Kerran Baker: RCIPS breaks case

Royal Cayman Islands Police Service officers arrested a man at his Prospect-area home Thursday morning in connection with the July disappearance of Jamaican nurse Kerran Baker.  

The man, 35, was taken into custody on suspicion of murder, according to police. He was identified by sources familiar with the case as an ex-boyfriend who had previously been involved in domestic-related incidents with Ms Baker on several occasions at her home and work.  

According to its editorial policy, the Caymanian Compass is not naming the man until he is formally charged.  

As of press time Thursday, Ms Baker’s remains had not been found, the Compass has learned.  

Some relatives and friends of the missing nurse practitioner had not even heard the news of the murder suspect’s arrest when contacted on Thursday morning.  

“Are you serious?” asked Dr. Ruthlyn Pomares, Ms Baker’s former employer. “I’m glad we’re getting some closure to the case.” 

Others close to Ms Baker said police had made the arrest based on evidence they collected combined with the previous threat incidents against the 25-year-old Jamaican woman.  

“I’m very happy,” said Inia Ricketts, Ms Baker’s best friend who was the one to report her missing on Sunday, 31 July, after finding Ms Baker’s purse and some unpacked groceries left at the home she rented on Arrow Dr. in Beach Bay.  

“She would not leave paper towels on the floor, she would not leave meat or milk out like that; she was a neat freak,” Ms Ricketts said, after being contacted shortly after Ms Baker’s disappearance. “I think she was taken from inside her home.”  

The man who was arrested has been interviewed previously by police and was released following that questioning.  

RCIPS Superintendent Marlon Bodden said in August that there had been reports – both at Ms Baker’s residence and at her work – of a ‘domestic context’. By that, he said he meant threats and minor disturbances.  

Ms Pomares also acknowledged that Ms Baker, who was studying to become a full-fledged registered nurse, had received some unwanted attentions from an older man who had tried to force contact with her at work. However, the medical doctor noted that, even with the occasional trouble, Kerran was an upbeat and positive person to have around.  

“She was very likeable for the patients and she was a wonderful worker,” Ms Pomares said. “Whatever she could do, she would do. She was very receptive to learning.”  

Ms Pomares said Thursday that about two months ago she had accepted the obvious and hired someone to replace Ms Baker at her office.  

“I would just like to know what really happened.” 

Case went quiet  

After receiving massive local and international media attention for the first month following Ms Baker’s disappearance, things had seemingly gone quiet. The RCIPS had stopped holding daily press briefings and few further advisories had been issued regarding the case.  

Police did not include any further details regarding the arrest Thursday morning, other than to indicate the suspect remained in custody.  

According to police, the first missing persons report to come in concerning Ms Baker was at 7.18pm Sunday evening, 31 July.  

Much of the investigative effort focused on trying to create a timeline to trace where the 25-year-old nurse was in the days and hours before her disappearance.  

On Friday night, 29 July, Ms Baker was spotted at a George Town bar. There were reports of an altercation at that bar between her and another woman, but police did not confirm details of the incident.  

At around 1.30am on Saturday, 30 July, Ms Baker was spotted by police driving through a traffic roadblock in Red Bay. 

Later in the day on Saturday police said she was seen at several locations including: Governor’s Beach at West Bay Road, Cost-U-Less, Kirk Home Centre, the Industrial Park area and the Fosters Food Fair airport store.  

The last known sighting of Ms Baker was around 7pm on Saturday, 30 July as she was leaving the Foster’s store.  

Attempts to contact Ms Baker by some of her friends on Sunday, 31 July, were not successful. Sometime between 6.15pm and 6.30pm Sunday, Ms Ricketts went to Ms Baker’s home in Bodden Town and with the assistance of the landlord, entered her friend’s apartment.  

It was around 12.30pm Monday, 1 August, that Ms Baker’s white Honda Civic was found parked on the cemetery lawn near Pedro St. James Castle.