Editorial in today's Waco Tribune Herald

This is an EXCELLENT editorial that can be found at WacoTrib.com.

EDITORIAL: After Matt Baker case, law should require deaths undergo autopsy before ruled suicide

"But what if the Dulins hadn’t been so driven in their efforts to reopen the case? What if the death of Kari Baker — drugged, then suffocated to death by her husband — had been allowed to fall through the cracks, with little in the way of an inquest or meaningful investigation? How many cases, we now wonder, are missed because they lack determined advocates such as the Dulins?"

"Tom and Jan Purdy, of Waco, friends of the Dulins and privy to their uphill battle to reopen the investigation, are now pushing what they and others call “Kari’s Law,” which would require autopsies in such cases rather than leave the decision to authorities who are possibly overburdened with yet other duties (including issuing warrants, conducting marriages or setting bail) or are simply ill-equipped to make these critical decisions themselves."

"The idea certainly rates thoughtful consideration by lawmakers, especially considering that justices of the peace are elected positions, occupied by individuals who range widely in terms of competence, wisdom and knowledge. Many are excellent, some are not. And many do have other taxing duties." (read more)

Please click on the link and read the editorial. It's hard to pick just a couple quotes from such a richly written article.

WacoTrib.com Editorials for Sunday, January 24

I'm so behind I don't even know where to start. But I wanted to post links to this powerful Editorial, Letter to the Editor and Guest Column all in today's WacoTrib.com.

EDITORIAL: Matt Baker trial yielded many lessons, including the power of tenacity

"The Matt Baker trial is over and the 38-year-old former Central Texas pastor begins a 65-year sentence for the murder of his wife, Kari, whose mysterious death in Hewitt in 2006 spurred a virtual crusade in our community mounted by her family and friends. Evidence of it could be seen in the courthouse parking lot this past week: bumper stickers that read 'Justice for Kari.'” (read more)

Murder Investigations

"Kari Baker’s death was a true tragedy. But hopefully this sad saga will bring public attention to the biases and prejudices that underline our legal system.

Emotions run high when someone is killed, and the deceased is not there to tell his or her story. So it is the sacred duty of law enforcement officials to protect the rights of the dead." (read more)

Diana Garland, guest column: Don't call it an affair. Call it abuse of power

"We cannot and should not dismiss the chain of events that followed and led, almost incomprehensibly, to the murder of a young mother whose parents and daughters now have an irreplaceable void in their lives. But if we focus on how this extramarital relationship began, we see a textbook example of clergy sexual misconduct, a felony offense in Texas according to the state penal code (Chapter 22: Assaultive Offensives). Matt Baker’s crime of sexual misconduct as a religious leader — long before he plotted to add murder —was not only immoral but criminal." (read more)