In 2023, a shocking photo of a man posing with his mother’s severed head went viral on social media platforms such as Twitter and Reddit. The man in the photo was Bahsid McLean, a 23-year-old from the Bronx, who had brutally murdered his mother, Tanya Byrd, and dismembered her body with a power saw. The photo was leaked to the New York Post by a law enforcement source and sparked outrage and disgust among the public. But what was the motive behind this heinous crime, and what happened to McLean after his arrest? Here is the horrifying story behind the Bahsid McLean selfie.

The Murder of Tanya Byrd

Tanya Byrd was a 52-year-old home health aide and the mother of three children, including Bahsid McLean. She lived in a small apartment in the Bronx with her son and her 7-year-old daughter, who had Down syndrome. According to her family and friends, she was a loving and caring person who devoted her life to her children and her job.

However, her relationship with her eldest son, Bahsid, was strained and troubled. Bahsid had a history of mental illness and violence and had spent most of his life in psychiatric facilities. He had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and had been arrested several times for assault, robbery, and weapons possession. He also had a history of abusing his mother, both physically and verbally, and had threatened to kill her several times.

On February 24, 2013, Bahsid and his mother had a heated argument in their apartment. According to Bahsid’s confession, he stabbed his mother in the neck with a steak knife and then dragged her body to the bathroom. He then used a power saw to cut off her head, arms, and legs and stuffed the body parts into garbage bags. He also took a selfie with his mother’s head in front of the bathroom mirror, using his phone as a camera.

The Discovery of the Body Parts

The next day, Bahsid enlisted the help of his friend, William Harris, to dispose of the body parts. He told Harris that he had killed a dog and needed to get rid of it. Harris agreed to help him, unaware of the true nature of the crime. They loaded the garbage bags into a shopping cart and dumped them in different locations around the neighborhood. However, they were spotted by a passerby, who noticed a leg sticking out of one of the bags and called the police.

The police arrived at the scene and discovered the gruesome remains of Tanya Byrd. They also found a power saw and a bloody shower curtain in one of the bags. They traced the bags back to the apartment where Bahsid and his mother lived and arrested him and Harris. They also seized Bahsid’s phone, which contained the selfie with his mother’s head and other incriminating evidence.

The Trial and the Sentence

Bahsid McLean was charged with second-degree murder, hindering prosecution, and unlawful dissection of a human body. He pleaded not guilty and claimed that he was innocent and that Harris was the real killer. He also claimed that he had been hearing voices in his head since he was a child and that he was mentally ill.

However, the prosecution presented overwhelming evidence against him, including his confession, the selfie, the power saw, and the DNA tests. They also argued that Bahsid was not insane, but rather a cold-blooded and narcissistic murderer who killed his mother out of hatred and resentment. They said that he took the selfie as a trophy and a way to humiliate his mother even after death.

In November 2016, after a two-week trial, a jury found Bahsid McLean guilty of all charges. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. The judge called him a “monster” and a “sociopath” and said that he had shown no remorse or empathy for his victim. Harris, who cooperated with the authorities and testified against McLean, was sentenced to three years in prison for hindering prosecution.

The Aftermath and the Reaction

The Bahsid McLean selfie became one of the most disturbing and infamous images on the internet. It was widely shared and commented on social media platforms, especially on Twitter and Reddit, where users expressed their shock, horror, and disgust at the photo and the story behind it. Some users also warned others not to look at the photo, as it could be extremely upsetting and traumatizing.

The photo also sparked a debate about the ethics and legality of publishing such graphic and sensational images by the media. The New York Post, which obtained the photo from a law enforcement source, faced criticism and backlash for printing the photo on its front page, with the headline “Sicko’s grin in mom beheading”. Some people accused the newspaper of exploiting the tragedy and violating the privacy and dignity of the victim and her family. Others defended the newspaper’s right to freedom of press and argued that the photo served as a public interest and a deterrent to crime.

The family and friends of Tanya Byrd were devastated and outraged by the murder and the photo. They described Tanya as a wonderful and generous person who did not deserve such a brutal and senseless death. They also said that they had tried to help Bahsid with his mental issues, but he refused to take medication or seek treatment. They said that they hoped that he would rot in jail and suffer for what he had done.

Conclusion

The Bahsid McLean selfie is a chilling and horrifying example of the worst kind of human depravity and evil. It is also a tragic and heartbreaking story of a mother who was killed by her own son, who had no regard for her life or her dignity. The photo and the story behind it have shocked and disturbed millions of people around the world, and have raised questions about the role of the media, the justice system, and the society in dealing with such crimes and criminals.

FAQ

Q: When and where did Bahsid McLean kill his mother?

A: Bahsid McLean killed his mother, Tanya Byrd, on February 24, 2013, in their apartment in the Bronx, New York.

Q: How did he kill her and what did he do with her body?

A: He stabbed her in the neck with a steak knife and then used a power saw to cut off her head, arms, and legs. He stuffed the body parts into garbage bags and dumped them in different locations around the neighborhood. He also took a selfie with his mother’s head in front of the bathroom mirror.

Q: What was his motive for killing her?

A: He had a history of mental illness and violence, and had a strained and troubled relationship with his mother. He had abused her physically and verbally, and had threatened to kill her several times. He killed her out of hatred and resentment, and took the selfie as a trophy and a way to humiliate her even after death.

Q: What happened to him after his arrest?

A: He was charged with second-degree murder, hindering prosecution, and unlawful dissection of a human body. He pleaded not guilty and claimed that he was innocent and that his friend, William Harris, was the real killer. He also claimed that he was mentally ill and that he had been hearing voices in his head since he was a child. However, he was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.