A Florida man accused of killing two young boys while their mother slept claimed he had plans to annihilate the entire family, a Putnam County Sheriff’s Office arrest warrant states.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Robert Baker, 12, and Tayten Baker, 14, were both found murdered inside a common area of the family’s Melrose home, off of Shiloh Road, in August. Investigators found a hammer and a knife inside the residence.
The children’s mother, who said she was asleep with a younger child when the incident happened, woke up to find her boys unresponsive. She called 911 immediately but it was too late. The attack was so brutal and gruesome that both boys were pronounced dead at the scene.
The children’s father, a truck driver, was not at home at the time. Both parents are fully cooperating with investigators.
Within 48 hours of the murders, authorities arrested 30-year-old Mark Wilson, Jr., a man well-known to the family, according to First Coast News.
Posted by Gator DeLoach on Friday, August 28, 2020
News4Jax reports that during a recorded conversation between Wilson and an unnamed witness, Wilson allegedly said he killed the boys because their family had been “putting stress on him” and threatening to report his own family to the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Wilson allegedly added that the plan was to kill the entire family, including the 4-year-old who was asleep with his mother when his brothers were murdered. Wilson said that his girlfriend, the boys’ aunt, was supposed to kill the family with him, according to the warrant.
Wilson reportedly said he was upset because the aunt said she would kill the mother and the 4-year-old while he killed the two older boys. The aunt did not follow through with her plans, Wilson said.
The victims’ aunt has not been arrested or named a suspect in the case, despite Wilson’s alleged confessions. When investigators questioned her, she denied the allegations and said she would have never hurt her nephews or other family members.
Afterward, Wilson reportedly confessed to the “real motive,” which, according to investigators, cannot be released at this time.
Sheriff Gator DeLoach said the victims and their family had recently moved to Putnam County and allowed Wilson and his girlfriend to live in a shed on their property.
Last month, DeLoach took to Facebook to express his disdain for the suspected murderer.
“Mark Wilson, the sick monster responsible for Tayten and Robert’s brutal murder was arrested last night. Very quickly detectives honed in on Wilson and immediately established this individual was only a threat to those around him.
Unfortunately, Robert and Tayten were the ones who suffered whatever was going through Wilson’s twisted agenda. As a parent, the murders of Robert and Tayten are an unimaginable loss to a family. I can’t begin to understand the anguish their parents are suffering.”
State Attorney RJ Larizza said the case is worthy of the death penalty, adding that the suspect attacked the boys “without mercy.”
Wilson has an extensive criminal history, including property crimes and drugs, but no known charges for violent crimes until now. He’s been charged with two counts of murder and remains behind bars without bail.
Check back for updates.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Here is our latest episode.
[Feature Photo: Robert and Tayten Baker/Handout]
