Man fatally beats mom with hammer then messages friend for help, Texas cops say

A Texas man is facing a charge of murder after authorities say he fatally beat his 61-year-old mother with a hammer, officials told news outlets.

Robert Babin, 24, is accused of attacking his mother, Lisa Babin, on June 11 at their home on Houston’s far northwest side, according to a criminal complaint filed July 29 in Harris County.

No attorney information was available for Robert Babin as of July 31.

Robert Babin was previously facing a charge of aggravated assault, but that charge was dropped and he’s now charged with murder, records show.

According to police, on the day of the attack, Robert Babin got into a heated argument with his mother and repeatedly hit her with a hammer, KRIV reported. He then sent messages to a friend through a gaming app, telling them what happened — though two hours passed before the friend saw the messages, at which point they told Robert Babin he should go to the police, according to officials.

“I am in trouble and I need your help. I just assaulted my mother with a hammer, I got angry, I don’t know what to do, I can’t go to prison,” the messages read, according to court documents obtained by KTRK. “I have to get rid of the hammer and destroy the evidence before the police get there. I don’t want to end up on Death Row. I hit her a few times on the head and the side. She’s barely breathing.”

Police say the friend contacted authorities and officers went to the home, KPRC reported. Upon arrival, officers found Lisa Babin in the backyard, barely breathing and bleeding from the head, according to police.

She was flown to a hospital in serious condition but later died, police said, the outlet reported.

Robert Babin was in custody as of July 31, jail records show, and his bond is set at $350,000.

This story was originally published July 31, 2025 at 4:02 PM with the headline "Man fatally beats mom with hammer then messages friend for help, Texas cops say."