No parent should ever fear the child they once carried in their arms.

Yet for Stephanie Clark McCoy, that fear became reality in the final hours of her life.

On May 15, 2025, in Durham County, North Carolina, a 64-year-old mother was killed inside her own home — allegedly by her 38-year-old son, Alexander James Glenn Jr.

What unfolded that day is not just a tragic crime story. It is a devastating reminder of how domestic violence can exist behind closed doors — even between a mother and her child.

A Call for Help

The day began with an argument.

Inside Stephanie’s home on Red Mill Road, tensions between mother and son escalated into something far more dangerous than raised voices.

Fearful for her safety, Stephanie did what many are urged to do in moments of crisis — she called law enforcement.

When deputies arrived, they were met with a chilling account.

Stephanie told them her son had taken her phone and car keys. She said he was refusing to let her leave the house.

In that moment, she was not simply a mother in an argument. She was a woman trying to escape control.

Imagine the weight of those words — a parent telling deputies she cannot leave her own home because her child is preventing her.

Deputies addressed the situation. They warned Glenn about driving with an expired license. Eventually, he left the property.

For a brief moment, there was calm.

For a brief moment, Stephanie may have believed the worst had passed.

The Second Call

But peace did not last.

Hours later, deputies were called back to the same house.

This time, there was no argument reported. No plea for help. No tense standoff.

When authorities entered the home, they found Stephanie unresponsive.

Her life had been violently taken.

The Autopsy Findings

The details that followed were heartbreaking.

Stephanie had been strangled.

There were visible injuries to her face and head, signs of blunt force trauma.

A deep puncture wound to her neck — the result of a stabbing — ultimately ended her life.

The home that had once been a place of care, comfort, and family memories had become a crime scene.

Investigators quickly focused on the person who had been there earlier that day: her son.

A History of Violence

Alexander James Glenn Jr. was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Authorities later confirmed that he had a prior conviction for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.

That history adds a painful layer to this tragedy.

When someone with a record of serious violence returns to a family home, what safeguards are in place? What protections exist for aging parents living with or near adult children who have demonstrated dangerous behavior?

These are difficult questions — but necessary ones.

A Mother’s Love, A Son’s Betrayal

There is something uniquely devastating about violence within families.

Stephanie was not just another name in a police report. She was a mother who had spent decades raising her son — nurturing him, protecting him, guiding him.

To imagine her final moments is almost unbearable.

She had already reached out for help.

She had already expressed fear.

She had already tried to leave.

But she never made it out.

The tragedy is not only in the violence itself — it is in the missed opportunity for lasting intervention.

The Court Proceedings Ahead

The case is scheduled to return to court on April 16, 2026.

Legal proceedings will determine accountability. Evidence will be presented. Arguments will be made.

But no courtroom outcome can restore what was lost.

No sentence can give Stephanie’s loved ones another holiday dinner, another phone call, another shared laugh.

Justice may come in legal form.

Closure rarely does.

The Warning Signs We Must Not Ignore

Stephanie’s death highlights the importance of recognizing patterns of control and violence — even when they occur within parent-child relationships.

Key warning signs often include:

• Isolation or restriction of movement

• Confiscation of phones, keys, or personal property

• Escalating verbal threats

• A history of violent behavior

When these signs appear, intervention must be decisive and sustained.

One visit may de-escalate a moment.

But long-term safety often requires more comprehensive action — protective orders, relocation plans, support networks.

Domestic violence does not always look the same.

Sometimes, it is a spouse.

Sometimes, it is a partner.

And sometimes, heartbreakingly, it is a child.

Honoring Stephanie’s Memory

Stephanie Clark McCoy deserved safety in her own home.

She deserved peace in her later years.

She deserved to enjoy family milestones, friendships, and the quiet comfort of a life she had worked hard to build.

Instead, her story ended in violence.

As her loved ones grieve, the community must remember her not solely for the horror of her death, but for the life she lived.

She was more than a victim.

She was a mother. A woman. A person who mattered.

Breaking the Cycle

If there is any meaning to be drawn from such a devastating loss, it lies in awareness.

Families dealing with violent adult children often feel shame or isolation. They may minimize warning signs. They may hope behavior will change.

But unchecked violence escalates.

Stephanie’s story must encourage honest conversations about domestic abuse in all its forms — and about the importance of early, sustained intervention.

No one should live in fear inside their own home.

Not a spouse.

Not a partner.

Not a parent.

A Life That Should Have Continued

The loss of Stephanie McCoy is a painful reminder of how quickly everything can change.

One argument.

One escalation.

One final act of violence.

Her loved ones now carry the weight of that day forever.

As the legal process unfolds, may justice speak clearly.

And may her story strengthen efforts to protect vulnerable family members everywhere.

Stephanie Clark McCoy should have been safe.

Her memory deserves to endure.

And her story should never be forgotten.