Friday, March 27, 2009
By Tommy Witherspoon
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Former Central Texas Baptist minister Matt Baker, who was indicted on murder charges Wednesday in the April 2006 death of his wife, surrendered to Kerr County officials at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Baker’s bond was set at $500,000, and officials said he was expected to remain in custody at least until his attorney can ask 19th State District Judge Ralph Strother in Waco to reduce his bond at a hearing Wednesday morning.
- 09-04-09 Murder trial for former Baptist minister Matt Baker pushed back to January
- 08-29-09 Picking Central Texas jurors for trials of pastors can be 2-edged sword
- 05-20-09 Prosecutors subpoena Matt Baker's school records, preparing for murder trial
- 05-15-09 Former Waco-area pastor changes attorney defending him in his wife's death
- 04-25-09 Judge orders Matt Baker to submit DNA; rejects request for grand jury records
- 04-22-09 Attorney for former Waco-area pastor opposes motion to get DNA from his client in murder trial
- 04-17-09 Expert witnesses in Matt Baker case could be costly to taxpayers
- 04-16-09 Prosecutors ask judge to order Matt Baker to submit DNA sample
- 04-15-09 Former Waco-area pastor trying to get access to grand jury testimony in preparation for his murder trial
- 04-11-09 Former Baptist minister Baker out of jail on $250,000 bond
- 04-10-09 Judge approves $250,000 surety bond in Matt Baker murder case
- 04-08-09 Former Waco-area preacher asks court to appoint defense experts in his murder trial in his wife's death
- 04-07-09 Attorney for indicted former Waco-area pastor wants prosecutors sanctioned for behavior
- 03-28-09 Former minister Baker who was indicted for murder transferred to Waco
- 03-27-09 Former Waco-area Baptist minister surrenders to police on murder charge in wife's death
- 03-26-09 Former Waco-area pastor indicted on murder charge in wife's death
- 12-19-08 Wrongful death lawsuit against former Central Texas minister Baker pushed back
- 12-13-08 Former Central Texas minister Matt Baker seeks dismissal of wrongful death suit because of lack of evidence
- 07-26-08 Former minister Baker's attorney seeks delay in start of civil suit trial
- 05-10-08 Matt Baker soliciting funds for civil suit battle over wife's death
- 03-26-08 DA: Evidence lacking so far in Matt Baker murder case
- 03-21-08 Ex-minister wants bond back in arrest on murder charges in wife's death
- 03-21-08 Lawsuit refiled against former Central Texas pastor in his wife's death
- 12-08-07 Matt Baker says rumor, innuendo fuel murder charge against him
- 12-08-07 Arrest warrant affidavit for Matt Baker
- 12-08-07 Death, depression and drugs: Q&A with Matt Baker
- 10-26-07 Former minister Baker out after 3 weeks in jail
- 10-24-07 Former minister Baker's release expected soon
- 10-23-07 Bond reduced for man accused of killing schoolteacher wife in 2006
- 10-19-07 Matt Baker gets high-profile legal help battling murder charge
- 10-16-07 Couple drops civil suit in daughter's death, bets on criminal case
- 10-03-07 Bond doubles for former local minister arrested in his wife's killing
- 10-02-07 Former Baptist minister arrested in his wife's death moved to McLennan County Jail
- 09-25-07 Former pastor Matt Baker still in jail on $200,000 bond
- 09-22-07 Former local pastor arrested in wife's 2006 death
- 09-21-07 Read the complete arrest warrant for Matt Baker
- 09-19-07 Cause of Hewitt teacher's death ruled 'undetermined'
- 08-30-07 Suicide or homicide? Rare inquest held into Hewitt teacher's death
- 08-22-07 Judge sets inquest into Hewitt teacher's 2006 death
- 03-09-07 Couple who sued in their daughter's death get more visits with their grandchildren
- 01-11-07 Judge divides up records in wrongful death suit
- 01-09-07 Judge considers request to quash subpoenas for records in wrongful death lawsuit
- 09-09-06 Autopsy on Hewitt teacher inconclusive
- 08-20-06 Teacher's body exhumed as Hewitt police reopen death investigation
- Waco Crime Beat: Indictments, trials, blotter, news, jail mugs & more
In other developments Thursday, Strother issued a verbal gag order in the Baker case, instructing attorneys on both sides not to speak to the media. Strother plans to issue a more formal, written order next week.
“I don’t want this case tried in public,” Strother said. “It is going to be tried in the courtroom.”
Baker, 37, moved to Kerrville with his two daughters after the death of his 31-year-old wife, Kari, a teacher, at their home in Hewitt. Her death initially was ruled suicide by sleeping pill overdose.
However, her parents, who do not believe she committed suicide, had her body exhumed for an autopsy and pushed Hewitt police to reopen the investigation.
The indictment against Baker alleges he administered drugs to his wife and then suffocated her with a pillow.
Baker has said his wife committed suicide because she was depressed over the death of their daughter. He has denied that he killed his wife.
His attorney, Richard Ellison, declined comment Thursday, citing Strother’s gag order.
A Kerr County sheriff’s office spokesman said McLennan County officials will return Baker to McLennan County before next week’s hearing unless Baker is able to post bail before then.
twitherspoon@wacotrib.com
757-5737
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