PRECIOUS MEMORIES MORTUARY
A Tennessee woman and her boyfriend are facing charges, including murder and child abuse, in connection with the death of the woman’s 2-year-old son. The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) announced in a press release that 26-year-old Sharday Bakare was arrested in Texas on Monday, June 17, on charges related to the 2023 death of her son, 2-year-old Anthony Jay Bakare, in Memphis, Tennessee.
On Monday, September 4, 2023, Memphis police responded to a call at Bakare’s home, where Anthony had sustained extensive injuries. According to the USMS, he was “unresponsive and suffering from obvious signs of trauma.” Emergency medical personnel transported the toddler to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
Bakare’s boyfriend, 22-year-old Anthony Andrews, allegedly admitted at the time that he had struck his girlfriend’s son with a braided dog toy. The affidavit alleges Andrews told police he had previously hit him “harder than he should have.”
Bakare allegedly told police she had seen Andrews previously hit her son with the dog toy and a belt, the affidavit states. After several months of investigation by Memphis police, authorities issued a warrant for Bakare’s arrest on May 14, 2024, according to the USMS. She was arrested in Glenn Heights, Texas, and extradited back to Tennessee.
Bakare has since been charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated child neglect, and one count of aggravated child abuse. On Wednesday, July 17, her bond was set at $1 million, according to local affiliate station FOX 13. It is unclear if she has an attorney or if she has entered a plea.
Andrews was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse, according to Law & Crime, and court records show his bond was set at $250,000. According to court records, Bakare is next set to appear in court on Monday, July 22, and Andrews’ next court appearance is set for Wednesday, July 24.
This tragic case highlights the severe consequences of child abuse and the legal actions taken against those responsible for such acts. The ongoing legal proceedings will determine the fate of Bakare and Andrews as they face serious charges related to the death of young Anthony Jay Bakare.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
