Alexander Harrington

Introduction

Alexander Harrington is a 50-year-old Delray Beach, Florida, man who described himself as an “intuitive healer” and who is charged with first-degree premeditated murder in the September 11, 2026, killing of his 77-year-old mother, Susan Baratto, inside her home in the gated Monterey Lake community west of Delray Beach . The case drew wide attention because, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the arrest affidavit, Harrington himself called law enforcement that afternoon, identified himself, and said he had killed his mother — an admission he allegedly repeated to paramedics at the scene and to detectives at headquarters . He has been charged but not convicted, and the charge against him is an allegation he will have to answer in court .

Background Information

According to WPBF, PBSO spokeswoman Teri Barbera said the victim was 77 and that her identity was being withheld under Marsy’s Law, which protects crime victims and their families; local outlet CBS12 later identified her as Susan Baratto, citing the arrest affidavit . Harrington’s booking card lists the Monterey Lake house as his own address, indicating he had been living with his mother; the victim’s daughter told CBS12 her brother had struggled with mental health problems for a long time, did not work, and recently lost his home before moving in with their mother . In the affidavit, Harrington told detectives he had been sober since 2007 and that he had schizoaffective disorder with bipolar features, for which he listed the medications he takes . A neighbor, Evan Berger, told CBS12 he knew Harrington from the community pool and described a man who often spoke about his “spiritual journey” and who appeared to be trying to stay on the path he wanted to be on . Harrington had no previous misdemeanor or felony arrests in Palm Beach County since 1998, according to WPBF .

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation

Allegations. The account in this section is drawn from the PBSO arrest affidavit as reported by CBS12 and the New York Post and from PBSO statements. Harrington has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder but has not been tried, and the allegations have not been adjudicated; he is presumed innocent unless and until convicted.

According to the affidavit, Harrington called the Boca Raton Police Department’s non-emergency dispatch center at 2:03 p.m. on Sept. 11, identified himself and said he had killed his mother; the call was transferred to PBSO about seven minutes later, where he allegedly told a dispatcher he had just murdered his mother with a knife and gave the address in the 5100 block of Monterey Lane . Deputies found Harrington outside the home and detained him without incident, then discovered Baratto inside on the living room floor, covered in blood and suffering from multiple stab wounds; a black-handled knife lay near her body, according to the affidavit . Harrington had a cut to his left arm and, when Palm Beach County Fire Rescue paramedics asked what happened, he allegedly replied, “I killed my mom” .

Detectives later advised Harrington of his Miranda rights at PBSO headquarters and played him a recording of his call; he initially said he did not recognize the voice, then said it was his, the affidavit states . Asked what happened, he allegedly said he killed his mother and stabbed her but could not remember what type of knife he used or where it was; shown a video of a shirtless man in black shorts pacing on a sidewalk, he alternated between saying the person was him and saying it was not . The New York Post reported that in a Facebook video posted the day before the killing, Harrington spoke about forgiveness, saying: “I wrote down everyone that ever hurt me, and I forgave them all” . The arrest report gives no motive, and CBS12 reported the affidavit offers no explanation for why Harrington would kill his mother .

Public Reaction and Consequences

PBSO announced the arrest on Sept. 12, and local coverage led with the striking detail that the man now charged was the one who called law enforcement to report the killing . Palm Beach County jail records show Harrington was booked into the Main Detention Center at 10:17 p.m. on Sept. 11 under booking number 2026025006, charged under Florida statute 782.04(1A1) — first-degree premeditated murder — with bond listed at $0 and no release date . The case was filed in Palm Beach County circuit court as case no. 50-2026-CF-006944-AXXX-MB on a single count of first-degree murder . Harrington refused to attend his first-appearance hearings on Sept. 12 and Sept. 13 — court forms notate “DEFENDANT REFUSED TO COME TO COURT” — and when he appeared before a judge he was ordered held without bond . His booking photograph, released by PBSO, was published with local coverage of the arrest . The story was picked up nationally two weeks later when the New York Post’s account of the “intuitive healer” and his chilling admissions spread across social media .

Current Status

Harrington remains in the Palm Beach County Jail with no bond, and his next court date is scheduled for Oct. 11, 2026 . The homicide investigation remains with the PBSO Violent Crimes Division, and the arrest record and probable-cause affidavit in the court file were received with redactions and are not viewable by the public through the clerk’s eCaseView system . He has been charged but not convicted; as of the most recent court filing reported by BocaPost, the case had not moved past first appearance, and no trial date has been set .

Impact on Their Career/Life

Harrington, who according to his sister’s account to CBS12 did not work and had recently moved in with his mother after losing his home, is now held in the Palm Beach County Jail on a single count of first-degree premeditated murder with bond set at $0 . His self-described identity as an “intuitive healer” is now inseparable from the charge: national coverage of the case has centered on the contrast between his forgiveness-themed videos and the killing he is accused of committing . The allegations remain unproven, and the charge against him has not been adjudicated .

Sources

*New York Post, “Self-described ‘intuitive healer’ makes chilling admission after fatally stabbing mom, 77, in gated Florida neighborhood: cops,” Sept. 27, 2026 — source
*CBS12 (WPEC), “‘I killed my mom’: No bond for man charged in mother’s stabbing death in west Delray Beach,” Sept. 14, 2026 — source
*WPBF 25, “Delray Beach man accused of stabbing mother to death,” Sept. 13, 2026 — source
*BocaPost, “PBSO: Man Called Deputies and Said He Killed His Mother at West Delray Beach Home,” Sept. 12, 2026 — source