Bahsid McLean is a person whose name can not be called neither famous, nor privileged, but she was involved in a rather heinous crime that received a large amount of coverage in the media. His crime that involved the killing and decapitation of Tanya Byrd, his mother in 2013 has provoked debate on mental health, family and justice system. This content will reveal more details in the case, information about Bahsid McLean, the court over the case and the effects caused by the crime.
| Attribute | Details |
| Name | Bashid McLean |
| Date of Birth | Unknown (Born in the 1980s) |
| Place of Birth | Bronx, New York, USA |
| Parents | Tanya Byrd (Mother, deceased), James McLean (Father) |
| Siblings | Porsche Lovett (Sister), Nasyr McLean (Younger Brother) |
| Education | Attended local schools; specific educational background not detailed |
| Occupation | Unemployed at the time of the crime; previously involved in various odd jobs |
| Criminal Record | History of violent behavior; previously convicted for attacking police officers in 2010 |
| Mental Health Issues | Diagnosed with schizophrenia; exhibited troubling behavior leading up to the crime |
| Significant Event | Murdered and dismembered his mother, Tanya Byrd, on February 26, 2013 |
| Crime Details | – Stabbed his mother in the neck and dismembered her body.- Body parts were found in garbage bags across the Bronx.- Took a selfie with her severed head. |
| Accomplice | William Harris (assisted in disposing of the body) |
| Legal Proceedings | Charged with second-degree murder and other related charges; convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison |
| Sentencing Date | 2014 |
| Current Status | Serving time in New York State prison; case remains a topic of public interest |
Background of Bahsid McLean
Bahsid McLean has been growing up in a violent family environment. Available literature suggests that he had conduct problems and was known to have been of low mental health. James McLean, his father, said that he was a destructive person who had in the past witnessed setting fires and acted erratically. It is hoped that this sort of upbringing played a part in his later behavior.
The last time, the 45 years old home health aide Byrd was seen alive – was on a Monday in February 2013. It has also been reported that she had a strained mother- son bonding in that the family members testified that Byrd wanted McLean out of her home because she feared that he had child abuse instincts towards his younger brother16. Of special importance are the contradictions within the family, which previewed the subsequent tragedies.
The Crime
Tanya Byrd died at the hands of her son Bahsid McLean when he killed her on February 25, 2013. In police and court records, it is said that McLean assaulted his mother by stabbing her in the neck and thereby killed her. After the murder, he murdered her body in which he was assisted by another man named William Harris. This was however brought out clearly by the gruesome details that showed that Byrd’s body was put in two black plastic garbage bags and dumped around different blocks in the Bronx14.
Legal Proceedings
Bahsid McLean was arrested soon after the fatal remains of his mother had been found. He was charged severally with murder, hindering prosecution, and criminal possession of a weapon. In his trial session, he was clad in a garbage bag after wetting himself while in custody during arrest17. Offending at the time of the incident, McLean was reportedly off his medications though the type of medication was not revealed by his attorney.
Getting into the case, one would realize that mental health was going to be central to McLean’s defense. His lawyer also requested the court to order a comprehensive evaluation of the defendant during the time of the offense. But writes of the medical examiners, Tanya Byrd died from a stab wound in the neck and the death was declared as a homicide16.
2014, Bahsid McLean was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life imprisonment for the murder of his mother. During the court trial, there were debates whether this person was mentally ill and how it affected his behavior.
Aftermath and Public Reaction
The murder case received a lot of public attention because of the type of relationship between the victim’s and the accused person. The audience went from shock to pity to fellow feelings for Byrd as much as for McLean as the crazy person with so many worse mental problems.
Following his conviction, Bahsid McLean’s name continued to appear in news articles due to another tragic event: he was named the father of a four-year-old boy who died from an impact to the abdomen by his mother’s boyfriend in 2017. This link also significantly blurred the understanding of the public about the history and work of McLean.
Conclusion
The life and experience of Bahsid McLean can therefore be described as a sad and pro complicated story. This case is another representation of different aspects and problems of society starting from traumatic childhood and ending with the murder of Tanya Byrd and representations of criminal justice system in justice of this crime. Whenever such topics are being discussed, emphasis should be made in prevention measures in relation to these root mental related problems while at the same time support the victims like Tanya Byrd of acts of violence.
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