Baker disappeared in February 1999 and no one has been charged with killing her. But six years and eight months after Baker was last seen, a jury will be selected to listen to evidence about what happened to the 9-year-old girl, who was last seen walking her dog.
Gabriel appeared in a Montgomery County courtroom in February of this year. Prosecutors officially charged him at that time with gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.
They believe Gabriel knows what happened to Baker.
Baker was last seen walking her dog near the Kettering Recreation Center. For days, weeks and months after she disappeared, police and volunteers searched everywhere for her, draining ponds, looking through fields on horseback and foot and conducting stops in the area, asking for any information.
However, thousands of leads never led to the missing girl. Prosecutors think Gabriel was either driving a van or a passenger in a van that struck Baker near the rec center.
Police believe she died of her injuries and was buried in a yet-undisclosed place. Her parents hope Gabriel will take this chance to clear the record.
It will probably be Tuesday or even Wednesday before testimony actually begins in Gabriel’s trial. It is expected to take that long to select a jury and then that jury is expected to visit several locations that are tied in to the things that they will hear in the courtroom.
Previous Stories: September 21, 2005: Pre-Trial Hearing Held For Christian Gabriel July 15, 2005: Judge Denies Motion To Suppress For Christian Gabriel June 21, 2005: Vigil Planned In Honor Of Erica Baker June 16, 2005: Hearing Held To Suppress Statements In Baker Case April 22, 2005: Federal Judge Issues Opinion On Beth Lewis Case March 2, 2005: Beth Lewis Case In Hands Of Federal Judge February 17, 2005: Erica Baker's Family In Court As Suspect Arraigned February 4, 2005: Inmate Indicted In Connection With Erica Baker Case February 4, 2005: Timeline Of Events In Erica Baker's Disappearance December 8, 2004: Erica Baker's Father Expresses Joy About Latest Development December 6, 2004: Deceased Woman's Husband Changes Mind December 3, 2004: New Developments In Erica Baker Case October 22, 2004: Rally Held For Erica Baker October 18, 2004: High Court Lets Ruling Stand In Erica Baker Case May 17, 2004: Erica Baker Case Not Heard In Court March 18, 2004: Court Rules In Erica Baker Case October 22, 2003: Supreme Court To Make Decision In Erica Baker Case October 21, 2003: Erica Baker Case June 20, 2003: Prayer Vigil Scheduled For Erica Baker May 28, 2003: Erica Baker Being Honored By Professional Golfer