Shivangi Sinha
In April 2006, Kari Baker was found unresponsive in her home in Waco, Texas, and her death was initially ruled a suicide. However, her family grew suspicious and believed her husband, Matt Baker, might have been involved. In October 2007, Matt was arrested, and as investigators prepared for the trial, his former mistress, Vanessa Bulls, came forward with a testimony that contradicted her initial statements. Her accounts proved pivotal for the prosecution and ultimately contributed to Matt’s conviction. ABC’s episode of ’20/20′ titled ‘Dirty Little Secret’ explores Vanessa’s role in the case and highlights its importance.
Vanessa Bulls Had Used Kari Baker’s Phone Weeks After the Latter’s Death
Vanessa Bulls was a single mother going through a divorce when she first met Matt Baker in Waco, Texas. She stated that he had applied for a preaching position at the church she attended, and by November or December of that year, he had allegedly started flirting with her. In her later testimony, she accused him of being overly friendly and attempting to control her dating life. She also claimed that Matt spoke negatively and arrogantly about his wife, Kari Baker, often complaining that the latter was lazy and constantly sad.
On April 8, 2006, when police were called to Matt Baker’s house following the death of his wife, they initially found nothing suspicious. Her death was ruled a suicide, and no autopsy was conducted. However, Kari’s family remained skeptical, which led to an inquest that reopened the investigation in August 2007. During the investigation, it was discovered that her phone had been used by Vanessa just weeks after her death. Additionally, authorities learned that Matt had begun an affair with the young single mother only days after his wife’s passing, raising further suspicion. When Vanessa was first interviewed in 2006, she had denied any knowledge of the case.
In January 2009, Vanessa was interviewed by investigators once again and was subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury. During her testimony, she denied having an intimate relationship with Matt but claimed that he had confessed to killing his wife. However, in March 2009, when the police questioned her further, she provided a much more detailed account. Vanessa stated that her first sexual encounter with Matt occurred in February 2006 at his home. She alleged that after this, he began discussing his willingness to murder his wife. According to Vanessa, he shared his plans with her and even suggested tampering with Kari’s brakes or staging a shooting.
Vanessa Bulls Made Her Last Public Appearance During Matt Baker’s Trial
Vanessa Bulls provided a detailed alleged account of how Matt had killed his wife at his trial in 2010. She testified that two weeks before the murder, he had laced Kari’s milkshake with Rohypnol, but Kari refused to drink it because it tasted metallic. Vanessa claimed that after Kari’s death, she and her family visited Matt, and while seeing them off, he conspicuously winked at her. She further testified that on April 9, Matt called her to his house and confessed to what had happened. According to Vanessa, he told her that he had given Kari a pill and told her that it would enhance her sexual experience. He had then handcuffed her and then smothered her with a pillow.
Vanessa stated that she was horrified by what she had learned but continued her relationship with Matt until July 2006. She said that she had tried to avoid thinking about it. She gave her testimony after being granted immunity from prosecution. She explained that she had previously lied because she feared the public exposure of her affair with Matt and was also afraid of being arrested for not reporting him. During cross-examination, the defense questioned her about why she had not shared the full story before the grand jury. She admitted to revealing only a small part of the truth but did not explain her reasons for doing so.
Vanessa stated that Matt had sent her an MP3 of the song “Dirty Little Secret” by the rock band All-American Rejects with lyrics that she found threatening. She said it made her fear for her own safety. She alleged that after their breakup in July 2006, Matt became “irate” and repeatedly reminded her that he had killed his wife for her. Vanessa recalled receiving a phone call from him a month later, describing it as “the creepiest phone call” of her life. She claimed she urged him to turn himself in, but he insisted that God had forgiven him. While some reports suggest Vanessa and Matt had browsed engagement rings and looked at houses together, their relationship did not progress further. She had no contact with him until she testified against him in court. Since then, Vanessa has maintained a low profile and avoided the public spotlight.
Read More: Matt Baker: Where is the Preacher and Kari Baker’s Husband Now?
