| For Immediate Release Case# 14HF2375
September 4, 2014 |
MAN CHARGED WITH MURDERING 82-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER AND SOLICITING MURDER OF WITNESS IN THE CASE
SANTA ANA – A man has been arrested and charged with murdering his grandmother and soliciting the murder of a witness. Michael Wesley Baker, 32, is charged with one felony count of murder and three felony counts of solicitation to commit murder. He faces sentencing enhancements for 2012 prior convictions for possession of methamphetamine, domestic violence, and a strike for terrorist threats. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 59 years to life in state prison. Baker is being held on $1 million bail. His arraignment date is to be determined.
At approximately 9:00 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2009, Baker is accused of going to the Laguna Niguel home of his 82-year-old grandmother, Sara Mowrey, and murdering the victim.
The following morning, Baker is accused of attempting to dispose of the victim’s body by dumping her in an apartment complex dumpster. A witness/acquaintance of Baker, John Doe, confronted the defendant but did not report the incident to police.
Family members of the victim reported the victim missing. Mowrey’s body was never located.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) began investigating this case. The investigation has been ongoing.
In 2013, while in custody on an unrelated criminal case, Baker is accused of soliciting several people, including undercover OCSD deputies, to murder witness John Doe.
Baker was arrested today, Sept. 4, 2014, in Santa Clara County by OCSD.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Mike Murray of the Orange County District Attorney’s Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.