U.S. Marshals Arrest Murder and Rape Suspect After Nearly 7 Years on the Run

Dayton, OH – U.S. Marshal Pete Tobin is pleased to announce that during the early hours of December 19, 2019 the U.S. Marshal's Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST), with the assistance of the Dayton Police Department Special Weapons Attack Team, arrested Walter Baker. Baker was wanted by the Springfield Police Department for Murder and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office for Rape.

On January 26, 2013, Officers responded to a bar in Springfield, OH after reports of shots fired. It is alleged that Baker and a previously captured codefendant had an altercation with other individuals, and as a result several shots were fired injuring four people and killing one. Baker also has a rape charge out of Franklin County, OH.

Baker went on the run and evaded capture for almost 7 years before Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team caught up to him. During this time, Baker became Southern Ohio's most wanted fugitive. Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team officers were able to locate Baker at a residence in Dayton, and with the assistance of Dayton SWAT, surrounded the residence and safely took Baker into custody.

U.S. Marshals Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team is a multi-jurisdictional task force comprised of the Dayton Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Clark County Sheriff's Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Miami County Sheriff's Office, Montgomery County Prosecutors Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Shelby County Sheriff's Office, and Springboro Police Department.

The U.S. Marshals Service is the nation's primary fugitive hunting organization and captures more federal fugitives each year than all other law enforcement agencies combined.