On the evening of March 18, 2021, 62-year-old Robert Jennings Claunch, a male resident of Nancy, Kentucky, was at the home of his friend, Ronald Baker, on Faubush-Norfleet Road. The friendly visit took a tragic turn when Ronald's son, 22-year-old Samuel Baker, arrived at the residence around 9:30 p.m. Both Ronald and Robert requested that Samuel leave the property.
After Ronald went to his bedroom, he heard gunshots.
Upon returning to the kitchen, Ronald discovered that Robert had been fatally shot. Samuel Baker had fled the scene, prompting a two-county police chase. He was eventually apprehended by the Casey County Sheriff's Office after abandoning his vehicle and attempting to escape on foot into a wooded area. At the time of his arrest, Samuel was found in possession of a handgun and marijuana. He was subsequently charged with murder, fleeing and evading, reckless driving, possession of marijuana, and resisting arrest.
In April 2021, a Pulaski County grand jury indicted Samuel Baker on multiple charges, including murder, first-degree burglary, and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. While awaiting trial, Baker was granted a bond reduction in August 2023 and placed on home incarceration. However, in November 2023, he removed his ankle monitor and fled, leading to another manhunt. He was later apprehended in El Dorado, Kansas. In May 2024, a jury found Samuel Baker guilty of murder and burglary, recommending a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
