Part two of the investigation into the murder of Kari Baker. The case against Matt Baker takes a turn after stunning revelation from his former mistress. Baker is charged with murdering his wife and staging a suicide note. Would his secrets catch up with him at trial? “48 Hours" Correspondent Erin Moriarty reports. This classic "48 Hours" episode last aired on 5/25/2013. Watch all-new episodes of “48 Hours” on Saturdays, and stream on demand on Paramount+. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Chapter 1: What shocking events led to the reopening of Kari Baker's case?
In March 2009, Matt Baker was re-arrested and charged with Carrie's murder.
How do you wish to plead? I'm not guilty.
And the state star witness? Vanessa Bowles. I don't think she stole everything.
I don't, I mean, there's still more.
The stakes are so high. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Please be seated. This is what we had been working for, the criminal trial.
Nearly four years after claiming he found his wife dead. Carrie's last day of life was on Friday, April 7, 2006. Matt Baker is now on trial. for murder. You'll hear Matt Baker say his wife has just committed suicide, that he's found a note. But Matt has a variety of stories about what happened that night.
Matt was a dangerous man. He had to be stopped before he hurt someone else.
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Chapter 2: How did Matt Baker's public persona differ from his private life?
Carrie's mother, Linda, is surrounded by her family. To me, he looked smug.
He looked like he's going to get away with this. You'll hear him repeatedly and consistently say, he never had an affair with Vanessa Bowles. You're gonna hear from Vanessa Bowles. You're gonna see her. Assistant District Attorney Susan Schaefer promises the jury that they will meet the other woman. She's gonna tell you how Matt brought her into their marital bed while Carrie was still alive.
Matt has always denied that affair, so no one in the courtroom was quite prepared for what his defense attorney, Guy James Gray, had to say.
Matt Baker was in fact having an affair. I got fooled, got fooled by Matt Baker.
When did you realize that Matt was lying about his involvement with Vanessa Bowles?
Roughly a month before the trial, something like that.
How tough was that guy?
For me, pretty tough. Both of them lied to the families, both of them lied to the cops, and both of them lied to try to cover up this affair.
That doesn't mean Gray says that Mack killed his wife. Instead, Gray goes on the attack and tells the jury that Carrie was in a precarious emotional state.
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Chapter 3: Why did investigators suspect Matt Baker in his wife's death?
The state will call Linda Doolin.
You solemnly swear the testimony you've given this matter will be... Three days into the trial, Carrie's mom, Linda Doolin, finally comes face to face with the man she has convinced killed her daughter. I am... I'm sorry.
Mother of Carrie.
Do you need to take a minute?
No, I'm OK. I apologize. I had this inner dialogue with myself, telling myself to get it together.
Linda testifies that after her daughter died, Carrie's grief counselor told her that Carrie had found crushed pills in Matt's briefcase. Carrie feared he was going to harm her. Linda later confronted Matt.
He told me that clearly some youth had found his briefcase and spit the pills in there so that they wouldn't have to take them, and that he reported this to security.
Security at the youth center where Matt worked.
Were you able to make any determination that it was reported?
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Chapter 4: Who was Vanessa Bowles and what role did she play in the case?
She was a mistress of a preacher.
Now, you're not saying that at that time you were pure as the driven snow, right? Oh, no.
That's not good anywhere around here. That's really not good.
Four days into Matt Baker's trial, the moment everyone has been waiting for.
For the first time, we were going to hear exactly what happened.
On the stand, the prosecution's star witness, the self-confident, almost smug, 27-year-old teacher, Vanessa Bowles. Were you worried the jury might really dislike her? Oh, yeah.
We were very aware of that problem going in.
Assistant DA Susan Schaefer has another problem with the witness.
There was a lot available for attack by the defense. Did you tell the truth about the affair?
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Chapter 6: How did Matt Baker's trial unfold?
I remember just falling to my knees, and I was crying, and I was overwhelmed.
In March 2009, Matt Baker was re-arrested and charged with Carrie's murder.
How do you wish to plead? I'm not guilty.
And the state star witness? Vanessa Bowles. I don't think she stole everything.
I don't, I mean, there's still more.
The stakes are so high. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Please be seated. This is what we had been working for, the criminal trial.
Nearly four years after claiming he found his wife dead. Carrie's last day of life was on Friday, April 7, 2006. Matt Baker is now on trial. for murder. You'll hear Matt Baker say his wife has just committed suicide, that he's found a note. But Matt has a variety of stories about what happened that night.
Matt was a dangerous man. He had to be stopped before he hurt someone else.
Carrie's mother, Linda, is surrounded by her family. To me, he looked smug.
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