Morton suspect linked to Austin killing

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin police said late Wednesday that the man arrested in the 1986 murder of Christine Morton of Williamson County is also a suspect in the killing of an Austin woman a year and half later.

The two cases contain remarkable similarities.

Debra Jan Baker, 34 at the time, was found dead in her bed on Jan. 13. 1988 with several wounds from blunt-force trauma. It also appeared that someone had forced entry into Baker's home and was possibly motived by a desire to commit sexual assault.

• Morton suspect's criminal history

Mark Alan Norwood, 57, who was taken into custody without incident at his Bastrop home on Wednesday, lived near Baker at the time.

Norwood also lived not too far from the Morton home at the time Christine was killed on Aug. 13, 1986.

Christine Morton was also beaten to death in her bed.

Her husband, Michael Morton, was convicted of her murder and spent nearly 25 years behind bars.

He was freed from prison just five weeks ago after it was determined that DNA from another man was found near the Morton home after the killing. Christine Morton's blood and hair was also on the bandana.

The Williamson County Sheriff's Office Wednesday said the DNA belonged to Norton.

Later in the Day Austin police formally linked the to cases.

"Norwood is a suspect in the 1988 Travis County murder of Debra Baker," the department said. "The Austin Police Department is committed to a thorough investigation of Debra Baker’s murder.  The investigation is on-going and progressing under the guidance of the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. "

Baker's daughter, meanwhile. expressed relief that a suspect was in custody.

“We were told of the arrest in the Morton case earlier this morning," said Caitlin Baker. "We're very, very happy and unbelievably thankful."

On the peaceful Crestview street where Baker was violently attacked and murdered in 1988, there are a few neighbors, like Noel Farrer, who remember that night.

"You never know what's going to happen in your neighborhood, things can seem very nice and peaceful ,you never know just something like this," said Farrer.

Although 23 years can cause the memory to fade, Leroy Idz, doesn't forget the last time he saw the sweet, single mom next door - alive.

"She was out there in her flower bed working in her flowers that afternoon and well, I came home from work I just stopped and talked to her and I guess that was the last time I talked to her," said Idz.

"Baker lived in a home on Dwyce Drive at the time of her murder.  Norwood lived just one mile away on Justin Lane.  The close proximity between the two houses is one link investigators have been taking a very close look at.

"After this long a time, I didn't think they'd probably find out who did it after this many years," said Farrer.

As Baker's family continues to wait for answers, so do her neighbors.

And although time has passed--the desire to see justice has not.

"It's great not to let somebody who did something like that be out and still be out loose, having done something like that," said Farrer.
 
Austin Police said they will release more information when it does not interfere with their investigation.