Antony Baekeland was born on August 28, 1946, in New York City to Barbara Daly and Brooks Baekeland. His father was the grandson of Leo Baekeland, the inventor of Bakelite, which brought significant wealth to the family. Antony's early life was marked by privilege, with the family residing in luxurious homes across Europe and the United States. However, the Baekeland household was fraught with instability, including marital discord, mental health issues, and substance abuse.​

Antony exhibited signs of mental illness from a young age, including erratic behavior and social withdrawal. Despite these warning signs, his father dismissed psychiatry as "professionally amoral" and refused to seek treatment for his son. His mother, Barbara, was deeply disturbed by Antony's homosexuality and attempted to "cure" him by hiring female prostitutes. When these efforts failed, it is alleged that she engaged in an incestuous relationship with Antony in a misguided attempt to change his sexual orientation.

On November 17, 1972, Antony Baekeland fatally stabbed his mother, Barbara Daly Baekeland, in their London apartment. The murder occurred after years of a tumultuous and allegedly incestuous relationship between mother and son. Antony had previously exhibited violent tendencies, including an attempt to push his mother into traffic earlier that year. Despite warnings from psychiatrists about Antony's potential for violence, Barbara refused to have him institutionalized.

Following the murder, Antony was found at the scene, reportedly ordering Chinese food over the phone. He was arrested and later confessed to the crime. Antony was committed to Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security psychiatric facility in the UK, where he remained until his release on July 21, 1980. His release was facilitated by a group of friends who advocated for his discharge.

After his release, Antony traveled to New York City to live with his maternal grandmother, Nina Daly. Just six days later, on July 27, 1980, he attacked her with a kitchen knife, stabbing her multiple times. She survived the attack, and Antony was arrested and incarcerated at Rikers Island. On March 20, 1981, Antony was found dead in his cell, having suffocated himself with a plastic bag.