Waco Tribune Herald

Be sure and check out the Waco Tribune Herald tomorrow (Sunday, May 1) for Tommy Witherspoon's article about the Dulin Fans Online Auction!  I know most of you can't view it online, though.  But I'll let you know all about it.  ;)

"Twist of Faith" - Investigation Discovery

True Crime with Aphrodite Jones (on the Investigation Discovery channel) is airing their show on our case this Thursday, April 28.  If you are on DirecTV, it's Channel 285.  DishNetwork is Channel 192.  If you are in Central Texas: Time Warner is Channel 134 and Grande is Channel 161.  To verify what channel it is in your area and with your service provider, you can click here and then scroll down a little bit on the right side and you can put your info in their Channel Finder widget.

Case Profile: Matthew Baker
By Chris Opfer
Edited by Kevin P. Allen

Matthew Baker is a former preacher and father of three who was convicted of killing his wife so he could be with his mistress. The Baptist minister drugged and suffocated Kari Baker and attempted to make her death look like a suicide. The scheme almost worked.

ID VIDEO: Who Was Kari Baker?
Aphrodite Jones meets with convicted murderer and former Pastor, Matthew Baker. His interview sparks the question about his victim, "Who Was the real Kari Baker?"



ID VIDEO: Kari Baker's Last Days
Aphrodite Jones learns more about Kari Baker's last days before she was murdered by her husband, Pastor Matthew Baker.



Come back here after the show and we can discuss.

Article about the online auction on ABPNews.com

Online auction to raise legal fees for custody battle
Associated Baptist Press
Bob Allen

The Dulins, who have visitation rights with their granddaughters once a month, filed suit seeking custody of the girls. More than a year later, with legal bills mounting, a group of friends stepped forward to organize a fund raiser through a “Justice for Kari” website and Twitter.


Donations of used items, services and cash are rolling in for an online auction scheduled May 21-22. Bidding will start at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, and continue until 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 22. Donations will be accepted until May 15, but organizers said making them sooner rather than later will help with cataloguing.  (read more)

Thanks, Bob for noticing this on the blog and letting the world know via ABPNews.com!

Donations rolling in.....

Thanks so much everyone!! Just wanted to let you guys know about some of the wonderful donations that have come in for the May 21 & 22 Online Auction.

***Scroll down to see all the *NEW*  private donations***  =)

*NEW*  Awesome youth bluegrass band, Third Rail, has donated musical entertainment for a party, event, or BBQ
*NEW*  ESPN Radio - donated 2 tickets to the Rangers vs Houston Astros game on June 21 in Arlington
*NEW*  West Lake Monogram (Dennis Webb) - Will embroider 6 "Texas" (red/white/blue) caps with "I helped Kari's kids" on the front AND a new Game Guard BCB-240 cooler bag and will embroider a name on it.
*NEW*  PAT GREEN FANS, ARE YOU SITTING DOWN?!  Pat is donating a guitar and will add personalized autograph to the highest bidder!  Waco celebs are 2nd to none!!
~   Sporthooks.com - created a rack that reads "Love Triumphs Evil"

~   Scentsy : Nikki Ellison - Scentsy gift bag to include single scent, room spray and hanging freshener
~   The Pampered Chef :  Darla Cannon - a barbeque turner (spatula)
~   Homemade Gourmet : Melodee and Gordon Austin - Classic Favorites Collection - homestyle spaghetti sauce mix, garlic basil seasoning, jalapeno bacon cheddar dip mix, & sunday roast seasoning.
~   Rosati's Authentic Chicago Pizza  - Gift card
~   KGKK Photography (Owner Dana Carver) - Waco area photo shoot at highest bidder's choice location
~   Chariots of Fire Limousine Service - 2 hours of limo time

~   Roger Olson donated a signed copy of his book "Questions to all your Answers: The Journey from Folk Religion to Examined Faith"
~   $100 gas gift card
~   Cameron Park Zoo - Zoo passes!
~   Outdoor Connection, Inc.  (Global company based out of Hewitt, TX) - a plethora of awesome gear items - Binoor camera strap, 2 GO bags (green, black), 2 canvas bags (gray, green), pink bag and camo Bummer seat.  These are heavy-duty, outdoor items.  Most of them are guaranteed forever.  QUALITY stuff!
~   Mandee (owner of new shop in town) Sweet-n-Sassy Designs - A cupcake/cake decorating party for 10 
~  The Grape - $25 gift card 
~  Tish Smith with uppercase living - donated a beautiful "beautiful" decorative plate <---Love this!
~  Neat as a Pin! Organizing Experts - Jennifer Snyder (owner/organizer) has donated 4 hours of her time

~  La Bella Candle Company of Boerne, Texas:  3" Hand-poured candle in jar with lid initialed "L" and "B" with two wicks, scent of gardenias
~  Crooked Creek Candles (owner Anna Rowell) in Lorena, TX - awesome gift basket
~  My sweet friend, and New York best selling author, Wendy Corsi Staub is donating a couple signed books! 
~  Pom at Bangkok Royal has donated a dinner for two at his downtown restaurant
~  Gourmet Gallery - Cooking Class
~  Reed's Flowers donated a plant
~  Sironia has just provided us with a great package of gifts
~  Author-signed books: My Reading Life by Pat Conroy & The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
~  Tiffany Bolton has provided a night at the Czech Inn, dinner in West and a bottle of wine
~  Kelly Young (http://www.deconstructed-design.com/ in Austin) has given us a one of a kind piece

~  Creighton Bennett & Associates - 10 knockout roses and 1, 15 gallon crape myrtle (nearly $400 retail!)
~  Collage Boutique - whimsical tshirt
~  The Beauty Shop (Basy Barrera - Kari's hairdresser) - Cut and color
~  Harley Davidson Round Rock - Vintage ladies short-sleeve, button up HD shirt
~  Wesley Chapel Tri Team & Personal Training (Florida) - 4 sessions of personal training
~  Infinity Pilates & Yoga - 1 month pass good for 10 group classes
~  The Mane Event - Beauty Services
~  Power of Massage (C.J. Harper, R.M.T.) - massage
~  Linda R. - 1 hour, in-house dog training
~  Jaqueline Abney (Master Dog Groomer) - Dog grooming certificates

* If you are are business that has made a donation and I don't have your logo, please email it to me at JusticeForKari@gmail.com


Private donations so far include:

*NEW*  French Horn ($200 value)
*NEW*  Royal Doulton Stanwyck fine china (Service for 12 -minus what the movers broke with some serving pieces), new set of stainless silverware, water and tea goblets
*NEW*  "Rockabye" Doll - beautiful, life-like, life size doll  (Retails $198.00)
~  Tall white wicker shelf
~  Portable sewing machine
~  Collection of Indian dolls circa 60s
~  Bubble gum machine
~  Some 33 & 45 records. Yes, that's right. VINYLS!!!!
~  Box of games (2 Taboo - brand new, Trivial Pursuit, Outburst)
~  Sony compact hi-fi stereo system
~  An incredible music box snow globe depicting a nativity scene
~  Stay overnight in a guesthouse on Medina Mountain and treated to breakfast before starting your day in our part of the Texas Hill Country
~  BAYLOR FANS: Gallon Pak 16 oz. Dr. Pepper commemorating 1974 SCC Baylor Bears. Bottles are full unopened & mint condition!  Amazing donation!!
~  Stunning 14 kt yellow gold 1.2" earrings shaped like a bird cage with heart danglets
~  Linda R's (Grandmother's traditional recipe) famous homemade French chocolate mousse for 12
~   Charles M. Russell, Word Painter: Letters 1887-1926 - Illustrated with sketches or small paintings.Loads of jewelry from one donor
~  A gently used sectional sleeper sofa was donated
~  New "Home Trends" Regulator clock
~  New "Impressions" ceiling fan, bought new, never taken out of box. 52" four blades, bright brass finish* ~  Set of three brightly painted Mexican suns bought in Cuernavaca
~  Ceramic cross bought in Cuernavaca. Painted orchid with pinkish flowers and orange and black Monarch butterfly in the center.
~  Jeeves and Wooster 4-DVD set in case. 23 episodes of the hit A&E series starring Hugh Laurie (of House) and Stephen Fry (of Gosford Park)
~  Eclectic collection of 7 fun hats for girls
~  Toppers Roll Ups to pack and compactly carry toiletries
~  Small brocade kittens make-up bag. Olive green vinyl and canvas piping and trim. Inside snap and elastic pocket, mirror on top of lid.
~  Several formal/semi formal dresses
~  Donation from Sharon Reed, friend and fellow church member of the Dulins has offered 2 sets of lessons:
Basics of Crochet
Learn the basic crochet stitches:  chain, single crochet, and double crochet.  Minimum of 3 hours, to be taught in several lessons at your house in Waco.  Includes 1 skein of yarn and 1 hook.
Beyond Double Crochet
Want to learn how to make a Granny Square?  Want help deciphering a pattern?  Maximum of 3 hours, total, to be taught in several sessions at your house in Waco.
~  Someone in France has just donated a very good bottle of Chateau Canon
~  Lots of worn-once clothing and shoes
~  A CD/DVD carrying case
~  21kt gold & diamond necklace, a gold ring, some costume pearl earrings. Thanks AH!
~  Anonymous donor: several pieces of antique furniture, a tea service and an antique Singer sewing machine with all original parts and working
~  A CPA has offered to prepare an individual tax return for the the 2010 (if not already filed) or 2011 tax year.
~  Bicycle rack, some notecards and a couple of baseball "wobble heads"
~  A vase and piece of artwork 
~  Incredible antiques donated: Rolltop desk circa 1900, tea server, original working Singer sewing machine and table, 1 John Boat with 2 chairs in perfect operating condition and no breaks, chips, cracks, etc
~  2 very unique sterling silver rings
~  A beautiful pair of gold and diamond earrings!
~  Someone donated a day of fishing and barbecue on their 3 stocked ponds in Waco
~  A life-size Santa Claus poster
~  5 gorgeous framed Renoir prints; not posters. They feel like a painting. Also a tapestry & a Johnny Cash poster.
~  Jennifer spoiled us with some home artifacts, antique shoe molds, a collection of penguins, some 'Radioheads' t-shirts but most of all...an amazingly stunning antique lace dress as well as some handmade media collage cards from her label http://www.jblackdesigns.etsy.com/
~  We have a series of art, crafts, & creativity books; thanks Brenda
~  Autographed copy of "Pearl Harbor: A novel of December 8th" by Newt Gingrich & William R. Forstchen signed by Newt, first ed. 2007
~  Signed copy of The Virtues of Aging by Jimmy Carter
~  Julie O. gave a small painting of a horse by the famous Houston artist Cisco Tucker Kolkmeier http://t.co/c9WTT4X A true collectible!
~  A vintage wedding gown and veil (circa 1979) Size 8 in excellent condition
~  A GE 25" TV with remote
~  Suit jackets for men
~  Wine Cooler (not the beverage......a wine bottle cooler)
~  Case of wine
~  Sportsbag, a pencil set and an exquisite silver bracelet engraved with Psalm 91:11
~  4 passes to US House of Representatives Gallery in DC
~  Homemade jewelry
~  Purses
~  Picnic double bottle carrier for wine w/ fancy corkscrew
~  Collectors' item: 20 year old Rolex watch with papers
~  Painting
~  Barge party!
~  Candles
~  Rustic child’s desk (way cute)
~  Rustic wooden 10-gallon aquarium stand
~  A set of china, some dishes, a huge antique wall hanging
~  Ten, 10oz. candles fragrance of choice were donated by a local candle maker
~  A LOT of excellent quality costume jewelry including Dior & Lalique
~  A dear friend of Kari's has given multiple family/individual photo sessions on location in the Dallas area or Waco.
~  Portofino's gift certificate
~  Computer training
~  Dinner parties
~  Basket of books
~  Pet items
~  Water filter

*Not sure if the donated books are hardcover or paperback...but it will be made clear on the auction website.  ;)

Will be adding to this last as they come in! If you own a business or know someone that owns a business, consider donating something to the auction! Ask around. If you can provide a service......consider donating some time! If you have things laying around the house that you're done with and they are still in good condition......consider donating!
Be creative!
Big or small......all is welcome! Email me at JusticeForKari@gmail or Linda R. at DulinFans@gmail.com.

THANKS, EVERYONE!

Alright Dulin Fans.....

The same great heart that produced the Justice for Kari stickers has struck again with another wonderful, fruitful way to help the Dulins in their quest to soon raise Kensi and Grace to be the whole, healed, precious daughters of Kari. i received the following email yesterday and want to share it with everyone:

Dear Friends of Jim and Linda Dulin, I know I don’t have to remind you that Jim and Linda lost their precious daughter, Kari, in April 2006. Not only is this the most horrible nightmare a parent can experience, but they soon realized that the events surrounding her death were very suspicious. Because they could not enlist the help of the Hewitt Police, the Dulins and family members began their own investigation. Eventually, Jim and Linda hired private investigators, an attorney and filed a civil “wrongful death” lawsuit.

In March of 2009, the District Attorney’s office became officially involved and indicted Matt Baker, the Dulin’s former son-in-law, for murder. He was convicted and sentenced to 65 years in prison in January of 2010. While there is long sigh of relief in seeing that a murderer has been held accountable for his crime, Jim and Linda are still in the middle of their fight for justice.

You see, for the Dulins this was about saving their granddaughters. In Texas, a parent does not lose parental rights for murdering his spouse----the mother of his children. Matt Baker gave guardianship of his children to his parents, people who claim their son’s innocence to this day and tell their granddaughters that their father is innocent and will be coming back to Kerrville. The Dulins want to bring their granddaughters home to Waco to heal. They want them to get the professional help they need---to grieve---to feel safe to love all of their family----to just be children. Instead, their contact with their granddaughters is limited to one weekend a month, visitation they had to fight for in court.

I’m sure you can imagine not only the emotional costs of this ordeal, but also the financial burdens. Linda and Jim will not state how much they have spent, but friends know that it is a great deal. However, the Dulins say they are blessed that they have been able to find what they need to move forward. Nonetheless, as the legal battle for custody continues, the financial burdens mount for Jim and Linda. And we ….their friends…..want to help. We would love it if you would, too.

We are going to have an online auction May 21-22. In order to have items to sell, we would appreciate YOUR DONATIONS. Let us help you take items off your hands that are still in good shape for others! You can also provide a service, like a dinner in your home, or a training in your field, an hour of your time. And, of course, we’ll accept money! SPREAD the word through email, tweets, and Facebook to encourage others to donate. Let’s help Linda and Jim provide the resources to fight for their granddaughters and bring them home!

To provide goods, services or moneys, or for more information, please contact Linda Reichenbach at [Email JusticeForKari@gmail.com for Linda R.'s info] no later than May 15; the sooner the better so we can get them catalogued and ready to place online to prepare for bidding.

Then of course, we would love for you to go bid on other items on the day of the auction. The sale will begin at 8 am on the 21st of May and end at 5 pm the 22nd. We urge you to pass this message along. Let people know about this. We will mail items to people who don’t live in the Waco/McLennan county area. You don’t have to leave your house; just bid right from your computer. How fun is this!!!

Everyone has expressed sympathy and questioned how they can help; this is how. Share this information with as many people as possible. Thank you for caring.

The Dulin Fan Club

There has already been a great start with some generous donations of services and goods for the auction already pledged. This is going to be such a wonderful success. Any amount of monies or goods/services donated is a step towards that success. Any local businesses that care to donate to the auction and would let me, I'd like to give back with a little free "THANK YOU" advertising on this blog. You can email me your link (text or graphic) to your website or if you don't have a website, just your graphic would be great. I'd like everyone to know and celebrate together with those who have gathered to help the Dulins in their quest to bring the girls home to the loving and healthy family they so deserve. Please email me with any questions and to get in touch with Linda R. on how/where/when to donate.

And don't forget the other end of this: May 21 & 22 - Join us and bid, bid, bid on the online auction! Don't have even get out of your jammies or leave the house. Come and bid on your favorite items and services! Tell everyone you know! I'll provide a link to the auction website as soon as it's ready.

You can follow Linda R.'s Twitter Updates at: https://twitter.com/dulinfans

5 years

It's been 5 years since the Dulin's lost their one and only daughter and sister. 5 years since her family lost their precious, vivacious granddaughter, cousin, aunt and niece. 5 years since Spring Valley lost one of their stellar, loving teachers and 5 years since many lost their dear, if not best, friend. The most heartbreaking loss is that 5 years ago tonight, Kensi and Grace had their mother ripped from their lives, hearts and memories. Well, very soon they will be in the safe and loving environment they need in order to heal and love and remember their amazing Mother.

I'm cut and pasting something from last year's post on this anniversary of Kari's death. I think this is forefront in everyone's minds today:

This is my prayer for the girls:

That you will be free to remember and love your Mother.

That you will be free to love your Mom’s family, especially your grandparents.....and know that it is only by loving that you can heal.

When the time and circumstances are right, you will learn the truth about how your Mom died.....you will be able to accept the truth.....and heal.

That you will be able to love your dad after recognizing and accepting the truth.....again, it is only through love that we can heal.

That you will grow into healthy and whole young women.....fully of joy and life, just like your mother.

That you will know now and always just how special you are and how incredibly loved you are.

Continuance

Suit alleges abuse by Matt Baker's parents

WacoTrib.com
Tommy Witherspoon

In an article in the Waco Tribune Herald by Tommy Witherspoon last week, 2 bombs were dropped:
1)

At least six former foster children who lived in the Baker home in Kerrville in the 1970s are listed as potential witnesses in the custody battle between Kari Baker’s parents, Jim and Linda Dulin, of Woodway, and Matt Baker’s parents, Oscar and Barbara Baker. Court documents filed by the Dulins in the custody case in Kerrville allege “the Bakers have abused children left in their care in the past.” (read more)

Well, this CERTAINLY puts more urgency to having this entire matter examined thoroughly and without delay, doesn't it? Of course, at this time, these are just allegations by the former Baker foster children. But it does make you wonder and worry while we wait for the trial. Prayers going up.

2)

Court records show the judge approved the Bakers’ motion to postpone the trial, at least in part, to give a San Antonio psychologist more time to complete her evaluations of both sets of grandparents and their granddaughters, Kensi, 15, and Grace, 10. (read more)

Well, so much for urgency! Postpone. Put off. Duck. Hide. It can only go on for so long. This particular postponement by the Bakers was "at least in part" to give the San Antonio psychologist more time? Obviously since this was not the Dulin's request, but the Baker's request for a continuance with the Court, they are the ones with the hold up with the psychological evaluation. What is the problem?? It seems to me that all parties would WANT to get this heard in court for the benefit of Kensi and Grace. Why keep these children in limbo? This is the third continuance in this case. THE THIRD. I know Linda and Jim have been ready to go to trial for a long time. I’m just asking.....What’s up???

While my heart wants this whole thing over with as quickly as possible with the girls safe and secure in thier Mother's family's arms.....if the Baker's want another continuance (with all that comes with it), BRING IT ON!
New court date: July 5, 2011