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*This episode deals with the subject of domestic violence. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know need help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233).

A Texas mother of four, Suzanne Simpson, disappears after an alleged domestic dispute—and prosecutors later charge her husband, Brad Simpson, with murder in a case that has drawn intense scrutiny because it’s being pursued as a no-body homicide.

In this episode, we break down what’s publicly known so far: the reported timeline around Oct. 6, 2024, the early arrests and allegations, the murder charge filed on Nov. 7, 2024, and the pretrial fight over evidence and discovery. We also explain why prosecutors can move forward without recovered remains, what kinds of circumstantial proof typically become pivotal, and what to watch as the court calendar shifts following reports of a new wave of evidence.

We also cover the connected case involving Brad Simpson’s longtime business partner, James Cotter, who has faced charges reported as tampering with evidence and prohibited-weapon allegations tied to the investigation.

Episode topics:

· Suzanne Simpson missing: what we know

· Brad Simpson murder charge + indictment

· Bexar County hearings, discovery deadlines, and delays

· The James "Val" Cotter case and alleged evidence issues

· How no-body murder cases are prosecuted

Listener note: This episode discusses alleged domestic violence, disappearance, and homicide. Brad Simpson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

If someone has information about Suzanne Simpson’s whereabouts, call:

• Call the Olmos Park Police Department (tip line / dispatch): (210) 822-2000.
• Call the Texas Department of Public Safety Missing Persons Clearinghouse:
  • Phone: (512) 424-5074
  • Helpline: (800) 346-3243

sources used for this podcast: https://www.hitched2homicide.com/post/suzanne-simpson-brad-simpson-murder-trial-timeline

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In July 2007, 33-year-old Joey Lynn Offutt disappeared from Sykesville, Pennsylvania. Days later, her home caught fire—investigators believe the blaze was intentionally set. In the aftermath, Joey’s infant son was found deceased in a bathtub inside the burned home. Joey was not there, and she has never been found.

In this episode, we lay out the known timeline, what investigators have said publicly, and the key unanswered questions that continue to fuel this disturbing Pennsylvania cold case.

If you have information about Joey Lynn Offutt:
Pennsylvania State Police (PSP Punxsutawney): 814-371-4652
Anonymous tip line: 1-800-4PA-TIPS (1-800-472-8477)

*This episode contains discussion of an infant death, arson, and a missing person case. Some details may be disturbing. Listener discretion is advised.

Sources used for this podcast can be found here

Support the show

JOIN THE HITCHED 2 HOMICIDE IN-LAWS AND OUTLAWS

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In April 2006, Kari Baker—a 31-year-old teacher and mother of two—was found dead inside her home in Hewitt, Texas, just outside Waco. The scene was initially treated as a suicide. But almost immediately, questions surfaced: the timeline, the circumstances, and whether what looked like self-harm was actually a staged scene meant to conceal a homicide.

In this episode, we unpack the full true crime story of Kari Baker’s death and the investigation that ultimately led to the conviction of her husband, Matt Baker, a Baptist minister whose public image didn’t match what prosecutors later argued was happening behind closed doors. We walk through the murder-or-suicide debate, the turning points that shifted the case from suspicion to charges, and the courtroom narrative that ended with a murder conviction and a 65-year sentence.

In This Episode

• Who Kari Baker and Matt Baker were in the Hewitt/Waco community
• What happened the night Kari was found—and what raised red flags
• How the case evolved from suicide to a homicide investigation
• The prosecution’s theory, key evidence themes, and trial outcome
• Why this case remains a defining example of staged death investigations, coercive control, and intimate partner violence

Content Warning

This episode includes discussion of domestic violence, coercive control, and homicide. Listener discretion is advised.

If you or someone you know needs help: National Domestic Violence Hotline (U.S.) 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

Kari Baker, Matt Baker, Hewitt Texas murder, Waco Texas true crime, Kari Baker case, murder or suicide, staged suicide, minister convicted of murder, Texas true crime podcast, domestic violence true crime, coercive control, McLennan County, 2006 Texas murder, ABC 20/20 Kari Baker, 48 Hours Matt Baker.

Subscribe for more victim-focused, timeline-driven true crime with clear case context and respectful reporting.

Sources used for this podcast: https://www.hitched2homicide.com/post/kari-baker-murdering-minister

Support the show

JOIN THE HITCHED 2 HOMICIDE IN-LAWS AND OUTLAWS

START KRIS CALVERT'S BOOKS TODAY FOR FREE

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