis adopted the case. Reports say it was later determined that Bakare was in Texas, and investigative leads were provided to the North Texas Fugitive Task Force in Dallas." Second, the People article reveals that the mother admitted to police she had witnessed prior abuse: "Bakare allegedly told police she had seen Andrews previously hit her son with the dog toy and a belt." The actionnews5 article also notes the mother told police "she's seen more bruises on her son lately, but her boyfriend brushed off as being due to her son 'falling off the bed.'" This suggests the mother was aware of ongoing abuse and failed to intervene, which formed the basis for her later charges of first-degree murder.
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