Solved case · 2002
Also known as Tina Baker's murder · Tina Baker's killing
The short answer
Tina Baker, a British woman, disappeared in July 2002 after leaving her partner's home to feed animals at a farm she co-owned with her estranged husband. Her body was never found, but her husband Martin Baker was convicted of her murder in 2006.
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Suggest coverage for Murder of Tina BakerTina Baker was a British woman who disappeared in July 2002. She had separated from her husband, Martin Baker, in May 2002 after rekindling a relationship with an old school friend, and had asked him for a divorce. On the day she disappeared, she left her new partner's home saying she was going to feed the animals at Brookfield farm, near Chobham, which she and Martin co-owned. She was last seen in Sunbury on 8 July 2002. Her pet dog was later found abandoned, and her bank account remained untouched, raising concern about her whereabouts.
The case was initially treated as a missing persons investigation, but police became suspicious of Martin Baker. Sniffer dogs searched the farm for her remains but did not find them. In October 2005, Martin Baker was arrested and charged with his wife's murder.
At trial, Martin Baker's first wife, Gillian Hopkins, testified that he had threatened to kill her and feed her to the pigs prior to their own divorce. Investigators checked pig swill and manure on the farm for Tina Baker's remains, but none were found. Martin Baker denied being at the farm on the day his wife disappeared, but a witness testified to encountering him there that day, describing him as agitated and behaving in a way that made the witness feel unwelcome. Telephone records placed him near the farm that morning and indicated he had contacted a friend who operated a vehicle breaker's yard capable of disposing of cars that same day. It was reported that Martin Baker feared losing the farm, valued at around £100,000 and covering 14 acres, as part of the couple's separation.
Martin Baker was found guilty of Tina Baker's murder at the Old Bailey, despite her body never being recovered. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years.
In August 2020, police conducted further searches, digging at Priest Lane near Bisley with the involvement of the Army and specialist forensic teams. Tina Baker's remains were not found during this search, and as of the available reporting, her body has never been located. The case is listed among murder convictions obtained without a recovered body.
Tina Baker separated from her husband, Martin Baker, and asked him for a divorce.
Tina Baker was last seen in Sunbury before disappearing after saying she was going to feed animals at Brookfield farm.
Martin Baker was arrested and charged with his wife's murder.
Martin Baker was convicted of Tina Baker's murder at the Old Bailey and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years.
Police, with Army and specialist forensic teams, dug at Priest Lane near Bisley searching for Tina Baker's remains; none were found.
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