Past investigator remembers Baker case

LLANO, Texas (KXAN) - After 23 years of waiting, investigators in of the Debra Jane Baker murder case my have finally received the break they needed.

“I’m excited for the family, excited for investigators who worked on the case,” said Chief Deputy John Neff with Llano County Sheriff’s Office. “A lot of work was put into it.”

Neff worked with Austin Police Department from 1977 to 2006 and was the supervisor for the cold case unit from 1999 to 2006. Even though he has moved on from the department, the Baker case is one of a handful of cases he still thinks about from time to time.

“This was an innocent victim. Those are the ones that stick with you and the ones you think about,” said Neff.

Current investigators say Mark Norwood, the man arrested in Christine Morton’s murder, is now a suspect in Baker’s murder after a DNA match connected him to the scene.

It was the break for which Neff and others had been waiting.

“In this case I felt that the break would come. When? I did not know," he said.

Neff said he had not heard of Norwood’s name before and although the DNA provided a lead, good police work is still vital to any case. Now 23 years of police work and hours of speaking to anxious family members could be validated thanks to the new evidence.

“I am really, really happy they are able to get info on this case at this time," he said.