Matt Baker was a widely respected Baptist minister in Waco, TX. Waco, home of Baylor University, is for Southern Baptists a sort of center of faith. In 2006, his wife Kari Baker died. It was ruled a suicide and there was no autopsy. He claimed she was depressed over the death of their daughter and wanted to be with her.
Her parents did not believe she killed herself and hired a detective who found a motive for murder. Her body was exhumed and her death was ruled a murder by asphyxiation. It was discovered that Baker was a serial predator with a series of accusations of molesting underage women, sexual assault, and attempted rape. He also was in love a young parishioner.
- Texas Monthly: The Valley of the Shadow of Death
- Texas District and County Attorneys Associaton: The murdering minister
- NBC News: Murdering Minister sentenced to 65 years
- CBS News: Dirty Little Secrets revealed in preacher Matt Baker’s murder trial
06 Jul 2011
22 Jan 2010