Thursday, November 8, 2007

Baker Returns Home to Warm Welcome

By Tammy Prout
November 8, 2007

When Matt Baker got word his bond had been reduced and his parents were coming to get him, he only had one thing on his mind.“I wanted to hug my girls,” Baker said. And hug his girls he did on Oct. 25 in McLennan County.“We knew that there was going to be a lot of media there, so we were a little concerned,” Baker said. “But the jail administration allowed my family to drive right up into the covered area and the girls exited on the opposite side of the vehicle so that they were not exposed to the television cameras.”How did it feel?" “It was great. I needed that. We needed that,” he said.

An arrest warrant was issued for Baker in August, charging him with the death of his wife, Kari, who died in August of 2006. Her death was initially ruled a suicide by the Hewitt Police department, which then later assigned another investigator to the case and changed the ruling. Since he was arrested Aug. 21, Baker’s parents, Barbara and Oscar, have been caring for his children, ages 11 and 7, communicating with attorneys and trying to figure out how to come up with the funds it was going to take to get Baker home. The initial bond was set at $400,000, which was eventually reduced to $200,000.“I know this has been hard on them,” Baker said. “But keeping the girls routine was first and foremost on our minds.”While incarcerated, Baker spoke with his parents daily.“I called them every day and checked on the girls. We had to go over what was happening with the attorneys,” Baker said. “It cost $11 for 15 minutes.”Barbara and Oscar, like many area residents and students, are steadfast in their belief that Baker did not and could not have murdered his wife.“I have nothing to hide. I am an open book. I am accused of something I did not do,” Baker said. “I know that, and the people who know me know that.”

One of the decisions Barbara and Oscar made for their son was to seek the help of Guy James Gray, a 25-year veteran prosecutor, now operating a private practice.As was previously reported, it was Gray who was able to have Baker’s bond reduced.Barbara said she was apprehensive at first to make such an important decision on her son’s behalf.“My mom told me she had met with Mr. Gray and said she felt very good about him,” Baker said. “Her exact
words were that he was a ‘Godsend.’”After meeting with Gray, Baker said he agreed. “I know he would not have taken this case if he did not believe in my innocence,” Baker said.Keith Williams, a local attorney, family friend and Baker’s former Bible school teacher helped introduce the family to Gray. He will also assist Gray during the trial.Since returning home, Baker said he feels
loved. “I can see it in people’s eyes when I’m in the grocery store or dropping the girls off at school,” he said. “Sometimes they will just stop and let me know that they are praying for me and my family. That means so much."

”The Bakers will not publicly discuss Kari’s parents. However, it is they who filed and dropped a civil wrongful death suit against Baker, claiming he is the cause of the death of their only child. “We’ve been going through this now for a year-and-a-half. My girls and I have never been able to grieve,” Baker said. “I’ve lost my wife. My children have lost their mother.” To date, the case has not gone before a grand jury. Baker said he will trust Gray with his life.“There’s no evidence linking me to Kari’s death. I’ve taken and passed a lie-detector test,” Baker said. Patience, however, will have to be a virtue for the Baker family, as they put their trust in Gray and let the justice system work as it should.


I'm not positive....but I don't think that Kari was an only child. Doesn't she (didn't she) have a brother?

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yep, she did. And he loved his sis.

Anonymous said...

Well, goodness a me. Someone needs to alert the Dulins of this brother. Seems they are blaming the death of their ONLY child on Matt. @@

Just wondering - Is the reason he hasn't been able to grieve the death of his wife because he was too busy with the honey and trying to find her an engagement ring? I mean, hey, the wife's been in the ground a few days - she won't need her cell phone and well, time to move on. Engagement and/or hooking up sounds like a good diversion to grief to me. Or was he too busy looking for a new truck? Or too much time spent berating Kari to her little girls? One must stay busy.

Anonymous said...

As I recall from one of the video news clips, he was so grief-stricken the night her life was taken that he was able to fall soundly asleep. Kari's family sat up, in shock, awaiting the dawn and the awful ordeal of telling her two children of her death. He appears to be a tremendously talented actor, and he is fooling a bunch of folks--until the facts unfold--and the truth becomes apparent.

Anonymous said...

I expected to see a skinny version of Matt after his month in prison. It looks like he's been stashing food under his cot.

Anonymous said...

You can just see the evil in his eyes! It's like he's looking straight into the camera and putting on a show! And imagine that...it's all women around him. He LOVES that attention!

Anonymous said...

When did he take "and pass" a lie detector test? Who administered it? Who supervised it? IF that is so, just remember one thing: A sociopath surely could fool a machine. He has practiced all his life on people and gotten good at his tricks. I bet he won't be able to fool those old cotton farmers around Waco when he is brought to trial, though.

Anonymous said...

I cannot believe the things all of you are saying!!! The fact is and even one person said it..."We do not know the truth!!!!! And the fact is that until it is unfolded no one will!!! And even then...no one, was there that is writing this crap!!!!

Anonymous said...

One more thing!! Who are all of you to pass such judgement??? As christians why not step back and let God take care of this matter? I am shocked..no not in this day and age...that people are so judgemental!!! Emotions running your mouths! I do not know the truth and until I do I will not pass judgement!!!

Anonymous said...

Why is it that you (whoever you are) can hear one member of the family say on TV that MB went to sleep on the couch and believe it. Yet, not believe anything Matt might say about that night???? Being a little judgemental?? Sounds like it. What was MB really doing while they thought he was asleep? Grieving to himself and praying for strength as to how to tell his young daughters when they woke up? I really think this blog site says a lot about who is visiting it, it appears that they are family members seeking a way to get their anger out. Hope it is helping them.

Anonymous said...

Maybe the author of the above posting is MB. He has time on his hands right now.

Anonymous said...

I saw Matt, firsthand, after he lost his wife. I saw him at the funeral home twice and at the Dulin's, and not one time did I ever see him grieving.

Anonymous said...

all i know is that when MB hugged me after the funeral, he gave me the creeps!!!!

Anonymous said...

"God alone has the power to judge eternal judgement and/or final condemnation. But God commands believers to test, prove, judge and discern what is true and what is right and wrong. We are not to judge the hearts and intents of man, but we are to judge actions and discern right from wrong."
(letusreason.org - I don't know this organization but I liked the way this was worded so I used it.)

The word "judge" (Greek-krino)is used over 80 times in the New Testament and it means to call in question, descern, conclude, decree and determine.
John 7:24, Hebrews 5:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Matthew 18:16,
and 1 Thessalonians 5:21 as a start. The Bible is very clear and strong on this point.

If someone believes there is good evidence and belief that someone commits a crime such as murder, they are not to just sit by and do and think nothing. They are to deliver the alleged offender to the authorities and prove, test and discern. This is what our criminal justice system is for. Surely no one wants to do away with the Courts and trials of all kinds because they are afraid to judge right from wrong and to free the righteous and rebuke and punish the evildoer. I do not and will not ever judge Matt Baker's soul. If he did this and it's proved he did this beyond a shadow of a doubt, I pray that he repents and earnestly seeks God's forgiveness and receives it. I don't want him to go to hell. I am not trying to condemn him at all. But this case needs to be tried. The truth deserves to come out.

Shannon

Anonymous said...

preach it shannon!

Anonymous said...

Shanno I agree with you totally but interesting that you talk of what you believe if he is guilty. What about if he is innocent??? I to believe the truth deserves to come out!!! I also think that all this evil on this blog site is exactly what one blog says about Matt!! An escape! By doing these hateful blogs people feel better. People can preach all they want but I have difficulty believing this is what God would want!!!

Anonymous said...

This is not an objective blog obviously. This is a memorial to Kari where everyone is expected to believe whatever hateful things the family wants to write about Matt. And anonymous hateful messages appear to be the most popular. Lovely Christian People...

I am sure the family / friend are upset about this loss, and it is easier to have a target to blame than to accept a suicide. However, I believe that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, especially in a HEARSAY case such as this one. It is not like he was caught with a bloody knife standing over her body....I am not sure why everyone is so sure he did it. If the prosecution has good evidence, then the family doesn't have anything to worry about in this case, but I suspect that there isn't much more to this case than "bad feelings" and rumors. No one deserves to be convicted based on hateful false accusations. If that is all the family has to fight this case, they are going to lose.....and they deserve to lose.

Anonymous said...

OUCH to all the postings!!!
However I have to say that I do not think MB as you call him is stupid enough to post anything!!!
I do however have a suggestion for all this anger and hate that is being cast out!!!
Take it to God and leave it at His alter!!! Once it has been left at the alter that is the end of it!!!

Anonymous said...

Well, you haven't been around long enough. Keep reading. You're mistaken. Or maybe you have been around long enough....???!!!???

If Matt has nothing to worry about, you would think he'd welcome the opportunity for complete exoneration. If no one is worried, why not examine the case?

Dude, if you're innocent, explain it to me. I'll be your ally.

Anonymous said...

OUCH!!!
I think you're wrong.
If you've been here more than 5 minutes, you've read much more love and agony than anything else.
Keep reading. Tell me those songs when you're ready.

Anonymous said...

It is interesting to me that Matt must be considered "innocent" until proven guilty, but the blogger who made this plea seems overly willing to consider Kari exceedingly guilty--of suicide. Case closed! Where is the plea for delayed judgement regarding Kari Baker? I believe I read the official report as "cause of death 'undetermined'." Hold your horses, Matt supporters. And by the way, I am not family or friend of either one. They are both strangers to me. However, at this point, Matt seems a lot stranger than Kari.

Anonymous said...

It is interesting to me that Matt must be considered "innocent" until proven guilty, but the blogger who made this plea seems overly willing to consider Kari exceedingly guilty--of suicide. Case closed! Where is the plea for delayed judgement regarding Kari Baker? I believe I read the official report as "cause of death 'undetermined'." Hold your horses, Matt supporters. And by the way, I am not family or friend of either one. They are both strangers to me. However, at this point, Matt seems a lot stranger than Kari.

Anonymous said...

There must have been some very compelling evidence brought forward during the "rare" inquest that concluded with the JP for the first time ever rescinding his first cause of death of suicide and change it undetermined. That wasn't taken lightly.

I also don't think Texas Rangers waste their time on trivial matters with no substance and evidentiary backing. I may be wrong. But I'm just thinkin'.

I just think there's A LOT more evidence out there than has been released to the public at this point. We'll sit back and wait and watch....and pray. Truth and justice are all any of us really want.

Shannon

Anonymous said...

Responding to whoever wrote responding that they agreed with me totally.

I don't think that my postings and/or comments are evil in the least. I do feel passionately and probably come across that way a lot. I won't apologize for that. Until I see/hear evidence conflicting my opinions, I do not think/believe Kari took her own life. I don't think Kari "chose to leave her girls." It's a gut wrenching subject matter we're discussing and feelings and passions are heated. It's human nature. I've time and time again said I'm not condemning anyone. Not my job. But I am commanded by God to test and discern what is right and wrong and stand on the side of right....to pray....and let God work his plan. In this day and age and with my affinity to the internet and information and communication, I chose to start a blog with the links and information on this case. I never dreamed anyone besides me and a few of my friends and family would ever even see this. I really never dreamed that both family and friends of Matt's and Kari's would come here at all...especially with the frequency and number of hits each day that this blog is getting.

With such a passionate and intense subject matter as this, you would expect feelings and opinions to be expressed. Yes, sometimes they are calm and sometimes they are more heated. I don't find them evil.

A few of my favorite quotes sum it up:

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing. ~Edmund Burke

He who does not punish evil, commands it to be done. ~Leonardo da Vinci

When good people in any country cease their vigilance and struggle, then evil men prevail. ~Pearl S. Buck

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. ~Albert Einstein

Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously. ~God


We just need to examine the evidence so we can properly (not superfically) once and for all determine in this case.

Shannon

Anonymous said...

Shannon it seems to me that you have used verses in the bible and used them to justify "judging" another. And your comment "We just need to examine the evidence so we can properly once and for all determine in this case...well, if I am not mistaken you are not the judge nor one of the jurors. Why not leave the examining to the experts? As far as this site aggravating "US" LOL, not at all! I believe your site did start out as you said "memories". However that is not all it has turned out to be. And yes, there have been some very hateful, evil remarks! A majority of it is not true! Its kind of like the phone game we played when I was a kid. You sit kids in a circle and whisper something in ones ear...then it goes around whispered in everyones ear...it NEVER comes out as the original message!!! That is how I see this site. Hear say!!! Hear say and feelings!

Anonymous said...

If you are disturbed by what people think and say in this format, you are going to be exceedingly miserable when this fellow is scrutinized in the trial that is sure to come. How do you reconcile this man's adultery? He lost integrity points a long time ago. Hearsay? NO. The truth is not the same as "hearsay."

Anonymous said...

I do not think I will be exceedingly miserable because I do not believe he will be scrutinized! I think the trial will clear his name! No need to reconcile his adultery because there to I do not believe their was an affair! And you say "Hearsay? NO" Unless you yourself are going to lie there is no truth!

Anonymous said...

I think those of you who speak so easily in Matt's defense forget that Kari is no longer here to speak for herself. Call it what you will, but Kari did not kill herself. It is not wishful fantasy thinking, it is the truth. From what I see, the only time comments get ugly are when they are promoted from the other side. You know you aren't going to like this site so don't visit it. You aren't interested in sharing a memory, only ruining ours.