A Greeley woman was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison for her role in the murder of her brother.
Carol Baker, 65, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree in September for the death of Randy Baker, according to the district attorney’s office.
Randy Baker was shot dead on Aug. 16, 2017, inside his Greeley home. His nephew, 38-year-old Kelly Raisely, is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in May. Raisely is Carol Baker’s son.
“If anyone should have put this plan to a stop, it should have been you,” Weld District Judge Shannon Lyons told Carol Baker at Friday’s sentencing. “Instead, you were the glue that held this conspiracy together.”
As part of a plea agreement, Carol Baker was to be sentenced to prison in range of 20 to 30 years, the release said. Lyons handed down the maximum.
“I think what is fair is that you die in prison,” Lyons said. “You didn’t kill a stranger, you killed your brother. If you kill your brother, who won’t you kill?”
Investigators believe Raisley was paid between $10,000 and $13,000 for killing his uncle, and he also was given the victim’s motorcycle.
Authorities suspect Randy Baker’s wife, Kelly Baker, is also complicit in the shooting death of her husband. Her trial is scheduled to start May 6.
Kelly Baker has been charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation to commit murder. She also faces a crime of violence sentencing enhancer.
“This is just one more step in the closure and healing process for this victim’s family,” Assistant District Attorney Robb Miller said in a news release. “However, I don’t think this defendant has even started to take full accountability for the death of her brother. I believe a small part of justice was served today, but nothing will ever completely heal this family from the sadness and brokenness they now live with every day.”
