Monday, April 16, 2012

Plea Bargaining Lives in the Name of Justice-Catawba County, N.C

You can't imagine the heartbreak a family endures when their loved one suddenly vanishes without a trace.

For the Baker family of Conover, North Carolina, on April 16, 2007, the foundation of their lives would be damaged beyond repair when their son Travis Lee Baker, 19, vanished in the blink of an eye.

Through the years father and son could be found hunting, fishing or traveling together into town for one thing or another.   So it was understandable when Travis goes missing his buddy, friend and father would comb the county from morning till night searching for his son. All the father wanted was to have him found.  He joined and listed his son on every organization site for missing persons.  He'd registered Travis with the CUE Center for Missing Persons, a national search organization for families headquartered in Wilmington, N.C.  His cell phone was set on speed dial with the Sheriff's office, calling for updates on any new possible leads.

On June 24, 2009, in a shallow grave, underneath a stacked pile of wood, the skeletal remains of Travis Lee Baker were found. He'd been murdered by John Mitchell, Jr. who confessed to the crime.

Just days before Mitchell was to stand trial for the murder of Travis Lee Baker, the district attorney in Catawba County, North Carolina cut a deal with the cold blooded killer.  Mitchell plead guilty to second degree murder and robbery.  Instead of a life sentence for taking a human, he will only spend a dozen years, give or take, for the murder of Travis.

Travis Lee Baker wasn't given the opportunity to plead for his life, then why should the killer be given that opportunity?

Dwayne Baker is asking the residents of Catawba, Burke and Caldwell County at election time to come together and be a unified voice for justice.  When the district attorney James C. Gaither, Jr. comes up for re-election use your voice and don't cast your vote for a district attorney's office that treats victims families like criminals, arresting them when they are wanting answers while the murderer is allowed to make a deal for freedom at some point in the future.

Yes, deals for stone cold killers are made all the time in an effort to save tax payer dollars.  But I surmise that if the pubic started holding those in office accountable for true justice and representation of the people, the tune would change.  The public must be more informed to change the status quo for those allowed to make deals on the graves of others!




Susan Murphy Milano is a staff member of the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education as a educator and specialist with intimate partner violence prevention strategies directing prevention for high risk situations and cases.

 A national trainer to law enforcement, training officers, prosecutors, judges, legislators, social service providers, healthcare professionals, victim advocates and the faith based community and author.. In partnership with Management Resources Ltd. of New York addressing prevention and solutions within the community to the workplace. Host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show,"Time'sUp!" . She is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated "The Roth Show" with Dr Laurie Roth and a co-host onCrime Wire. Online contributions: Forbes : Crime, She Writes providing commentary about the hottest topics on crime, justice, and law from a woman’s perspective, as well as Time's Up! a blog which searches for solutions (SOS) for victims of crime Susan is also the daughter of a Chicago Violent Crimes detective who murdered her mother before committing suicide. 

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

this is so true he should never see the light of day ever again.he needs to be done just like he done travis but tortured for days before hand....how someone so cold could take the life of this innoncent man should never have the chance to breath again.i feel so sorry for the baker family to have to hear this kinda news that the sick bastard that killed there child gets out in 12 years for murder....our court system really sux....

Anonymous said...

i just read this and it makes me sick to think that one person, that being James Gaither, D.A. , has enough power to let a cold blooded killer walk away after just a hand full of years...... where has our country gone, that one person can not be fully punished for committing murder, when he fully admitted doing it.... some people have way 2 much power for there own good....

Unknown said...

Deals for stone cold killers ARE made all the time, ESPECIALLY in Catawba County, N.C. There, they can also murder and dismember disabled children and get an ever better deal--example, poor Zahra Baker. Elisa Baker got a deal and complacent "I didn't-see-anything for-10-days Adam Baker" Great post I hope Catawba County, N.C is listening!!

Ashley said...

Well I personally think it is completely rediculous the way the “justice” system is around here every time I drive by the courthouse I feel disgusted I mean maybe we should let murderers live with the d.a. Like on house arrest inside their home with their family or something because they sure don't have a problem with letting them back out into public around our families... Just saying

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