A Kentucky woman, Tiffanie Lucas, was sentenced to life in prison on Friday, Nov. 22, for fatally shooting her two young sons, 6-year-old Maurice Baker Jr. and 9-year-old Jayden Howard. Lucas, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder last month and cannot appeal the sentence as part of his plea agreement.
The tragedy unfolded on November 8, 2023, when deputies of the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting call on Bentwood Drive. They found the children seriously wounded by gunshot wounds. Despite being rushed to Norton Children’s Hospital, both children succumbed to their injuries.
Lucas was arrested the same day after attempting to shoot herself, but the gun jammed. During her sentencing, Bullitt County Commonwealth’s Attorney Bailey Taylor said, “Tiffanie Lucas not only murdered Jayden and Maurice, she forever marked the lives of their family and friends, both adults and children.”
According researchersLucas described the incident as an “accident” and expressed remorse, calling herself “very stupid” and saying she was “in such a bad situation.” Detective Richard Beahl testified that Lucas believed she was “being manipulated through Facebook and her Wi-Fi” to commit the murders.
Defense attorneys argued that Lucas was experiencing a psychotic episode caused by opioid withdrawal. “She refrained from using it and as she tried to clean herself, this was the side effect,” said attorney Richard Lawniczak. Co-counsel Jonathon Villavicencio added: “No one is more devastated by their deaths than Tiffanie Lucas.”
The victims’ families gave emotional statements during the sentencing. Maurice Baker Jr.’s father, Maurice Baker Sr., spoke about his fight to gain custody and the pain of losing his children. “I didn’t just lose Maurice on November 8th. “I lost my son the day he was born.” he saidaccusing Lucas of using his son to control him. Baker Sr. also shared how Lucas stopped his son from attending a planned birthday party, saying, “I begged him many times.”
The children’s aunt, Bobbie Baker, addressed Lucas directly and promised to attend all parole hearings. “I will never forgive you,” he said. Lucas will serve his life sentence without the possibility of parole for decades, leaving behind a grieving family determined to honor Jayden and Maurice’s memory.