A Florida man charged with the brutal slayings of two young Florida brothers last week was ordered held without bond on Saturday and appointed a public defender, News4Jax reports.
Police said Mark Wilson Jr, 30, used a hammer and a knife to kill Robert Baker, 12, and Tayten Baker, 14, Tuesday in a common area of the family’s home in Melrose, as CrimeOnline previously reported. A younger sibling, who was asleep with the boys’ mother at the time of the attack, was unharmed.
Wilson has been charged with two counts of murder and is being held at the Putnam County jail.
The Baker family had moved to Putnam County from Polk County just over two weeks ago to be closer to family, News4Jax said. Wilson, the boyfriend of the Baker boys’ aunt, was living in a shed on their property.
“They did a lot to help them and, unfortunately, it ended in the deaths of Robert and Tayten,” Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach said Friday at a news conference announcing the arrest.
DeLoach said “significant” evidence was found linking Wilson to the killings, but detectives are still working to determine a motive. The sheriff called Wilson a “sick monster responsible for Tayten and Robert’s brutal murder.”
The children’s mother told police she woke up to find her boys unresponsive. She called 911 immediatel,y but the attack left both victims dead. The children’s grandfather, who lives nearby, said he attempted CPR while waiting for help to arrive.
Wilson has an extensive criminal history, including property crimes and drugs, but no known charges for violent crimes until now.
Robert and Tayten’s older brothers, who live in Mississippi, told News4Jax that the two boys were very close.
“Robert, he was extremely smart. He had scholarships to go to private schools and he turned them all down because he wanted to stay with his brother,” said Kolby Baker, 18.
“Tayten was Robert’s big teddy bear,” Kolton Baker, 20, said. “He cared for all the animals. He cared for all of his family. He was planning on going to play football for high school and college. It sucks that they’re gone.”
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[Feature Photo: Robert and Tayten Baker/Handout]
