FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Melanie Snow Waxler, Chief Communications Officer, Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office – 813-557-3366 –[email protected]
State Attorney Susan S. Lopez Seeking Death Penalty in Brutal Murder Case
Tampa, FL (August 8, 2022) – The State of Florida will seek the death penalty in the First-Degree Murder case of Defendant Mathew Terry.
Susan S. Lopez, State Attorney, for the 13th Judicial Circuit in and for Hillsborough County, filed notice that her office will seek the death penalty for Defendant Mathew Terry because of his despicable murder of 43-year-old Kay Baker in May of this year. Ms. Baker was in a relationship with Defendant Terry when, on the night of the murder, they had an argument. She was found stabbed to death, as she tried to flee from her killer. The defendant was previously convicted in Michigan of assault with intent to cause great bodily harm to a prior girlfriend when he stabbed her multiple times. He was released from prison, and he moved to Florida. Only 5 months later he took Kay Baker’s life. Kay Baker was an elementary school math teacher in Hillsborough County.
State Attorney Lopez explained: “Every capital murder case must be evaluated on its own facts to determine if a reasonable jury made up of Hillsborough County citizens could unanimously sentence a defendant to death. It is the most serious penalty available under Florida law, and I approach this responsibility with humility and a sense of duty to the rule of law. Defendant Mathew Terry’s actions were especially heinous, cruel, and atrocious. He was merciless in his brutal killing of Ms. Baker, and given his history of violent behavior, we will ask a jury to sentence him to death.”