A Mobile resident, well known for her driving habits, was victim of a carjacking attempt in a McDonald’s drive-thru Monday.
Margery-Jean Baxter, 88, also known as “Mercedes Marge,” is known throughout Mobile for her slow-driving and her 14-year-old dog, Coco, who hangs his head out of the window while she drives. She has worked in real-estate in the city for about 45 years. Her notoriety earned her a Facebook group that shares her nickname. When members of the group see her car, they post it to the group “for all citizens of Mobile, AL who are impacted by Mercedes Marge’s driving,” the group description reads.
Monday evening, Baxter drove to McDonald’s like it was any other day to get a cup of coffee and fried chicken for Coco. All of a sudden, a man started trying to get in her car.
“I don’t know where he came from,” Baxter said. “This man came and jumped in the front seat of my car with a 12-inch knife. I don’t know why he did that. I don’t know if it was to get in my car, or to just kill me, or what it was.”
Baxter then got thrown out of her car onto the pavement by the man. Someone working on the air conditioners at the restaurant noticed Baxter’s cries for help and he came down to apprehend the man, she said. At that point, she said the man tried to run over her, but couldn’t figure out how to drive the car to do so.
“He didn’t know how to drive it,” she said. “He broke the driving gear.”
Jason Harsany also encountered the man that evening while he was closing his food truck, Smkn’ Gringos Taco Truck.
“He looked me in the eye and passed by me into the garage (where the food truck is stored) and started circling around, talking crazy,” he said. “He was saying he should beat my ass and he could kill me and all this stuff.”
Harsany eventually followed him to the McDonald’s, where he saw that the police had apprehended him.
“I noticed the lady over there, Marge, and I had no idea,” Harsany said. “Here she is: the legendary Mercedes Marge, and I never even knew it at the moment.”
The man, David Kelly, was arrested and charged with two counts of first degree robbery and menacing, according to the Mobile Police Department. Police also reported that Kelly “produced the knife at the Circle K at the same intersection to take beer from the store and also had pointed the knife at a McDonalds employee and made threats,” according to a police statement.
Little did Baxter know that one of her fans and members of the “Mercedes Marge” Facebook group, Julie Rogers, had watched the whole thing unfold.
“If anyone knows or lives by Ms. Marge please check on her,” Rogers posted in the group Monday evening explaining what she had witnessed.
Her post received an outpouring of support and concern for Baxter, with nearly 300 comments and over 500 post reactions.
“God bless her,” one comment reads. “Was just behind her Sunday driving through the park yesterday. Prayers she is able to rest.”
Baxter was not seriously injured, but she is still frightened by what happened.
“I’m just so glad I’m alive,” Baxter said. “I don’t know how to say it.”
However, one thing is for sure: Mercedes Marge’s fans aren’t going anywhere. Multiple posts have already been made today of Baxter out and about, confirming that she is well enough to drive. Rogers mentioned in her post that Baxter said she “humbly loves” the Mercedes Marge Facebook group.
“I appreciate everybody being sweet,” Baxter said. “I’ve been around this town a long time, and I got a lot of dear, dear friends.”
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Originally Appeared Here