Cain was the last of the three to arrive, and he got there at least 10 minutes before Deputy Danny Livermore entered Phillips' blood-spattered bedroom to find the body of the pretty, 35-year-old Alabam woman lying against a wall. Allred, who replaced Cain as deputy prosecuting attorney, said he was unaware of drug allegations in the Criss case until after she resigned. "But he ain't eating corn on the cob.". Bill Baker had traveled with the Weaver Brothers, making a national name for himself on the steel guitar. Sergeant Ralph Baker had served as Sheriff of Madison County, Arkansas, from 1973 until his tragic death on January 5, 1998. Forest Service documents on the sale indicate the agency estimated the values of the swapped land to be equal. Chief John Roelandts (retired) Hog member We'd put them on our tags, and we'd just hope we wouldn't get stopped.". But a check of probate records in Madison County shows no evidence of an inheritance by either. Baker and Sharp adamantly denied the beating, and Baker told jurors he was unaware that Bingham was retarded. The back of his head and his ribs were tender. He asked how come [his brother] couldn't go into town to vote, and the man responded, `Well, I tell you, friend, he were loud and drunker than hell. Biography ID: 38791252 . The instant suspect was Howard "Rusty" Cain Jr., the county's lead prosecutor, who had a longtime, on-again, off-again affair with Phillips. Cornett said Baker is a distant cousin who leases land from the Cornett family. Sheriff Ralph Francis Baker Madison County Sheriff's Office, Arkansas End of Watch Monday, January 5, 1998 Leave a Reflection Reflections for Sheriff Ralph Francis Baker May your rest in perpetual PEACE. In 1992, Baker and his cousins swapped 320 acres for 284 acres of U.S. Forest Service land. A 1958 envelope that once held the details of two felonies still sits in the vault of the old courthouse in neighboring Washington County. ", "He does pretty good for himself for an old country boy," said Berrian Brashears of Clinton, who sold Ralph Baker, Kenneth Baker and another cousin, Bob Baker, a tract of old family land for $7,000 in 1986. As prosecutors and investigators sorted through clues obscured by mistakes at the crime scene and the state forensics laboratory, a changing cast of law enforcement officials sardonically wondered who hadn't slept with Billie Phillips -- and who in this rural county lacked a motive to kill her. Speaking through a local drug user, she said Baker told her not to talk to the Democrat-Gazette a few days after reporters first questioned him about the investigation. Baker dismissed that concern during a three-hour interview in June. Bill Baker's legacy to his only son was 6.23 acres of mountains and trees near the north end of the canopied highway that University of Arkansas fans know as the Pig Trail. And Everett and Knox said problems with Baker reached the breaking point when they developed fresh leads involving drugs. Copyright 1999 - All Rights Reserved Noreta Mae Burrell's family was from Benton County. respects to Sheriff Baker, who was remembered as someone who never backed Marshal: Vacant Courthouse: Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Federal Building and United States Courthouse Address: 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room C-109 PO Box 50184. But, in pretrial testimony, club owner Jeannie Ward cited three separate incidents involving Baker that night. "All I do all day is sit around this house and wait for them to come," he says. Minor, who said he is speaking now because Craig, 44, is dying of cancer and living away from Madison County, said he asked Baker to make a deal. They have paid out about $484,250, including one $200,000 purchase. It tracked the deaths of other Madison County people who died under mysterious circumstances. A young Huntsville man whose criminal record includes multiple convictions for stealing shares Harp's perception of how things work. The newspaper reviewed dozens of court cases and other records, including documents detailing a past crime, a beating and more than 40 land transactions involving Baker. Some of the county's income always has come from illegal substances. Marshals Service in Fayetteville, also declined to talk about the case. In this world of drugs and crime. The ensuing court fight reached the Arkansas Supreme Court twice before Republicans accepted the ruling of Circuit Judge W.H. Morgan has. "I think real estate's a good investment. Four months after the Bakers bought the tract from Brashears, they sold it to James and Margaret Cornett of Little Rock for $15,000. From the first marijuana seed he planted, to the Devil's bargain Mac struck with Sheriff Baker, this book explores their harrowing journey on the twisted outlaw trail. 1914/10/19. A bachelor party for a federal drug agent led to another allegation of brutality. Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt. But the dealer who claimed to have traded drugs for bogus documents says the case typifies the way business is done in Booger County: "It's a very crooked county, yeah. Now because of Sheriff Baker's untimely death, many residents To respond to calls unknown. Minor said Baker took the cash without question but that the two never discussed its purpose. Madison County records show the money was paid to the county's Drug Eradication Fund, $7,500 credited to Craig, $2,500 to his wife. It all boils down to the fact that they did not want any outsider owning land on that farm. a part of Madison County's history. MADISON, RALPH L. On Friday, March 18, 2005, of Bethesda, MD. He said the most memorable testimony came from a man who said that Bolinger, who still serves as county treasurer, personally delivered forms to voters allowing Bolinger to take their ballots back the courthouse. And briefly he thought of his loved ones The report of an "unattended death" went out from the Madison County sheriff's office dispatcher at 11:58 a.m. Forty miles away, Sheriff Baker was celebrating the opening day of squirrel season when he heard the police call. All rights reserved. The second acquisition the newspaper found came in 1974, when Baker's father, Bill Baker, deeded 6.23 acres to his son. : Neither has Minor. During interviews, Baker said he aggressively investigates allegations of drug dealing and denied that his county has a methamphetamine problem. Baker, 59, who shares Arkansas' longest tenure with Monroe County Sheriff Larry Morris, sometimes carries in his personal vehicle drugs seized as evidence. It's a story about drugs and arson, murder and suicide, friendship and betrayal. RIP, sir. Baker would be shouldered out of the investigation, then have it handed back to him. Those dreams became reality for David Mac after the young man from Michigan settled in Madison County, Arkansas. Rest in Peace, Sheriff Baker. Unable to add item to List. She says the paraphernalia charge was incidental. She said Wheeler hadn't wanted to sell to Baker. : Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2017. Martin said the land remains unimproved, "just woods.". You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reviewed mortgage, deed and property tax records in Madison, Carroll, Franklin, Sebastian and Washington counties. "The lawyer asked about his brother and whether he signed one too. What emerges is a tale of methamphetamine and murder in a place known to its residents as "Booger County.". Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2016. site may be freely linked to but not copied in any fashion without written "Some of the two- and three-way deals, you might make a couple of thousand dollars each off of it," he said. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. A Harley enthusiast given to wearing biker gear, Baker wore tan pants, a black shirt and gold chains to the federal courthouse. Please try again. Less than a year later, in February 1994, the Ham trust sold a half-interest to the R&N Baker Trust, again for $4,000. Baker, who earns $31,000 a year as Madison County's sheriff and tax collector, declines to talk about his land deals. Three years later, authorities have not identified Phillips' killer. He seldom ever gets a thanks, Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2015. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. "He said, 'F.M., he's in serious trouble, and they're going to try him as an habitual. ", DRUG PROSECUTIONS, COURTHOUSE DOINGS AND THE MADISON COUNTY RUMOR MILL. Well, he walks up to the driver's window, The one whos blood runs blue. Crawford said the tract contains some bottom land that had been farmed, but that it is mostly mountain, suitable only for hunting. Clients receive knowledgeable guidance from experienced, multi-disciplined industry and client service teams, all seamlessly connected across 22 offices in Alabama, Florida . : In Huntsville's drug community, sex is just another form of currency. But Enfield rejected claims by Republican attorney Erwin L. Davis that Baker and first-term Treasurer Bolinger had gotten votes from Oklahomans and the dead. Nevertheless, F.M. But Harp said she then ran afoul of the sheriff when she stole $80,000 from a home in the community of Hilltop. Ralph Francis Baker Sheriff Ralph Baker drowned after his cruiser was washed into a flooded river while he was searching for a stolen vehicle. Along the way, the unlikely duo of lawman and outlaw discovered that greed ruins even the best-laid plans, and the Devil always gets His due. Photo/Video will be published upon admin review and approval. Gregory has been convicted of attempting to manufacture methampetamine, Head of possession of drug paraphernalia. About 8 percent have graduated from college. | Minor, said he later negotiated through a Fayetteville attorney to pay another $10,000 to the Madison County Drug Eradication Fund to ensure that his son, Marshall Craig Minor, would not be sent to jail as a habitual felon. "He said, 'Well, I really like your attorney. | The drug dealer says the map doesn't surprise him. ", USERS AND THE LAW: DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THE DRUG TRADE. Revenue Commissioner Tim Leathers said Criss submitted a "routine resignation" while she was under investigation by Baker for issuing phony driver's licenses and license plate stickers. All I have is hearsay," said Joy Russell, the county's leading historian. "Ralph's dad was kind of like my dad," he said. What do you remember about Sheriff Baker? Madison County's law enforcement department had been developed into one The man "had a brother out of his mind or a total drunk all the time," Enfield said. After the cruiser was washed into the creek it flipped over trapping him inside. You didn't want to be on his bad side !!!! Ralph Baker had served as Sheriff of Madison County, Arkansas, from 1973 until his tragic death on January 5, 1998. : Rose, who represented Johnson, told the court he was "personally disappointed" with Johnson's decision. Ralph Baker Dead 1/8/98 That underneath his badge and gun, From the first marijuana seed he planted, to the Devil's bargain Mac struck with Sheriff Baker, this book explores their harrowing journey on the twisted outlaw trail. 1973 - 1998. Thank you for your service to the citizens of Madison County and your fellowman. He has won each contested race by a 2-1 margin or better. County. `` of currency an inheritance by either his ribs were tender,! One too he aggressively investigates allegations of drug paraphernalia federal courthouse that Baker and Sharp denied... Rejected claims by Republican attorney Erwin L. Davis that Baker and Sharp adamantly denied the beating, and they going. Died under mysterious circumstances 1974, when Baker 's untimely death, many residents to respond to unknown... The citizens of Madison County people who died under mysterious circumstances have it handed to... 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