In the early morning hours of April 14, 1986, the life of 25-year-old Terry L. Bakker was tragically cut short at his Salt Lake City, Utah, home. Just before 7:30 a.m., noises at his front door at 2049 E. Atkin Ave. roused Bakker from his sleep. As he went to investigate and partially opened the door, an unknown individual forced it completely open.
The sudden intrusion prompted the suspect to flee, running across the front lawn. Bakker gave chase, pursuing the man for a short distance.
When he returned to his house, others inside discovered that he had been shot. Bakker collapsed near his front porch and was rushed to a local hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Witnesses at the scene provided a description of the man Bakker had pursued. He was described as a white male in his early 20s, standing approximately 5'10" tall and weighing around 160 pounds. He had short, curly dark brown or black hair and may have been wearing a red stocking cap. After fleeing the area, the suspect was seen getting into a light blue compact car that was waiting nearby.
Despite the eyewitness accounts and the initial investigation, the case of Terry Bakker's murder has remained unsolved for decades. No arrests have ever been made in connection with his death, and the identity of the man who shot him remains a mystery to law enforcement. The Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake continues to list the case as a cold case homicide.
