TAMPA, Fla. — The trial has been set for the man accused of killing a Hillsborough County teacher as the state now seeks the death penalty for him.
The Office of the State Attorney 13th Judicial Court on Aug. 8 announced that recently appointed Hillsborough State Attorney Susan Lopez filed notice that her office will seek the death penalty for Matthew Terry "because of his despicable murder" of 43-year-old Kay Baker in May.
Baker, who was an elementary school teacher and mother of two, was reportedly in a relationship with Terry when an argument led to the murder of the 43-year-old, a news release from the office explains. She was found stabbed to death outside a home in Lithia.
Terry was charged with first-degree murder. On Monday, a judge set his trial to begin on Oct. 31.
According to the release, Terry was previously convicted in Michigan of assault with intent to cause great bodily harm to an ex-girlfriend when he stabbed her "multiple times."
Terry was released from prison and then moved to Florida. Five months after moving, he killed Baker, the agency explains.
“Every capital murder case must be evaluated on its own facts to determine if a reasonable jury made up of Hillsborough County citizens could unanimously sentence a defendant to death," State Attorney Lopez said in a statement. "It is the most serious penalty available under Florida law, and I approach this responsibility with humility and a sense of duty to the rule of law.
"Defendant Mathew Terry’s actions were especially heinous, cruel, and atrocious. He was merciless in his brutal killing of Ms. Baker, and given his history of violent behavior, we will ask a jury to sentence him to death."