Local man indicted in death of wife
By Conor Harrison
Times Staff Writer
The Kerrville Daily Times
March 27, 2009
A McLennan County grand jury Wednesday indicted Kerrville resident and former pastor Matt Baker on murder charges in the death of his wife, Kari Baker.
The indictment alleges Baker killed his wife by “administering drugs to her and suffocating her with a pillow.”
Baker moved to Kerrville with his two daughters after his wife’s death in April 2006.
Kari Baker’s parents, James and Linda Dulin, contend that Baker is responsible for killing their daughter in the Bakers’ Hewitt home.
The Dulins filed a wrongful-death civil lawsuit against Baker that is set for trial Sept. 28 in the 19th State District Court. The suit contends Baker slipped his wife sleeping pills, smothered her with a pillow and made it look like suicide.
“I want Matt to pay for murdering my daughter, and I want to rescue my granddaughters,” Linda Dulin told a Waco Tribune reporter.
The original autopsy from McLennan County Justice of the Peace Bill Martin ruled Kari Baker’s death a suicide. However, on the urging of the Dulins, the body was exhumed and re-examined.
Martin later changed the ruling to “undetermined” after the death inquest.
Baker, 37, originally was arrested in Kerrville in September 2007, while working as a substitute teacher for Kerrville Independent School District.
The current case has been assigned to 19th State District Judge Ralph Strother. Baker’s post-indictment bond was set at $500,000.
Baker is represented by Kerrville attorney Richard Ellison, who told the Waco Tribune, “we are shocked and disappointed. I think this is politically motivated. It is all caused by family pressure. He is innocent, and we look forward to our day in court so the truth will come out and put an end to all of this.”
A call to Ellison’s office was not returned.