5 Shocking Motives: Why Sons Kill Their Fathers—The Melquan Stewart Case And Parricide Psychology

The tragic phenomenon of a son killing his own father, known as parricide, continues to shock communities globally, with a disturbing new case emerging just this month. As of December 2025, the recent arrest of Melquan Stewart in Port Charlotte, Florida, has cast a harsh light on the extreme pressures and deep-seated psychological issues that can shatter the parent-child bond. This article dives deep into this specific, recent case and explores the broader, often hidden, motives behind one of the most unnatural crimes in society.

The Melquan Stewart case, which unfolded on December 8, 2025, serves as a stark example of a crime allegedly driven by a shocking sense of entitlement and economic frustration. Police reports indicate that the 25-year-old son fatally shot his 60-year-old father, Glenn Stewart, after an argument over the father’s insistence that Melquan get a job and contribute to the rent.

Case Profile: Melquan Stewart and Glenn Stewart Tragedy

The details surrounding the Port Charlotte shooting are a grim reminder of how quickly domestic disputes can escalate into irreversible violence. The following is a profile of the individuals involved in this high-profile parricide case.

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The Victim: Glenn Stewart

• Age: 60 years old (at time of death).
• Location: Port Charlotte, Florida.
• Circumstance of Death: Fatally shot by his son, Melquan Stewart, after an argument.
• Alleged Motive for Argument: Pressuring his son to find employment and pay rent.
• Community Role: Remembered by some reports as a "man of God."

The Accused: Melquan Stewart

• Age: 25 years old.
• Location: Port Charlotte, Florida.
• Charge: Murder of his father, Glenn Stewart.
• Arrest Date: December 9, 2025, after turning himself in to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.
• Alleged Motive for Murder: Stated that his father was "on his case to get a job" and contribute financially.

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office confirmed the arrest, noting that the incident began with a domestic altercation that rapidly turned lethal. This case, driven by what investigators describe as a trivial demand for responsibility, highlights a growing concern over the entitlement mentality in some adult children.

The Psychology of Parricide: Beyond the Melquan Stewart Motive

While the economic motive in the Stewart case is shocking, the act of parricide—the killing of a parent by their child—is a rare but complex crime, accounting for only about 2% of all homicides. Criminologists and forensic psychologists typically categorize the motives for sons killing their fathers into a few distinct groups, which help contextualize the violence.

1. The "Entitlement Syndrome" Killer (The Melquan Stewart Type)

This category applies to offenders who harbor deep resentment toward a parent who attempts to impose boundaries, demand responsibility, or cut off financial support. The son views the parent's actions (like asking for rent or employment) not as reasonable parenting, but as a personal attack on their comfort and lifestyle. The murder is an extreme, violent reaction to the perceived threat of losing their privileged status.

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2. The Abused Child (Self-Defense Parricide)

The most commonly understood, though still rare, motive is self-defense, often following years of severe physical, sexual, or emotional abuse by the parent. In some cases, the child may kill the abuser to protect another family member, such as a mother or sibling, as seen in a recent East Chicago case in January 2025 where a son shot his father during a domestic fight to protect his mother. Legal defenses in these cases often revolve around proving a genuine fear for life, sometimes involving the concept of "Battered Child Syndrome" or "Battered Woman Syndrome" when applicable to the family dynamic.

3. The Mentally Ill Offender

A significant portion of youthful parricidal offenders suffer from major mental disorders, including psychotic symptoms, severe depression, or conduct disorder. The murder may be the result of a delusion, a psychotic break, or an inability to process reality, rather than a rational motive like greed or self-defense. These cases are often the most unpredictable and tragic, as the child's actions are driven by internal psychological turmoil.

4. The Antisocial/Criminal Motive

This category includes cases where the primary motive is financial gain (inheritance), covering up another crime, or simply eliminating a witness or a figure of authority that stands in the way of a criminal lifestyle. The parent is seen as an obstacle rather than a victim of a psychological break or abuse. The infamous Menendez brothers case is a historical example often cited in this context.

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Legal and Societal Ramifications of Parricide

The legal system treats parricide with the utmost seriousness, often seeking the harshest penalties due to the violation of the fundamental trust inherent in the parent-child relationship. However, the motive and context are critical in determining the final charge and sentence.

The Defense of Self-Defense

For cases involving a history of abuse, the defense attorney must prove that the son's actions met the strict legal criteria for self-defense. This typically requires demonstrating that the son was in imminent fear of death or serious bodily harm. While a successful self-defense plea can lead to acquittal, the burden of proof is extremely high, especially in cases where the act was premeditated or occurred outside of an immediate confrontation.

The Role of Mental Health

In cases like Melquan Stewart's, where the motive appears to be a reaction to economic pressure, the defense may pivot to a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity or diminished capacity. Forensic evaluations will be crucial to determine if a pre-existing condition, such as a personality disorder or a chronic mental illness, contributed to the loss of control and the commission of the crime.

The Melquan Stewart tragedy, and others like it from early 2025, serve as a potent reminder that the deepest wounds are often inflicted within the family unit. The legal and psychological entities involved—from the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office to forensic psychologists analyzing parricide statistics—must navigate a labyrinth of complex family dynamics, mental health crises, and shocking entitlement to understand and prosecute these devastating acts. The sheer finality of a child ending a parent's life leaves a scar on the community that is difficult to heal.