American Monsters: Matt Baker

In the wake of Kari Baker's funeral, the community turned its gaze toward Matt, her husband. A minister of just 35 years, Matt sat on the front row at the service, his demeanor a tableau of inconsolable sorrow. When he lifted his head from his hands, his eyes, a light blue hue that was almost startling, met the congregation's gaze.After the eulogy, Matt found the strength to stand beside the pulpit, his two remaining daughters flanking him. With each hug and expression of condolences he received, he assured the congregation that he'd be back to preach on the most hopeful day in the Christian calendar—Easter Sunday. "God has not abandoned me," he whispered to one close friend, "He will give me the strength to carry on."But something unsettling began to shift about a month later. Rumors surfaced that Kari's mother, Linda Dulin, backed by her sisters and niece, was conducting her own investigation into Kari's death. The whispers intensified when word got out that Linda and her husband, Jim, had engaged a lawyer and private investigators. This was puzzling to many; after all, the Hewitt police had been convinced enough of Kari's suicide that they hadn't even requested an autopsy...CALL 888-MURDERY that's, 888-687-3379, to share YOUR Kinda Murdery story or your story of living with a disability or other challenges, and you could inspire an episode of the show!Sources:https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna34983893https://wacotrib.com/news/local/crime-courts/judge-denies-matt-bakers-request-for-new-trial/article_11218a26-8d83-504d-ad7f-c27aaf7a2a26.html#:~:text=Matt%20Baker%20walks%20out%20of,a%20new%20trial%20was%20denied.&text=Former%20Central%20Texas%20Baptist%20minister,Strother's%2019th%20State%20District%20Courthttps://www.texasmonthly.com/true-crime/the-valley-of-the-shadow-of-death/ https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/witness-for-theprosecution/#:~:text=Skip%20Hollandsworth%20specializes%20in%20long%2Dform%20narratives.&text=Editor's%20note%3A%20On%20January%2020,suspected%20of%20murdering%20his%20wife.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/kinda-murdery-true-crime-murder-stories--5496890/support.Zevon Odelberg is a true crime podcast host and disability advocate.  Zevon has cerebral palsy and he wants Kinda Murdery to be welcoming community for people with disabilities and for people living with challenges of any kind.  Life can be hard, but being together makes it better.