3 Horrific Mother's Day Murders

Mother’s Day is the designated time of the year when children can show their moms how thankful they are for wiping away tears, making boo-boos disappear, cooking delicious meals, and always having their backs. She deserves praise and honor every day of the year, although this special day provides her with another deserving opportunity to relish in her sheer amazement. Sadly, happy celebrations do not occur in every household. Mother’s Day has turned out to be tragic for some mothers who lost their lives at the hands of their own children.

The Murder of Cheryl Lynch

On July 13, 2000, Christopher Reed Lynch fell from an aircraft two and a half stories high while training with the military in France. He spent 28 days in a coma and was left with a traumatic brain injury that impacted nearly every area of his brain. His frontal lobe was particularly affected. 

After weeks in the hospital, Christopher went to his mother’s home. Cheryl Lynch assumed the role of her son’s caregiver. She also started a support group called American Veterans with Brain Injuries and told Christopher’s story before a congressional committee, describing the trouble he faced attempting to get treatment for his injuries and accompanying mental illness.

Sixteen years after the tragic incident, Christopher would take his mother’s life.

On May 8, 2016, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting a person beating a dog. Deputies arrived at the Pace, Florida, home around 1:30 a.m. and heard someone yelling in distress. Suddenly, Christopher ran up to one of the officers and punched him in the face. He struck her patrol car with a metal rod.

Police tased him several times before he complied enough to be placed in handcuffs.

After Christopher was detained,  deputies located Cheryl on the front porch. She had multiple lacerations on her face, her eyes were swollen shut, and she was near death. She told police she couldn't remember what happened. She died at a hospital later that day.

Christopher was charged with his mother’s murder and crimes related to striking the officer and vehicle, however, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity and remanded to a psychiatric hospital.

The Mother’s Day Murder of Molly Gladney

Antonio Gladney and his 66-year-old mother were estranged. He lived life on the streets, resulting in criminal acts that ultimately landed him in prison. He had not spoken to Molly in years when he was paroled.

On May 14, 2017, Mother’s Day, Antonio showed up at his mom’s house with flowers and a card. She reluctantly allowed him into her home. Before long, an argument ensues, and Antonio hits his mother in the head with a garden tool, and then continues striking her with his fists. He dragged Molly to the carport, where he left her to die. 

Police responded to the home after receiving an alarm call. They found Molly in the carport, covered in bruises to her face, head, and hands. She died from her injuries.

Antonio returned to Molly’s home later that night. He was arrested the next morning. Four days after killing his mom, Antonio told officers that he wanted to  “man up” and admitted that he had killed his mother. He stated that he was “not in my right mind” and “under the influence of something” when the tragedy occurred. He also said that when he came down, he was hurt by what he had done.

On June 29, 2019, while in jail awaiting trial, Antonio pulled a shank on a correctional officer, although no one was injured. He was charged with aggravated assault on a corrections officer. He also pleaded guilty to those charges. He was sentenced to life in prison for his mother’s murder and 25 years on the charges of pulling the shank on the jailer.

Chad Brogdon Sets Car on Fire With Mom Inside

Two days after Mother’s Day 2019, police in Hartford, Alabama, received a call concerning a burned vehicle sitting along the Choctawhatchee River. Sheriff’s deputies found the car nearly destroyed and human remains inside, later identified as 58-year-old Penny Wilson Newton.

The next day, police identified her son, 36-year-old Chad Brogdon, as a person of interest after a deputy located him and noticed that he had burns on his body, smelled of smoke, and wore boots with prints matching those found at the crime scene.

During a search of Brogdon’s home, investigators found carpet removed from one room, rope that matched rope found at the crime scene, and blood in the freezer. Police charged him with murder and abuse of a corpse.

Police believe Brogdon killed his mother on Mother’s Day in Level Plains, AL, and then drove 20 miles where he dumped the car with his mother’s remains inside and set it on fire.

In May 2022, Brodgon was convicted of his mother’s murder and sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years. His motive for the murder remains unknown.