Friday, July 9, 2010

The 20/20 Buzz

There is much talk, chat, articles, blog posts and comments in the air as everyone anticipates sitting down and watching 20/20's update tonight. I thought I'd share some links here. If you find some in your local papers or websites or anywhere else, please comment on this post or email me and I'll include them here.

Was Pastor's Double Life Motive for Murder?
20/20 - By JIM AVILA, SUNNY ANTRIM and JOANNE NAPOLITANO

When asked by Crawford Long if Matt Baker ever told her anything about Kari's death, he said, Bulls confessed to an affair with the preacher and knowledge of his alleged plans to kill his wife. "'Yes, he told me he killed her because of me,'" Long recalled her saying.


Why Would a Popular Baptist Minister Murder His Wife?
ABC News Press Room

In an exclusive television interview from prison, ABC News Correspondent Jim Avila talks to Matt, the popular Baptist minister from Waco, Texas, convicted of murdering his wife and staging it as a suicide.


20/20 to air update on pastor convicted of murder
Bob Allen - Associated Baptist Press

He was indicted in 2009 after a female member of his church who first denied having an inappropriate relationship with Baker changed her story and told authorities the two were having an affair and that Baker told her he killed his wife so they could be together.
Crawford Long and Susan Shafer, assistant district attorneys in McLennan County, Texas, recently published a detailed account in an online trade journal of allegations by their star witness, Vanessa Bulls, that helped convince a jury to, on its first ballot, unanimously find the former preacher guilty of murder.


20/20 to air update on Matt Baker story
Christa Brown - StopBaptistPredators.com

According to investigators, Baker had also spent years living "a secret life as a sexual predator." Yet, despite multiple allegations of sexual assault and abuse, he was always able to move on through churches, schools and organizations affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.No one stopped him.Not until he was put on trial for murder did people in the pews finally learn about the sexual abuse and assault allegations against him.


ABC's 20/20 to feature report on Baker
WacoTrib.com

A 19th State District Court jury convicted Baker of murder in January in the April 2007 drugging and suffocation death of his 31-year-old wife at their Hewitt home.


Then there are countless websites that are posting about this that refer back to other articles, either AP, or ABP or the WacoTrib:

ReligionNewsBlog.com
BaylorInformation.com
Facebook - Texas Monthly
TheGospelNewsWire.com
BaptistPlanet.com

1 comment:

Sadie said...

This is an excellent round-up, Shannon! As usual, you can be counted on to get the scoop.

Kari's death will not be in vain. Many, many people will learn about the evil that robbed her of life, and robbed life of her. I believe that the story affects those who hear it, and can warn those who might be vulnerable to a sociopath in their lives, as Kari was. And the story can also serve as a warning to an evil person who is tempted to carry out a secret murder like Matt did -- YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH IT.

Justice for Kari!

However, until those girls are rescued from the darkness they've lived in for so long, the justice is only partial. I'm so glad that you continue to cover this story, Shannon.

I feel for the Dulins and for all that Matt and the Bakers have put them through. And my heart is heavy for those girls, who have been through so much. It is long past time for light and healing to enter their lives. Waiting patiently on the Lord here, and my heart and prayers remain steadfastly with the girls and with Kari's family.