A McLennan County justice of the peace who ruled a Hewitt teacher’s death a suicide in April 2006 changed that ruling to “undetermined” Tuesday after conducting an inquest.

Judge Bill Martin heard from 11 witnesses at the Aug. 29 inquest before changing his ruling in Kari Lynn Baker’s cause of death. Martin said Tuesday that he will amend Baker’s death certificate to reflect his new ruling.

Martin declined to answer questions after a brief press conference, citing an ongoing criminal investigation and a pending civil lawsuit in 31-year-old Baker’s death.

Baker’s parents, James and Linda Dulin, who have never believed their daughter committed suicide, had arranged to have her body exhumed and an autopsy performed. They also persuaded the Hewitt Police Department to reopen its investigation and Martin to conduct his inquest.

Martin ruled April 8, 2006, after consulting with Hewitt police investigators, that Baker died from an overdose of sleeping pills. He did not order an autopsy until the Dulins requested him to do so three months after her death.

In August 2006, the Dulins filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit against their son-in-law, Matt Baker, alleging he was having an affair, killed his wife and made her death appear to be a suicide.

Matt Baker, former pastor at several Central Texas Baptist churches and former chaplain at the Waco Center for Youth, has since moved with the couple’s two young daughters to Kerrville, where he is a teacher and part-time youth minister.

The autopsy, performed July 13, could not make a determination as to a cause of death. Pathologists found traces of a diet pill, an antihistamine and a sleep aid in Kari Baker’s system. However, because of embalming, accurate blood concentration levels of the drugs could not be determined, according to autopsy reports.

Investigators found a typed “suicide-type note” and a bottle of Unisom pills at the scene, the report states. Experts have said it is unusual for suicide notes to be typed.

Ruling ‘not a surprise’

Waco attorney James Rainey, who represents Matt Baker with Waco attorney Gerald Villarrial, said Tuesday that Martin’s ruling does not rule out suicide or accidental death.

“The finding was not a surprise to us,” Rainey said. “The autopsy made the same finding, and there has never been any evidence to suggest any kind of foul play.”

Rainey said the Dulins are clinging to “an irrational belief” because they can’t let go of their daughter. He said their actions are “hurting their grandkids.”

Linda Dulin countered that “everything we are doing is for our grandkids.”

She said Martin’s amended ruling “confirmed to some degree” what her family has always believed: that her daughter did not take her own life. She said it helps pave the way for law enforcement to complete work on the case.

“But other evidence exists, including opinions from forensic experts, which the judge chose not to hear but which law enforcement is aware of and which convinces us that this is murder,” Linda Dulin said.

Investigation continues

Hewitt police Capt. Tuck Saunders said Tuesday that Martin’s ruling has little bearing on his department’s investigation.

“It is still ongoing. We are going to review all the information we’ve got and see where the facts take us,” Saunders said.

The Dulins’ attorney, Bill Johnston, said he has shared information with Hewitt police investigators that he, his investigators and hired experts have come up with for use in the civil lawsuit.

“We are pleased that the official finding has been changed, and we look forward to the chance to prove it was homicide,” Johnston said.

No trial date has been set for the civil lawsuit, but Johnston said it could begin in several months.

Linda Dulin said their civil lawsuit experts in toxicology, crime scene investigation and other fields “offer strong opinions pointing to murder.”

“We are committed to this case, and we are not going to rest until justice prevails,” she said. “We are going to keep moving forward until the legal system fulfills its obligation.”

Linda Dulin’s sister, Nancy Lanham, and Lanham’s daughter, Lindsey Pick, attended Martin’s press conference and said they were pleased Martin changed his initial ruling.

“The story is going to be told. Y’all are going to hear it,” Lanham said.

“The night we were told Kari killed herself, we knew right then that there was absolutely no way, no way. She loved her family. She loved her children. A week prior to this, we were planning an Easter egg party. She was insisting on coloring Easter eggs. She didn’t do it, and we know it and it is going to come out.”

twitherspoon@wacotrib.com

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