Former Preacher Charged with Murder on Offender Website

KCEN - Channel 6 News

Yup, Channel 6, you're right. He's on StopBaptistPredators.org.









(The above graphic is from StopBaptistPredators.org. Check out their website to make those links work.)

And he's also on many more websites that live to tell stories of preachers committing crimes. Some are helpful and some are simply atheists that live for this stuff so as to somehow bash all of Christianity. See my former post about this.

Here's just a starter list of different sites that have talked about this case:

Deep Thoughts: Texas Pastor Arrested for Murder
Onanite Online: September 2007
Atheist News and Views
Pastor Watch -- this site has since stopped reporting. But he was on there a couple weeks ago.
Ex-Christian.net - Pastor Arrested in Wife's 2006 Death

I've come across more in google searches but haven't saved all the links. Google about. You'll find them too.

Baker's Attorney Seeks Bond Reduction

Thanks to one of the anonymous commentors for a link to a story in today's Kerrville newspaper....DailyTimes.com

Baker's Attorney Seeks Bond Reduction

Published October 20, 2007

A 36-year-old Kerrville man accused of murdering his wife may be released soon from the McLennan County Jail if a state district judge grants a bond reduction next week.

Matthew Dee Baker, who has been jailed since his arrest one month ago, tentatively is scheduled to appear Friday before District Judge Matt Johnson in the 54th Judicial District Court in Waco.

Bond for the former Baptist minister and local substitute teacher recently was doubled to $400,000. Baker’s attorney, Guy James Gray, said the affidavit used to arrest Baker was “loaded with speculation and prejudice.” “There is no forensic proof,” said Gray, a Kerrville lawyer and retired district attorney. “The more I studied it, the more I believe this man is innocent of these charges and he’s sitting in jail.” Gray pointed to allegations Baker’s late wife, Kari Lynn Baker, was smothered with a pillow or similar object. The autopsy report doesn’t back those claims, Gray said. The claims that Matthew Baker drugged his late wife also haven’t been substantiated, said Gray, who plans to ask for a speedy trial. Matthew Baker reportedly discovered his wife’s body after returning from getting gas and renting movies on a Friday night in April 2006. He reported her death as a suicide, but a McLennan County Justice of the Peace later ruled the death “undetermined.”

In July 2006, Kari Lynn Baker’s parents, James and Linda Dulin, filed a wrongful death lawsuit claiming Matthew Baker intentionally caused the death of their daughter, according to court documents. As a result, the Dulins suffered loss of companionship, care, comfort and happiness. During the past year, Bill Johnston, attorney for the Dulins, has amassed more than a dozen depositions from people tied to Waco-area Baptist churches, medical emergency agencies, Baylor University and Spring Valley Elementary School, where Baker’s late wife worked and the couple’s two daughters attended school. Some of the information gathered in the civil case then was turned over to the Hewitt Police Department and used to build a criminal case against Matthew Baker. “It was reviewed and taken into consideration,” said Capt. Tuck Saunders, spokesman for the Hewitt Police Department. “Detectives also work with other agencies, too.”

The civil case was dismissed last week. The criminal case has been assigned to Crawford Long, first assistant district attorney in McLennan County. It hasn’t been reviewed yet by a grand jury, so Matthew Baker hasn’t been formally charged. That district’s grand jury isn’t scheduled to meet again until Nov. 7.

::::Just a Note::::
The civil case wasn't "dismissed" as in dismissed by the judicial system for lack of merit or something like that. Kari's parents dropped the civil suit so as not to detract time and resources away from the more pressing and important case....the criminal one.

Big Guns to the Rescue

Hopefully even Big Guns have heart and soul. Oh, who am I kidding? Come on, Texas Rangers. Show us your stuff.

Matt Baker Gets High-Profile Legal Help Battling Murder Charge

Reliving a memory.....

Flashback to August a year ago. Notes I left myself.

Last night was Blast Off at our school where the kids see their room and find their desk and meet their new teacher. (and parents fill out 30 minutes of paperwork, yeehaw)

Dh was working a little bit late but planned to meet us there. I got there right at 5:00 to beat the crowds. Met Prissy's new teacher. She's a dream. Perfect.Met Bugman's 4th grade teacher. Loved her. Really. Then Chris showed up. So we went (again) to meet Prissy's teacher.........then Bugman's new teacher. We then went to visit "old" teachers. Went and huggerbugger'd Prissy's teacher from last year. It was so sweet and full of memories.

Brody watched quietly. Then Brody said, "I want to go see Mrs........uhm......Mrs....:::hesitation::: Cox's room, yeah....or Mrs. Cox....ya know...her room?" I know. Mrs. Cox is the sub that came to save the day the last month of school.I thought I would be fine. It was cool. Time had passed. But when I turned the corner in the hall.........saw the first room on the right........I was taken back to last year.

When I met Mrs. B for the first time.Walked into her room and saw this bubbly short-haired blonde teacher with the biggest smile. We chatted and found out that we graduated from the same small private school in this small town. She exuded confidence as she told us about her speech and drama background and that she was a reading specialist and was so looking forward to her first year there at our school. Loved her from minute one. And she loved my boy.

I walked to the doorway of 'her' room, and couldn't go in. Just flashback from last year. I could almost see her walking around and then looking up to greet me. I. Almost. Could. I just gripped the doorjam as he went in to see his "teacher" from last year. It was all I could do. Just when you think you've overcome something..........BAMMM! I'm so freaking thankful I don't have to walk down near that "hall" this year.

Remind me to tell you about the time........
We were both worried about Bro's TAKS test stuff. We both knew he could do it....but were worried about his motivation to get through it as he should. Did I mention that she loved my boy? We worked together and worked together getting him ready. Literally. Worked. Together.

One day after the reading TAKS results had just gotten in and letters had been written to the parents but not mailed yet.....she was sooooooo excited to share with me that she knew Bro had not only passed, but passed WELL.......I was in the lunchroom with other parents that went in to pick up their kidlets and make eye contact with their teachers and try to keep up with the pulse of things. I saw Bro's class come out of the hallway. THEN.....I saw Mrs. Baker see me. She had a piece of paper in her hand. We made eye contact and she "lit up." Then............she skipped across the lunchroom to me. She didn't walk. She didn't glide. She didn't stand there with other teachers and just wave to me. She. Skipped. With that giant "Kari Baker" smile. She loved my boy and she loved and taught him so well he rocked that freakin' TAKS test. She was beaming. I was beaming watching her beam over my son. Now....right now...I'm a cross between beaming at the memory, crying that she's not here, and anger.....and now a bit of relief.

I've felt Kari's hand on me since she passed. I don't know exactly why or what I'm to do to help. I'm just doing what I can do for now.

Slain teacher's parents drop suit against her husband

Here's the Associated Press' take on yesterday's news about the civil suit being dropped so the criminal case can have full focus. I like their title better than some. She was slain. Not just a "Dead Teacher" as KWTX worded it.

Slain teacher's parents drop suit against her husband

It's the same basic info as yesterday's articles.

Couple drops civil suit in daughter's death...Bets on criminal case

You bet! Definately don't want anything getting in the way of a full on investigation and trial of Kari's murder.

WacoTrib.com - Couple drops civil suit in daughter's death, bets on criminal case
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
By Tommy Witherspoon
Tribune-Herald staff
writer

The parents of a Hewitt teacher who claim their son-in-law, Matt Baker, killed their daughter have dismissed their civil wrongful death lawsuit against him. James and Linda Dulin, parents of Kari Baker, say they will allow the criminal justice system a chance to work now that Matt Baker has been arrested in the April 2006 death of his 31-year-old wife. “After discussing
this with our attorney, Bill Johnston, my husband and I decided that it would be best to dismiss the civil case,” Linda Dulin said. “We don’t want to do anything to interfere with the criminal proceedings.” The Dulins have claimed Matt Baker, a former local Baptist minister, drugged his wife to make her death appear to be suicide by sleeping pill overdose. A police affidavit to support Baker’s Sept. 21 arrest in Kerrville, where he was living with the couple’s two daughters and substitute teaching at Tivy High School, alleges he slipped his wife crushed sleeping pills, then suffocated her after she lost consciousness.

Baker, 36, remains in McLennan County Jail in lieu of $400,000 bond. Johnston, a former federal prosecutor, said the Dulins were never interested in filing the civil lawsuit for monetary damages. “They just wanted to get to the truth of it, and a civil suit was one means to do that,” he said. “We just have to consider that the criminal case is more important than anything we would do civilly, so we wanted to sort of back out and let the criminal case take its natural priority.” While the order dismissing the lawsuit doesn’t prevent the Dulins from re-filing it, Johnston said he doubts that will happen, “assuming the criminal case moves forward.”
Waco attorney James Rainey, who represents Matt Baker with Gerald Villarrial, called dismissal of the civil lawsuit “a step in the right direction.” They have denied that Baker had anything to do with his wife’s death. Rainey said attorneys for Baker will file a motion seeking to reduce Baker’s bond in coming weeks. The Dulins and other family members say they have never believed Kari committed suicide. They convinced Hewitt police to reopen the nvestigation into her death and obtained an order to have their daughter’s body exhumed for autopsy. Much of the information contained in the police affidavit to support Matt Baker’s arrest was uncovered by Johnston’s civil litigation team, including the fact that Baker had a mistress and visited Web sites pertaining to sleeping pills and drug overdoses. Justice of the Peace Billy Martin, who initially ruled Baker’s death a suicide without ordering an autopsy, has since changed his ruling to “undetermined,” the same finding issued by medical examiners after the
autopsy.

First Assistant District Attorney Crawford Long, who received the report in the Baker case from Hewitt police late last week, declined comment on the case Monday."

- and -

KWTX.com -Dead Teacher's Parents Drop Lawsuit Against Son-in-law

(Boy what a crude title, KWTX. Seriously.)

(October 16, 2007)--"The parents of a Waco-area teacher whose death initially was ruled suicide have dismissed their wrongful death lawsuit against her husband. Linda Dulin says she and her husband don't want to do anything to interfere with the murder prosecution of Matt Baker.
The former minister has been charged in the death of his 31-year-old wife, Kari, in their Hewitt home last year. Baker was arrested last month in Kerrville, where he was living with the couple's two daughters and working as a substitute high school teacher. The arrest warrant affidavit alleges he slipped his wife crushed sleeping pills, and then suffocated her after she lost consciousness. His attorney James Rainey, denies that Baker had anything to do with the death. He called the dismissal of the Dulin family's lawsuit "a step in the right direction."

:::BLECH, RAINEY::::

I mean, I know you have to sound like you're protective of your client.......but geesh, we ALL know they didn't drop it because they feel it was erroneous or that they needed to simply pull out. It was simply to keep anything from interfering with the more crucial criminal case. At least, that's JMHO.

Baker's family, friends maintain Baker's innocence in wife's murder

Truly amazing in a bizarre OMG way.

Family, friends maintain Baker's innocence in wife's murder

New "Old" News Report Video

This isn't new, new but I just saw it for the first time. It's from the KENS5 San Antonio news station a couple weeks ago.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO

My Sweet Boy

At the end of most years at SV Elementary, the kids are "secretly" handed a piece of paper to fill out with sweet memories and precious drawings of their teacher and send back sealed up to the room mom for her to put a little booklette together as a class gift to the teacher. Really sweet and I'm sure it's treasured by the teachers.


Well, at the end of 2006 Brody brought home that piece of paper to fill out and send back. Mrs. Cox ended up saving the day and spending that last few weeks with Mrs. Baker's 3rd grade class. She was/is precious. But at the time, it was confusing for Bro to know what to say in an "end of year gift for my teacher" to anyone but Mrs. Baker. Mrs. Cox was their student teacher earlier in the year and had just finished college and ready to take teaching full on. Brody thought and thought. And this is what he did and showed me (for some reason I scanned it before I sent it in):

My first thought was, "Oh, no....." but then I thought, "It's precious. He misses Mrs. Baker but he wants to congratulate Mrs. Cox on her latest wonderful achievement."

Mrs. Cox, if you're reading this......THANK YOU. You helped round up a very trying time for the kids. Brody did well thanks to you and your love for the class. Oh, and for the record....that was a very trying class. I volunteered a few times to watch that class during the year. God bless teachers like you and Kari.

Simple Forensic Science + Computer Records + Lies & Deceit + Suspicious Behavior = DUH!

Apparently Matt wasn't a big CSI fan because the obvious errors committed and lies told and bumbling efforts to cover up his behavior are elementary at best.

Simple Forensic Science -
(Information here quoted directly from the arrest warrant)

"According to ambulance officials, who arrived on the scene at 12:15 a.m. on April 8, 2006, Kari Baker was already deceased and lividity had been set. Your Affiant knows that lividity is a discoloration of the body caused from blood pooling in the lower parts of the body. Police who arrived on the scene found a typed, unsigned note next to the bed along with a bottle of Unisom tablets, an over-the-counter sleep aid.

Your Affiant is aware that Dr. David Stafford of Memphis, Tennessee, has reviewed the evidence in this investigation. Dr. Stafford was the Director of Toxicology for the University Of Tennessee Medical School. Dr. Stafford has determined that if Kari Baker had ingested enough Ambien or Unisom to cause her death, it could not have taken place in the time frame given by The Defendant to police. Dr. Stafford believes it would have taken at least an hour or more longer than the time frame explained. Your Affiant knows that at autopsy, after her body had been exhumed and disinterred, forensic examiners determined that Ambien and Unisom were found in Kari Baker’s muscle tissue.


Your Affiant is also aware that Tom Bevel of Norman, Oklahoma, has reviewed the evidence in this investigation. Mr. Bevel is a well-known expert on homicides and homicide investigation and a published authority on numerous subjects including crime scene investigation. Mr. Bevel claimed that he believed that Kari Baker was not nude at the time of her death as the Defendant described. Mr. Bevel believed that Kari Baker’s panties were put on by her, not someone (else,) after her death. Your Affiant believes that the Defendant may have told the story that Kari Baker was nude to provide a reason for her body to be cold to the touch. Also, Mr. Bevel believed that lividity could not have begun and become set in the time frame given by the Defendant. Mr. Bevel believed that it would have taken much longer for the body to become cold and lividity to set. Your Affiant has seen an abrasion that is evident on Kari Baker’s nose in the crime scene photographs. There is also the appearance of bruising to Kari Baker’s lips. Your Affiant believes that these wounds are consistent with what would happen if a pillow or another similar object were placed over someone’s face to suffocate them. Your Affiant is aware that there were pillows, including what appears to be a course-woven pillow, in the room where Kari Baker’s body was found."

Computer Records -
(Information here quoted directly from the arrest warrant)

"Computer records provided by the Waco Center for Youth reveal that, in early March 2006, the Defendant began to seek internet sites dealing with drug overdose and specifically with prescription drugs. On March 9, 2006, the Defendant did a computer search regarding “overdose by sleeping pill.” Also on March 9,2006, the Defendant did a computer search for the prescription drug Ambien. As Affiant will describe later, it was determined that Kari Baker had Ambien in her system at the time of her death. On March 20, 21 and 23, 2006, the Defendant visited numerous internet sites that which sold prescription medication. On March 26, 2006, at 1:12 p.m., the Defendant visited an internet site known as "prescriptiondrugplanet.” Two (2) minutes later, at 1:14 p.m., a site known as “pharmbilling” was connected to the Defendant’s computer. Your Affiant believes that “pharmbilling” is a service, which handles payment for prescription medication ordered from an internet site. In addition, on March 23,2006, at 1:28 p.m., the Defendant’s computer at the Waco Center for Youth was connected to an internet site registered as “SecureRxCart.” Your Affiant believes that this is another indication of a purchase by the Defendant of prescription medication ordered from an internet site.

At the time of Kari Baker’s death, the Defendant had access to three (3) computers. Of these computers, one (1) was at Crossroads Baptist Church, one (1) was at the Waco Center for Youth and one (1) was at the Baker residence. On or about June 14,2006, an officer of the Hewitt Police Department went to the Waco Center for Youth to speak with the Defendant. In that same time frame, the Crossroads Baptist Church demanded that the Defendant return the church computer that he had been using. According to computer technicians at the Waco Center for Youth, the Defendant covertly switched computers with his secretary (on) June 14, 2006 when he learned that a Hewitt Police officer was coming to The Waco Center for Youth. The Defendant even switched inventory labels on the computers in an effort to disguise the computer switch. On or about June 17, 2006, the Defendant disposed of his home computer. In a civil deposition, the Defendant explained that he disposed of the computer because it was too slow. In that same deposition The Defendant claimed that he threw away his home computer printer because it was “not compat.” On or about June 19, 2006, the computer located at the Defendant’s secretary’s desk, which was actually the Defendant’s computer, went missing. This date was a state holiday when all administrative offices of the Waco Center for Youth were closed. There were, however, a few employees working that day and one (1) of the employees remembers seeing the Defendant go into his office area."


Lies & Deceit -
(Information here quoted directly from the arrest warrant)

"At the time of her death, Kari Baker was a schoolteacher in the Midway Independent School District located in Central Texas. She was married to the Defendant, a local Baptist preacher. Sometime in early 2006, the Defendant apparently became interested in having a relationship with (another) woman . In addition to this job, the Defendant worked as the Chaplain at the Waco Center for Youth. Records show that the Defendant’s cellular telephone contacted the home where the woman lived on dozens of occasions between January and April 2006. According to the woman, the Defendant would call her once or twice a day from his cellular telephone or his work telephone. The woman indicated that she believed that the Defendant was “interested” in her. Investigation by your Affiant revealed that within days after the death of Kari Baker, the Defendant was with a woman who matched this woman’s description and the two of them were in a jewelry store in Richland Mall in Waco, Texas shopping for engagement rings.


On or about Monday, April 3, 2006, Kari Baker found a bottle of crushed pills in the Defendant’s briefcase. When she asked him where the pills came from, he told her that the kids from the Waco Center for Youth must have put them there. The Defendant told Kari Baker that sometimes the children spit out their medicine and that is where the pills came from. Your Affiant has learned that the Waco Center for Youth has a strict pill policy and that the Defendant was not around children when they took medicine nor did he take his briefcase to areas of the Waco Center for Youth other than his office. Further, Affiant has learned that the Defendant possessed the only key that would unlock his office door and that he locked the door each day when he was not in his office. After Kari Baker’s death, the Defendant spoke with members of the Hewitt, Texas, Police Department and told them a different story regarding the pills. The Defendant told the police that the pills his wife saw in his briefcase were Kari Baker’s and that she must have hidden them in his briefcase.


The Defendant told the police that on Friday, April 7, 2006, he and his wife, Kari, went to the YMCA in Waco, Texas late in the afternoon for a swimming lesson for their oldest daughter. The Defendant told police that his wife felt ill at the YMCA. The Defendant told other witnesses that Kari was lethargic and nauseated at the YMCA and had to lie down. Witnesses who saw Kari Baker at the YMCA on April 7, 2006, stated that she did not appear to be ill and that she was acting normally.

Your Affiant is aware that on April 7, 2006, Kari Baker had a job interview for a teaching position at the Midway Middle School. At the time, Kari Baker was a teacher at the Spring Valley Elementary School of the Midway Independent School District. Kari Baker told several individuals that she believed the interview went well and she was positive about the prospect of a new position within the school district. Your affiant believes that, according to friends and relatives, Kari Baker was very positive about the future and not suicidal."


Suspicious Behavior -
Affair - gave Kari's cell phone to girlfriend after Kari died and they logged over 3,000 minutes talking to each other in the first 25 days after Kari was murdered, shopped for engagement rings within days after Kari's death
Computer - looking up "overdose by sleeping pill", buying Ambien off the internet, moving computers around, lying about which was which, switching inventory labels in effort to disguise the computer switch
Behavior - eerily calm call to 911, being able to just fall asleep after they removed Kari's body while her family stayed up all night waiting for the girls to wake up and have to tell them their Momma was gone. Removal of Kari's personal things and photos from the home just after her death. Acting in such manners that Kari told a counselor and her dearest friends that Matt was having an illicit affair, that she found the crushed pills, and that she believed Matt was going to kill her.

Upon hearing that a Texas Ranger was there at the school to arrest Matt, he grabbed his girls and elluded authorities for hours before his attorney talked him into turning himself in.

Past behaviors that show character (or lack thereof) - firings from jobs and allegations of sexual misconduct and assuault

Well, that's enough for one day. My fingers ache from just this dent in the evidence.

Some old emails from the week after Kari was taken from us

I actually resurrected my old desktop to see if I saved some old emails to the hard drive. Amazing grace....it happened. I found some old emails that I sent to a few of my very best friends around the time of Kari's death. You have to remember in the first week or so I was distraught thinking this was a suicide tradgedy. I most certainly have some of the facts wrong as this was so early on and I hadn't had any info that was suredly solid. But I'm leaving it as I wrote it so you can see how things came to me and information that I heard. So remember where I "am" when reading these email snippets. Just letting you know "where I was" and how I have come to "where I am."

Some of the sweetest things my son said about Mrs. Baker are at the end of the final email here. He's such a sweet soul.

MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2006
I'm still in shock. Big time.

Brody's 3rd grade teacher committed suicide this past weekend while we were gone.Got the phone call from the assistant principal Saturday morning but no details. One Mom I got hold of later that day told me there was "talk" about pain killers or sleeping medicine. Today, found out she apparently had written a letter.

My heart is just tearing up inside. It's just too weird. I saw her Friday afternoon at WalMart. And apparently she had organized a big welcome home surprise party for that next day for her grandmother or aunt or someone that just came home from MD Anderson cancer free. She had left school early that day for a job interview with the same district but upper grades and I heard the interview went well.

I'm just completely stunned. I'm just sitting here with that totally "kicked in my gut" feeling. I'm looking for old emails I might have saved from her. It was her first year at our school. She was 31. Her dh is in the ministry. And they have two daughters, 1st and 4th grade there at our school. I didn't know this but she had another daughter that 5 years ago at the age of 2 died with cancer. Apparently, the anniversary of that death is soon and she gets real down every year. But everyone said she was seeming more chipper lately and had no idea she was feeling that amount of pain or whatnot that she was feeling.

I waited until I had picked up the kids in Tyler today and gotten home before I pulled Brody aside and told him. I didn't want to "ruin" his weekend with friends. He's taking it pretty well now. But I think tomorrow when he gets to school, it's going to hit him like a ton of bricks. Obviously he missed today since we didn't get back in town until after 5 today. I'm kinda glad he missed the "first day without Mrs. Baker" for the classroom. I so hope they can keep the cause of death from the kids. So far they are just saying she died in her sleep. Which is accurate for the most part, just not all of it. But then kiddos are concerned about people just dying in their sleep.

Prayers for the Baker family and the kids and the whole school really, please!

TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2006
I told Brody I would come to lunch with him today and bring him a burger. It was my excuse to get up there and see if I could tell how he was feeling and also talk to the office about plans for the class and whatnot.

I decided to go early....about an hour ahead of lunchtime.....to get the talking part out of the way, then run and grab the burgers down the street and get back to lunch with Brody.

I drove up and parked. And then started to bawl. I knew I couldn't do it. I waited about 5 minutes and I was a mess so ran home to wash my face and get ahold of myself. Called Chris and then my Mom for some moral support. Went to the burger place and did lots of praying that I could control my tears and be "cool" in front of Brody. Of course being that I know what happened, I'm much more upset than he could possibly ever be not knowing she did it herself instead of just sick and died in her sleep. I managed to do it. Inside, things seemed so normal. It was comforting to me that the kids were "okay" but I wanted to scream. I want Brody to know he can talk about it but not force him to, ya know? We did some usual smalltalk and then I asked him who his substitute was. He told me. I asked him to describe her. I don't know her. I asked if she was going to be there for a while and he said just one more day. He was a little bit quiet but can be like that sometimes. When it came time for the teachers to come out of their lunch area and wave at the kids and go to their table to have them line up with her to go back to the room and it wasn't Mrs. Baker but a stranger, I think it was one of those small things that "got him." He had taken about 4-5 steps away from me and saw her and then came back to me and hugged me really hard. Didn't say anything. Just a big, big hug.

I am totally anticipating the gossip talkers to spin and spit all over this. I think I will deck someone if they take that route with me. Some people love gossip and drama and will turn on someone in a heartbeat if it gives them something good to chew on and spread around. What is so hard for me is the rate at which I'm hearing about "young" moms doing such horrific things out of depression or pain or stress. My heart breaks that so many people are so stressed out and can't or won't ask for help and then it's too late. Some are mentally ill. Some get swept up in a depression like post-partum depression. There has got to be a little bit of something we can do for others. I know you never hardly really know how bad it is for someone...and then what can you really do if it's that bad in their heads? I don't know. It just eats on me that I need to do something. I just wonder how many people I walk by every single day that are dying inside. And then what could I possibly do to open myself more to them. Sometimes just a smile or an offer of simple help or understanding a stressful moment can get someone through that day. Anyway, I'm just emotional and rambling. I gotta run. Oy. Just want a hot bath and a glass of wine.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2006
It is so weird. She had that promotion job interview that day and it went very, very well. And she was planning a surprise party for her newly-free-of-cancer aunt the very next day. I don't understand the timing of it all. I don't.

As far as the kids are concerned, the school is going with the "she passed away at her residence" and "died in her sleep" as the only official explanations. Then I had to keep my kids from worrying about people just dying in their sleep so I told them that she just must have had some sort of illness or disease that she didn't know about or maybe knew about and just didn't talk about it to others. That gave them some bit of comfort that it was an extraordinary not-every-day occurrence.

The school seems to be handling it the best way they can. They have had the district psychologist there the last two days and he and the campus counselor have each had a time or two with the class yesterday and today and are available for anyone that wants to talk or work through anything. Tomorrow they are going to have each kid in her class pick something from the classroom that they felt was a favorite thing of Mrs. Baker's and they are going to box it up and have it sent to the family. That way they feel as if they are giving some personal aspect of comfort to the family. I think the school is doing well in this.....well, as well as they can.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2006
Once again, it was hard to go up there when it was time to pick up the kids. I went in the office first and talked to someone in there about things a little bit. The lady and I both had tears in our eyes and it's just so fresh and I can't imagine how hard it is for them up there that spent so much time with her.

Waited in the cafeteria where I usually do with the same other Moms as normal. One of them asked, "Wasn't Mrs. Baker Brody's teacher?" I got so damned teary-eyed. Then another Mom who goes to our church just came and sat down beside me and was so precious but it just made me cry again. After a couple minutes, I said, "Okay. I have to stop crying. I don't want Brody to see me crying too much."

Introduced myself to the substitute. Nice lady. Said it was a very quiet day. Brody hardly said a word all day. It really hit him when he had to go through a school day with someone else in her place knowing she was never coming back.

In the car Sabrina started "starting" stuff like she does sometimes, picking and aggravating. So I just stopped the car and looked back at her and said, "Sabrina, I know you don't quite understand. But Brody and I both had very difficult days today without Mrs. Baker. I need you to be kind and not make things harder today. Mommy and Brody are hurting inside. Okay?" That seemed to give Brody an opening to talk about it.

NOTE: My child ADORES all his "technology," as he calls it, and video games and stuff. He just does. Everyone knows it.

"Mom.......you know what? I would give up all my video games to have
Mrs. Baker back. I would give up my video games, all money or gifts I've
ever gotten or ever get in the future. I just really want her back.
I want her back more than anything. I want her back that bad."

"Mom.....you know......if I had to lose Mrs. Baker at the beginning of the
year or at the end of the school year, I'd pick the end. Because even
though it would be sadder, I'd have more time with her."

"She was a funny teacher. So funny. She would hit Cory on the
head with a piece of paper. When Cory would start something funny,
she would finish it. Cory is very sad. He's sad because no one will hit
him on the head with a piece of paper again and no one will finish
what he starts again. He's very sad."

This is hard. And it's hard to lose it just a little bit in front of the kids and have to hold back when I want to just bawl. I'm bawling now. I have to stop this. I hope it gets easier each day.

Outstanding? Wonderful person?

I suppose we should add "con artist" and "actor" to Matt's repetoire. It's truly amazing how someone can be a cold-blooded sociopathic killer one minute, and the next have some people so snowed that they are "heartbroken" at your arrest. Someone hand this man a trophy.

Murder Suspect's Arrest Was Thwarted at School

Tangible memory...

Every year at Spring Valley Elementary, the kids and teachers make a special ornament that has their picture together on it. We have always loved those. We take care of those and hang them every year either on the main tree or on the kids' individual trees. This one has a special place on the main tree.












I'd like to take a better picture of it but well, you see, it's kept off-season literally under lock and key. Bro's at school and I can't recall where he keeps the key.

Yup. It's that special to him.

McLennan County Mug

Doesn't look like someone is sleeping too well.

FLASHBACK: Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Flashback to August a year ago. Notes I left myself.

Last night was Blast Off at our school where the kids see their room and find their desk and meet their new teacher. (and parents fill out 30 minutes of paperwork, yeehaw)

Dh was working a little bit late but planned to meet us there. I got there right at 5:00 to beat the crowds. Met Prissy's new teacher. She's a dream. Made sure (on the sly) that she knew Sabrina was doing first grade a second time and she was like "no prob....I know....Sabrina, come and play......." Perfect.Met Bugman's 4th grade teacher. Loved her. Really. Then Chris showed up. So we went (again) to meet Prissy's teacher.........then Bugman's new teacher. We then went to visit "old" teachers. Went and huggerbugger'd Prissy's teacher from last year. It was so sweet and full of memories.

Brody watched quietly. Then Brody said, "I want to go see Mrs........uhm......Mrs....:::hesitation::: Cox's room, yeah....or Mrs. Cox....ya know...her room?" I know. Mrs. Cox is the sub that came to save the day the last month of school.I thought I would be fine. It was cool. Time had passed. But when I turned the corner in the hall.........saw the first room on the right........I was taken back to last year.

When I met Mrs. B for the first time.Walked into her room and saw this bubbly short-haired blonde teacher with the biggest smile. We chatted and found out that we graduated from the same small private school in this small town. She exuded confidence as she told us about her speech and drama background and that she was a reading specialist and was so looking forward to her first year there at our school. Loved her from minute one. And she loved my boy. I walked to the doorway of 'her' room, and couldn't go in. Just flashback from last year. I could almost see her walking around and then looking up to greet me. I. Almost. Could. I just gripped the doorjam as he went in to see his "teacher" from last year. It was all I could do. Just when you think you've overcome something..........BAMMM! I'm so freaking thankful I don't have to walk down near that "hall" this year.

Remind me to tell you about the time........
We were both worried about Bro's TAKS test stuff. We both knew he could do it....but were worried about his motivation to get through it as he should. Did I mention that she loved my boy? We worked together and worked together getting him ready. Literally. Worked. Together.

One day after the reading TAKS results had just gotten in and letters had been written to the parents but not mailed yet.....she was sooooooo excited to share with me that she knew Bro had not only passed, but passed WELL.......I was in the lunchroom with other parents that went in to pick up their kidlets and make eye contact with their teachers and try to keep up with the pulse of things. I saw Bro's class come out of the hallway. THEN.....I saw Mrs. Baker see me. She had a piece of paper in her hand. We made eye contact and she "lit up." Then............she skipped across the lunchroom to me. She didn't walk. She didn't glide. She didn't stand there with other teachers and just wave to me. She. Skipped. With that giant "Kari Baker" smile. She loved my boy and she loved and taught him so well he rocked that freakin' TAKS test. She was beaming. I was beaming watching her beam over my son. Now....right now...I'm a cross between beaming at the memory, crying that she's not here, and anger.....and now a bit of relief.

I've felt Kari's hand on me since she passed. I don't know exactly why or what I'm to do to help. I'm just doing what I can do for now.

Today's Kerrville Daily Times

Thanks. Finally figured it out.

Kerrville Daily Times Story

Warning: This newspaper story SERIOUSLY lacking details.

Heck, it' a front page, top line story....and this is all you print?

Kari's Mom's Interview with KWTX

Click here to go to KWTX.com and see Mrs. Dulin's interview. I can't imagine her pain. But I so admire her determination and ability to keep at it and find the right people to help her in her investigations to bring the true killer out in the open. It's because of her and her family's efforts and drive working with law enforcement and the Texas Rangers that justice is a comin'.

* Last time I checked this link, the video was having trouble. Hopefully that will be resolved soon. But you can still hear the audio if not.

"The Big Chill"

Kari was killed late Friday, April 7th of 2006. This was the weekend before Easter weekend of that year. She was buried on Monday. I believe the girls were back to school Tuesday or Wednesday. Then it was Easter break.

In the past the teachers always make little treats or whatnot for their students on major holidays. I knew my son's class, still reeling from the shock of their teacher dying and gone forever, wouldn't have Mrs. Baker there to do this for them. I wanted them to have a little something like all the other classes in the school would. A permanent substitute wasn't in place yet and I didn't know if whoever was watching their class would do anything. I was my 1st grade daughters room mom and had made 20 little treats for them and sent them with her that morning. I still had the stuff in my car and enough left over to make 20ish more. So I sat in the parking lot of the school and put them together quickly.

I went into the office and asked the staff if I could get these to Mrs. Baker's class. I was standing at the secretary's desk with my back to the door. Someone walked in behind me and stood to my right while I continued talking to one lady. Another lady behind the desk picked up the phone to call teachers to send the Baker girls to the office, that their Daddy was there to pick them up a little early. I froze. A chill went through my entire body. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I felt nauseous. Seriously at the time, I thought it was just a gush of grief and empathy that a man whose wife (which happened to be my son's teacher) just committed suicide was standing right next to me....most likely completely broken-hearted and in grief and turmoil but having to suck it in while he picked up his girls from school and faced people that worked with and knew and loved his wife. I couldn't speak to him. I didn't know why but I couldn't.

Now, I know what that nauseating, hair raising chill was. Evil. Pure evil was inches from me. And I felt it.

New bond set...

Welcome back to McLennan County. $200,000 bond becomes $400,000 bond. We're a bit more pissed than Kerr County was. It's not NEAR enough. But it's more than it was.

KXXV News Reports:

Bond Set For Former Preacher Charged with Murder
by Priscilla Ortega

WACO - The former preacher accused of murdering his wife and making it look like a suicide has been extradicted to the Mclennan County Jail. His Bond has been set at $400,000.
Matthew Baker was transferred from the Kerr County Jail. Baker is accused of giving his wife Kari a combination of sleeping pills and alcohol before suffocating her with a pillow at their Hewitt home.
Just this August, a closed door inquest hearing was held. Officials changed her death from suicide to undetermined.
Three days later, Matt Baker was arrested. Baker is charged with one count of murder.

WacoTrib.com - Bond Doubles for Former Local Minister Arrested in His Wife's Killing

KXTX TV - Bond Increased for Former Central Texas Minister

Matt's back...

(October 1, 2007)--Former Central Texas minister Matt Baker who surrendered to Kerr County authorities after Texas Rangers went to arrest him on Sept. 21 on a murder warrant in the 2006 death of his 31-year-old wife Kari Lynn Baker, was transferred Monday to the McLennan County Jail.

KWTX TV
KXXV TV
KCEN TV