Cori Baker, Tulsa (Remains Found) Missing Since 11/09/07

[Boxer]

http://cfc.ktul.com/mainsearch.cfm?k=cori%5Ebaker&ref=nwsindex


\From November 12th photo included

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/1107/471982.html

Cori Jesse Baker was last seen leaving Union Alternative School near 56th and South 129th East Avenue, Tulsa, Ok. Since then, police say she has had no contact with her family or friends.

[Boxer]

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewPoster&caseNum=1083733&orgPrefix=NCMC&searchLang=en_US

Endangered Missing
http://www.missingkids.com/photographs/NCMC1083733c1.jpg
CORI BAKER
DOB: May 13, 1994
Missing: Nov 9, 2007
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
Eyes: Blue
Race: White
Age Now: 13
Sex: Female
Weight: 105 lbs (48 kg)
Hair: Brown Missing From:
TULSA
OK
United States Cori was last seen at school on November 9, 2007. http://www.missingkids.com/orglogos/NCMC_en_US.gif ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Tulsa Police Department (Oklahoma) 1-918-596-9222

[KittyMom]

http://www.kjrh.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=5993ff75-29b4-4ee2-9d87-2d59e10c6bda

Reported by: Sharryn Harvey
Email: harvey@kjrh.com
Last Update: 8:42 am

Cori Baker, Keyonna Jenkins and Angie Tucker are among the 260 missing person cases Tulsa police average a year.

It has been two months since 13-year-old Cori Baker first disappeared.

Police have arrested Marquis Bullock and charged him with murder in the case, but Baker's family continues to search with hopes of finding her alive.

Jacqueline Navas and Keyonna Jenkins have both been missing since December.

Navas, 26, was four months pregnant when she disappeared Dec. 9. She left two small children behind.

Jenkins' family says the 27-year-old's keys were left in her front door and she has not reported to class since last month.

The same four detectives who handle crime scenes also handle missing persons cases where foul play is suspected.

Anyone with information on a missing person is asked to call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS.

All tips can be left anonymously.

[KittyMom]

http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=7528542

Associated Press - December 21, 2007 12:55 AM ET

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - A $5,000 reward is being offered for information on the whereabouts of the body of a missing 13-year-old Tulsa girl.

Police say Cori Baker was last seen November 9th, when her older sister's boyfriend picked her up from the Union Alternative School.

Eighteen-year-old Marquis Bullock was arrested November 12th in connection with her apparent homicide and was charged last week with first-degree murder.

Hundreds of people have searched for the teen since her disappearance, but she hasn't been found.

Cori's father, Daniel Baker, says the family hopes the reward will bring in tips about where her body is. The reward is made up of private donations.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 918-596-2677 or 911.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[KittyMom]

http://www.kswo.com/Global/story.asp?S=7497081

Associated Press - December 14, 2007 9:45 AM ET

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Tulsa County prosecutors have filed a first-degree murder charge against an 18-year-old man in the case of a missing and presumed dead 13-year-old girl.

Marquis Bullock is suspected of kidnapping and killing Cori Baker.

Bullock was the boyfriend of Baker's older sister and she was last seen November 9th leaving school with a man matching Bullock's description.

Volunteers, firefighters and police have searched several areas in Tulsa and around the Muskogee County town of Taft but have not found the girl's body.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[KittyMom]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=071214_1_A23_hThec66858

By CLIFTON ADCOCK World Staff Writer
12/14/2007

The charges stem from Cori Baker's disappearance.


A Tulsa man was charged with murder Thursday in a case involving a missing 13-year-old girl.

Marquis Milton Bullock, 18, was charged with one count of first-degree murder in the presumed death of Cori Baker, who was last seen leaving school Nov. 9 with a man matching Bullock's description and in a car matching the description of one owned by Bullock.

Volunteers, firefighters and police have conducted several extensive searches for Baker's body in Tulsa County and in Muskogee County near Taft, but were unable to find a body.

Bullock, the boyfriend of Baker's sister, has been held without charge in lieu of more than $1 million bond on complaints of kidnapping and first-degree murder since his Nov. 12 arrest. His initial appearance has been delayed twice as investigators and volunteers searched for Baker.

Bullock's initial appearance is scheduled for Friday. Without a charge being filed, a judge could have ordered him to be freed.

The last day Baker was seen, she told a teacher and friends at Union Alternative School that her older sister's boyfriend was picking her up from school that day, according to an arrest report. Witnesses reported seeing her get into a car matching the description of one owned by Bullock and driven by a per son matching Bullock's description, the report states.

When Baker failed to come home that day, her father filed a missing persons report.

According to police, Bullock picked up Baker around 2 p.m. Baker's older sister told police that Bullock returned home around 3:30 p.m. missing a yellow polo shirt with blue horizontal stripes that he had been wearing when he went to pick Baker up.

Police later discovered a blood stain on the carpet of Bullock's red Pontiac Firebird, and blood stains on his shoes, the report states.

Police said Bullock made several inconsistent remarks about where he was when Baker went missing.

Although Baker's body has not been recovered, the evidence is sufficient to file charges, said Assistant District Attorney Bill Musseman.

"The effort to recover Cori Baker's body has not been successful as of yet," Musseman said. "However, the information and evidence presented to our office at this time is sufficient to establish probable cause for the filing."

Musseman said prosecutors probably will ask that Bullock be held without bond. Kidnapping charges were not filed because the information on the case did not support it, he said.

"The information we received so far doesn't establish that he took her forcefully," he said.

Police asked that anyone with information on Baker's whereabouts contact Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.

[PinkPony]

I wish this guy would let the family know what he did with Cori. :1222423:

[Isabella]

A psychic says he will find Cori Baker's body today. Psychic Jeff Baker is claiming he has spoken to the teenager from "beyond the grave," and Baker says Cori has given him landmarks to help find her. http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=7891354

[wheezer]

Search Underway In East Tulsa For Missing Teen's Body
posted 3:30 pm Tue February 19, 2008 - Tulsa

The search for a teen missing since November and presumed dead is picking up in Broken Arrow after a psychic says he spoke with the girl, who gave him specific information on where her body can be found.

The search is being conducted in an area near Floral Haven Cemetery, between 61st and 71st Streets near 129th East Avenue. Hundreds of volunteers trampled through the mud today, pulling back tree branches, looking for any signs of the missing teen. Some people had dogs, others carried shovels. Everyone is hopeful something will turn up.

Jeff Baker is a psychic from Denver. He says he was contacted by Cori Baker's family to help in the search for her body. Cori has been missing since November ninth. Investigators believe she was killed by her sister's boyfriend, Marquis Bullock.

NewsChannel 8 myTAKE - What's Your Opinion?"When I got out here on Wednesday, we had a mediumship, Danny Baker and I, had a mediumship with Cori," Jeff Baker says. "She gave specific directions, locations. She gave us everything that we needed basically."

Jeff Baker also says he had a chance to speak with Bullock, who is charged with first-degree murder in the case.

"And, without telling him anything, we were able to get him to guess a location and the location that he guessed was the exact location that we had," Jeff Baker says. "That's why we're having the search today."

Cori's grandmother, Linda, tells NewsChannel 8 Bullock has also hinted to Cori's sister that he put the body in this area.

"You know how O.J. Simpson wrote that book 'If I Had Killed Nicole', he would say to Courtney, 'If I had killed Cori, it would have been...' and he would name the same area."

If you would like to assist in the search, you can meet at 8 a.m. at the search headquarters, which is located at Unity Church at 33rd and South Jamestown.

Jeff Baker says he doesn't have a timeline as to when he is going to leave. He will be back Wednesday. Cori Baker's family says they will continue to search indefinitely.

Tulsa police tell NewsChannel 8 they have done searches in the past based on psychics. But, they also tell us none of those searches have ever been successful.

We will continue to cover this story throughout the day and bring you any updates as they become available.

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0208/497238.html?021908

[Grande]

Wed February 20, 2008
Psychic resumes search for missing Tulsa teen
Worcester Telegram & Gazette | 2/20/2008
Staff Writer

TULSA — A self-proclaimed psychic resumed a search effort for the body of a missing 13-year-old today, believing the body is buried in a muddy drainage ditch.

Jeff Baker, who came to Tulsa last week to help find the body of Cori Baker, said a team of volunteers were unable to find the girl during a search Tuesday, but he thinks he is getting closer to pinpointing her location.

Baker said he had a "hit" near a specific spot within the search area and he called in a cadaver dog which also responded to the same spot, a water-filled drainage ditch.

Baker said the ditch was drained overnight, and he is asking for more volunteers and heavy equipment to excavate the area.

Baker, who isn't related to the missing girl, claims he learned the location of her body during a "mediumship" where the dead girl spoke to him and her father, Danny Baker.

He also spoke several times with Marquis Bullock, who is in jail charged with murder in the girl's death. Baker said that in a phone call Monday night, Bullock told him where Cori's body might be found. Baker said that location is the same one provided by Cori.

Cori Baker was last seen in November leaving school with Bullock, who was her older sister's boyfriend. Police suspect Bullock killed her sometime that afternoon and dumped her body, but repeated search efforts by police and volunteers have found no trace of her remains.

The area Baker said Cori told him to look in lies in an undeveloped portion of a cemetery near the girl's home and the spot where she was last seen alive.

http://newsok.com/article/3206638/1203525504

[Grande]

http://i30.tinypic.com/15zjhj7.jpg

http://i31.tinypic.com/2gx30c5.jpg

[Grande]

http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/getcaseinformation.asp?query=true&srch=0&web=true&db=Tulsa&icasetype=&iDATEL=&iDATEH=&iCLOSEDL=&iCLOSEDH=&number=CF-2007-6411&iLast=&iFirst=&iMiddle=&iID=&iDOBL=&iDOBH=&SearchType=0&iAPT=&iDCPT=&iDCType=0&iYear=&iNumber=&icitation=&submitted=true

[Audie]

NewsChannel 8Pulse Poll
Do you think psychic will lead police to Cori Baker

Yes 16%
No 84%

Total: 1835 votes

To vote - http://www.ktul.com/
See results - http://cfc.ktul.com/processpoll.cfm?i=1562&showresults=1

[wheezer]

Thursday, February 21, 2008 Posted: 10:57 a.m. (CDT)

Searchers looking for the body of a missing 13-year-old Tulsa girl will return to one location in an area near a cemetery in Broken Arrow that cadaver dogs hit on.

The body of Cori Baker was not found in the area but officials say a nearby drainage area will be drained and searched Thursday.

Cori has not been seen since November 9, 2007 when she left Union Alternative

School, after school let out, with a man matching the description of her sister's boyfriend, Marquis Bullock.

Bullock has been arrested and is being charged with murder in the case.

http://www.ksbitv.com/home/15840017.html

[annalyzer]

http://i30.tinypic.com/15zjhj7.jpg

http://i31.tinypic.com/2gx30c5.jpg


Wow this guy looks forty not eighteen. :shock:

[Grande]

Missing 13-year-old seen fighting with suspect
Associated Press - February 26, 2008 10:05 AM ET

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Police have announced that a motorist saw a 13-year-old girl fighting with the man who is accused of killing her on the day of her disappearance.

The information, which was reported to police last week, is a significant lead in their investigation into the whereabouts of Cori Baker, who has been missing since Nov. 9 and is believed dead, Sgt. Mike Huff said.

Marquis Bullock, Cori's older sister's boyfriend, is charged with killing her.

Multiple searches for the girl have been conducted by police officers, firefighters, family members, professional search groups and volunteers.

Last week, the Baker family and Jeff Baker, a self-described psychic from Colorado who is not related to the local Baker family, coordinated a search party.

http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=7926322

[Pauli]

I hope they can find something on Cori's whereabouts..:1222423:

[packy]

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0308/501342.html

"new tip has led Tulsa police back to an area along the Arkansas River to search for the body of a missing 13-year-old girl. Sergeant Mike Huff says a witness has told police she saw the man charged with murder in the disappearance of Cori Baker driving erratically and alone shortly after another witness has said he saw the man fighting with a girl in his car.

Huff says the new tip came this week after a woman saw news reports about the case. Huff says the search area will be along the west banks of the river south of Interstate 44".

[Nut44x4]

Police plan search after skull found
Officials say it could be that of a missing 13-year-old, Cori Baker
3/23/2008
SAPULPA — Tulsa police plan to organize a search for a missing teen after a skull was discovered in Creek County Friday evening.

The state Medical Examiner’s Office determined Saturday that the skull was human, authorities said.

Police say it could belong to Cori Baker, 13, who has been missing since November.

“We’re considering this a strong lead,” said Tulsa Police Sgt. Mike Huff.

Huff said witnesses had reported seeing the suspect in Baker’s disappearance in the area previously. Investigators also have other information that has them interested in searching the area, Huff said, but he declined to provide more details.

Daniel Baker, Cori’s father, said that police had notified him about the discovery of the skull on Saturday.

“I believe it’s her,” Daniel Baker said.

The Tulsa Police Department is coordinating with the Creek County Sheriff’s Office to start a search early next week, Huff said.

Creek County deputies were called at 5:15 p.m. Friday to a wooded area near 49th West Avenue and the Creek Turnpike, where a skull had been found, said Cpl. Joe Thompson.

The skull belongs to someone under the age of 25, but the person’s gender had not been determined, he said.

Baker was last seen alive Nov. 9, when her older sister’s boyfriend, Marquis Bullock, picked her up from her school.

A Tulsa County judge ruled March 17 that Bullock must face trial on a charge of firstdegree murder in Cori’s disappearance.

Bullock, who turned 19 in January, was arrested late Nov. 12. He was booked on Nov. 13 into the Tulsa Jail, where he is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

Bullock has given multiple accounts of what happened the day that Cori disappeared.

Tulsa Police Detective Vic Regalado testified during a preliminary hearing that Bullock denied picking Cori up from school when he was questioned Nov. 12. After Bullock was arrested for murder, he indicated on Nov. 13 that he had picked Cori up around 2:10 p.m. Nov. 9 and dropped her off at a bus stop about a block from her home. Bullock subsequently said he had picked Cori up and that they went to the west bank of the Arkansas River, where she fell into the river and “disappeared under the water,” Regalado testified. Bullock later told investigators that he had not gone with Cori to the river but had taken her to the apartment that he shared with her sister.

Law enforcement officers, firefighters, relatives, volunteers and a self-proclaimed psychic have all searched extensively for Cori but have turned up very little.

Searchers have scoured the Arkansas River several times for clues.

Witnesses have also told police they that they saw Bullock fighting with Baker in his car near 71st Street and Riverside Parkway and later driving recklessly and alone at eastbound Interstate 44 and Elwood Avenue.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectID=11&articleID=20080323_1_A1_hOffi67120

[Audie]

Area where bones found due search

By DEON HAMPTON World Staff Writer
3/24/2008
Last Modified: 3/24/2008 9:48 AM

Authorities will bring in dogs to help them hunt for more human remains.

SAPULPA -- Creek County sheriff's deputies and Tulsa police will start a search Monday morning for additional portions of a body following the discovery of human remains Friday in Creek County, authorities said Sunday.

Creek County Sheriff's Capt. John Cooper said the search by about 10 deputies, Tulsa officers and search dogs would begin at 8 a.m.

Authorities said they would set up a command post.

Creek County deputies were called at 5:15 p.m. Friday to a wooded area behind Paintball Adventure Games Inc., where human remains had been found, authorities said.

The business is north of the Creek Turnpike near South 49th West Avenue.

Cooper said patrons found a jawbone and a piece of vertebrae after they went out of bounds during a game.

Some have speculated that the remains are of Cori Baker, 13, who has been missing since Nov. 9, when her older sister's boyfriend, Marquis Bullock, picked her up from Union Alternative School, 5959 S. 129th East Ave.

Cooper, however, said, "There haven't been any indications that lead us to believe that it is her."

Phone calls placed to Daniel Baker, Cori's father, were not immediately returned Sunday.

Creek County deputies were guarding the site Sunday, preventing visitors from entering the business.

Authorities said the state Medical Examiner's Office determined Saturday that the remains were human.

The remains belong to someone younger than 25, but the person's sex had not been determined, authorities said.

A Tulsa County judge ruled March 17 that Bullock must face trial on a charge of first-degree murder in Cori's disappearance.

Bullock, who turned 19 in January, was arrested late Nov. 12. He was booked on Nov. 13 into the Tulsa Jail, where he is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080324_1_A1_hAuth52386

FYI, the address of Paintball Adventure Games Inc is 10242 S 49th West Ave, Sapulpa, OK in Creek County.

[Grande]

Search resumes for remains in Creek County
KTEN Local News
Associated Press - March 24, 2008 10:15 AM ET

SAPULPA, Okla. (AP) - Tulsa police and Creek County authorities have returned to a wooded area where human remains were found last week.

A jawbone and a piece of vertebrae were found by people playing paintball when they went out of bounds Friday.

The state Medical Examiner's Office says the person was younger than 25 but the identity hasn't been determined.

Authorities say it's too early to tell if the remains are those of 13-year-old Cori Baker.

Baker disappeared November 9th when her older sister's boyfriend picked her up after school.

The boyfriend - Marquis Bullock - is now charged with first-degree murder in the girl's disappearance.

http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=8059634

[Isabella]

The skeletal remains found late last week in a wooded area near a paintball facility in Creek County have been identified as those of a Tulsa teenager, missing since November. The Medical Examiner's office confirms that the remains found last week near Sapulpa are those of 13-year-old Cori Baker. Police were called to the area Friday after a jawbone and a piece of vertebrae were discovered by people playing paintball when they went out of bounds.
http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0308/505979.html :1222423:

[Isabella]

Just heard on my local news station that the remains found are that of Cori, I am sad to hear the news but hope this brings some peace and closure to her family and they can begin to heal. For Cori and her Family....:1222423:

[Audie]

Search For Cori Baker Over

posted 4:06 pm Mon March 24, 2008 - Sapulpa

The skeletal remains found late last week in a wooded area near a paintball facility in Creek County have been identified as those of a Tulsa teenager, missing since November.

The Medical Examiner's office confirms that the remains found last week near Sapulpa are those of 13-year-old Cori Baker. Police were called to the area Friday after a jawbone and a piece of vertebrae were discovered by people playing paintball when they went out of bounds.

Authorities returned to the area today with cadaver dogs in hopes of finding additional remains. They were successful. In addition to more remains, officials also discovered two articles of clothing. The search for more remains will resume Tuesday morning. We spoke to the owner of Paintball Adventures by phone today. He says there are about 36 acres of property to cover.

Cori Baker disappeared on November ninth. Police believe Marquis Bullock, the former boyfriend of Cori's sister, picked Cori up from school on that same day. The police report indicates Bullock told them he was at a nude dancing establishment at the time, but a digital video camera onboard a school bus at Union Alternative School caught a red Firebird at the scene.

When he was arrested, police say stains found in Bullock's vehicle and also on his shoes tested positive for blood. Bullock later told police Cori's body was in the Arkansas River, but days of searching there and months of searches elsewhere turned up no sign of the girl.

Bullock is charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder in Cori's death. He remains in the Tulsa County Jail without bond. At a hearing today, a Tulsa County Judge passed his arraignment date to March 31st at 9 a.m.

We will have more on this story today on NewsChannel 8 at 4, 5, 6 and 10.

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0308/505979.html

[Grande]

Fly with the birds little buddy.

My thoughts are with Cori's family this evening.

RIP CORI BAKER :1222423:

[Grande]

To the POS (allegedly Marquis Bullock) that took this precious girl's life; I hope the spirit of Cori Baker visits you every night until the day you die.

[Pauli]

For Cori and her family
:1222423::1222423::1222423:

[Battnt]

:1222423::1222423::1222423:

[packy]

:1222423::1222423::1222423:

[Faith]

:1222423: for the family. My prayers are with you.

[Grande]

Updated with Baker Family's statements: More bones, clothing found in search for girl's remains
By Staff Reports
Last Modified: 3/25/2008 1:17 PM

More bones and clothing were found Tuesday at and around a Creek County paintball facility where a missing 13-year-old Tulsa girl's skull was discovered.

Cori Baker's father, Danny Baker, released this statement Tuesday: "After endless hours of prayer and searching, the Baker family is relieved that Cori has been found. Although we knew this day would be coming for a long time, it represents a finality that we are experiencing with great grief and saddness. We need time to be quiet and allow the healing process to begin.

"Information on Cori's funeral services will be announced sometime in the next few weeks, and another statement from the family will be released at that time."

About 100 searchers from many law enforcement agencies fanned out across the wooded area west of 49 West Avenue and north of the Creek Turnpike in search of more remains of Cori Baker, Officer Jason Willingham said.

The Medical Examiner's Office positively identified a skull and other remains that were found Friday evening at Paintball Adventure Games as belonging to the girl. Cori has been missing since Nov. 9.

Marquis Bullock, who picked her up from school that day, is charged with first-degree murder in her death. Bullock was identified as the boyfriend of Cori's sister.

Les Miller, owner of Paintball Adventure Games, said Tuesday that the remains were found spread out over about 5 acres.

Miller said that Bullock had been to his facility in October for a birthday party with the Baker family. Cori was not there that day, he said.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080325_1__Moreb35817

[Roamer]

For Cori and her family. :1222423:

[Nut44x4]

Tulsa World (Oklahoma)

May 11, 2008 Sunday

Slain teen mourned, celebrated at service: Cori Baker, who vanished Nov. 9, is remembered by many as a helpful friend.

Deon Hampton, Tulsa World, Okla.


May 11--More than 200 people attended a "celebration of life" for Cori Baker on Saturday, more than six months after her disappearance and slaying.

Her boyfriend, Ben Woodham, 15, is still upset that Cori, 13, is gone.

"I never thought a young kid like me would have to go through something like this," he said shortly before the service. "Losing a girl like Cori is like losing your (own) life."

Cori disappeared after allegedly being picked up from school by her sister's boyfriend Nov. 9. Officials and hundreds of volunteers combed the Tulsa area for her repeatedly.

Her remains were discovered March 21 in a wooded area in Creek County.

Marquis Bullock, 18, is charged with first-degree murder in Cori's death.

Those who attended the service for Cori, at the Green Country Event Center, said they would miss their friend.

"She was like a sister," said one of her schoolmates, Bryce Benz, 15. "Whenever I was upset, she would help me out. She was always there for everyone."

The memorial included songs of praise

and a message by Robert Gates, the pastor of Church of the Good Shepherd in Sapulpa, which Cori attended.

Gates recounted a story about how Cori was having breakfast one morning when a school bus arrived in front of her home.

She ran outdoors and pointed a finger in the air, signaling the driver to "wait a minute," he said.

Cori went back inside to finish eating, and the bus driver waited for her, Gates said.

"That's Cori, a youngster who loved life," he said.

Cori's sister, Courtney Baker, 19, said that coping with her sister's death and a murder charge against her former boyfriend is difficult.

"It's hard being caught in the middle because we have a baby together," she said before the service. "But I hope that he gets what he deserves."

Courtney Baker also said the timing of the memorial was hard.

"Tuesday is Cori's birthday," she said. "We should be planning her party, not a funeral."
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100020825&docId=l:789473860&start=4

[Audie]

Teenager didn't disturb remains after discovery

By DAVID SCHULTE World Staff Writer
3/28/2008
Last Modified: 3/28/2008 7:40 AM

Zach Searle has watched enough police dramas on television to know when he has walked upon a possible crime scene.

The 15-year-old has seen how his favorite TV detectives preserve evidence so they don't ruin cases.

That's why he didn't call attention to a skull he found while refereeing a paintball game on March 21.

Instead, Searle kept his discovery to himself until the game was completed. He then told his supervisors at Paintball Adventure Games Inc., who called the Creek County Sheriff's Office.

Additional bones were discovered that evening and this week at the paintball facility, which is north of the Creek Turnpike near 49th West Avenue. The Medical Examiner's Office determined they are the remains of Cori Baker, a 13-year-old Tulsa girl who had been missing since Nov. 9.

Searle, a Jenks High School stu dent, made the discovery when he noticed a strange object in the wooded terrain near the playing field as he refereed a game.

"I saw a white thing out of the corner of my eye, and it's unusual to see that on a field," he said. "It was almost the size of a softball."

When he took a few steps toward the object to get a closer look, Searle had no doubt as to what it was, he said.

"I realized it was a human skull," he said. "It was real -- not fake or a toy."

Many people his age might have been tempted to tell others or pick up the skull, but not Searle.

"I watch 'CSI' and 'Crime Scene' -- stuff like that on TV," he said. "I know not to touch something."

Sheriff's Capt. Mike O'Keefe said Searle acted wisely and safely because human remains can contain hazardous materials while the body is decomposing. Law enforcement officers always use gloves and other protective equipment to handle human remains, he said.

By leaving the skull alone, Searle preserved a valuable piece of evidence that prose cutors may use to pursue a first-degree murder charge against Marquis Bullock, who is accused of killing Cori. Police and volunteers had spent the past four months looking for her body.

"It was important to the case that she be found, and there is always a grieving family who wants to find her or her remains," O'Keefe said.

"He (Searle) did a good job by being alert and by reporting it immediately."

When he found the skull, Searle, who had seen media coverage of Cori's disappearance, thought it might be hers.

Since then, he has wondered why he -- and not someone else -- found the skull.

"It's overwhelming," he said.

His father, Mark Searle of Tulsa, is proud that his son not only was observant enough to find the skull, but behaved in a mature and responsible manner in contacting the authorities.

"He's handled the situation with dignity," he said.


http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080328_1_A1_spanc62533&allcom=1

[Audie]

Skull Finder Never Got Reward

posted 11:37 am Mon September 29, 2008 - Tulsa

A teenager who found the remains of a missing 13-year-old Tulsa girl didn't know for days there was a $5,000 reward for information leading to her body.

The skull 16-year-old Zach Searle found at a paintball field in March was that of Cori Baker.

But he's still not received the reward.

Police say the reward was offered by private donors.

The girl's father - Danny Baker - says his understanding is the information had to have come from the man accused of killing his daughter.

Nineteen-year-old Marquis Bullock is charged with first-degree murder in the case. Bullock was the boyfriend of the girl's older sister.

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0908/557322.html

[Audie]

Reward money not paid

by: DAVID SCHULTE World Staff Writer
9/29/2008 12:00 AM

$5,000 OFFERED: NEW STIPULATION

When Zach Searle found Cori Baker's skull in March at the Creek County paintball facility where he worked, he didn't know that a reward had been offered for discovering her body.

Although the Jenks High School student suspected that the skull belonged to the 13-year-old Tulsa girl who had been missing since Nov. 9, his only concern was to do the right thing and contact the authorities.

It was only days later that he was told by friends that a $5,000 reward had been offered to anyone who had information leading to the location of Cori's body, he said.

About six months have passed since Searle, then 15, discovered Cori's remains, but he has not received any reward.

"I have made numerous phone calls (to police) and got nowhere," said Diane Searle, Zach's mother. "Nobody knows where the money is."

Police do not have the money and never did.

Officer Jason Willingham, who coordinates the Crime Stoppers program for the Tulsa Police Department, said police and the Crime Commission were not involved in offering the $5,000 reward because the Baker family wanted to let private donors offer it.

If the Searles have a grievance about not receiving the $5,000, they should contact the Bakers, he added.

The Searles have not contacted the Baker family and have no intention of doing so.

"They have been through a lot, but they obviously know who put the money out there," said Diane Searle.

Hundreds of people spent many hours over several months searching for Cori, and last December, the Bakers helped distribute fliers that said "a $5,000 reward has been offered for the person or persons who can give the exact location of her body."

The flier also said people could make donations to help "defray family expenses and direct costs for the search" for Cori.

Danny Baker, Cori's father, said someone outside the immediate family raised the money for the reward.

He said recently that it was his understanding from talking to the donors that to receive the reward, a recipient would have had to have been told by Marquis Bullock where the body was.

Bullock, Cori's older sister's boyfriend, was arrested Nov. 12 in connection with Cori's apparent homicide. He was charged with first-degree murder Dec. 13 — three months before her remains were found — and is scheduled to stand trial March 9.

In previous interviews with the media, Baker did not include the stipulation that the information must have come by way of Bullock.

The Tulsa World reported Dec. 21 that the $5,000 reward from private donors was being offered for specific information that leads to the discovery of Cori's body and that Danny Baker said his family hoped that the reward might bring tips about where her body is.

The Dec. 25 edition of The Oklahoman quoted Baker directly, saying that "we have raised a $5,000 reward to anyone that has information that leads us to Cori's body."

Baker told the Tulsa World recently that while he is very appreciative that Searle found his daughter's remains, he has no say as to whether the teenager should receive the reward.

"If I had $5,000, I would give it to him in a heartbeat," he said. "I am not trying to short-change him."

Detective Mike Nance, who investigated the homicide, said Searle should be commended for performing his civic duty when he contacted his supervisors at the paintball facility, who then notified the police about the remains.

"He did a great thing," Nance said. "It's certainly been great evidence for this investigation."

Diane Searle agrees, saying, "I think he deserves something."

Her son is not angry about not receiving the reward, but he is surprised that someone would offer a reward and then not pay it.

A junior in high school, Zach Searle is making plans for his future.

He is still working at the paintball facility, but he needs more money for college and to buy a car.

"It's kind of weird how they could post something like that and nothing go through," he said.

"It's just something that you don't expect."

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[Faith]

Murder trial focuses on DNA, bones
A forensic pathologist says the bones had "no specific trauma."

Last Modified: 9/12/2009 4:51 AM

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Marquis Bullock: His name didn't come up much at his own murder trial Friday as experts discussed bones, DNA and dental records. Bullock is accused of killing Cori Baker, 13, the sister of his then-girlfriend. A state medical examiner says bones that were found don't reveal how Cori died.


DNA and dental comparisons show that remains found in Creek County belong to 13-year-old Cori Baker of Tulsa, witnesses told Tulsa County jurors Friday.

But nothing about a skull and other bones recovered in multiple searches at a paintball facility — more than four months after Cori disappeared — reveals the cause or manner of her death, a state medical examiner said.

"I found no specific trauma," said Dr. Andrew Sibley, a forensic pathologist.

He listed the manner of death as unknown and the probable cause of death as undetermined. Sibley indicated that his rulings in that regard are not applicable to resolving criminal court cases.

Recovered remains included a mandible, or lower jaw. Sibley said that after consulting with a dentist, dental records allowed him to identify the remains as Cori's.

Dr. Keith Montgomery, a dentist and a consultant with the state Medical Examiner's Office, testified that he examined Cori's dental X-rays taken in 2005 and 2006 and made a "positive identification" that the remains are hers.

Marquis Bullock of Tulsa, who was the boyfriend of an older sister of Cori's, is on trial for first-degree murder. Testimony is set to resume Monday in District Judge Clancy Smith's court.

Bullock, now 20, is accused of killing Cori after picking her up from Union Alternative School, 5656 S. 129th East Ave., on the afternoon of Nov. 9, 2007.

His name was not mentioned much during Friday's testimony, which dealt heavily with scientific matter and how items of evidence were recovered and handled.

Human remains — identified in Sibley's report as a cranium, mandible and a vertebra — were found March 21, 2008, at Paintball Adventure Games, near the Creek Turnpike and 49th West Avenue.

Jurors heard testimony that in order to get known DNA samples, swabs were taken from Cori's toothbrush and lip gloss.

A DNA profile made from those swabs was compared with a DNA profile made from a femur that was recovered among the remains.

Melody Josserand, administrator of the Combined DNA Index System for the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, testified that a comparison of those DNA profiles resulted in a "very high probability" that the femur belonged to Cori.

DNA — deoxyribonucleic acid — carries unique genetic information inside cells.

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