Published on September 13, 2024, 12:37 am

Image source: Fox News

In a tragic turn of events, a Tennessee pastor and father of 11, David Baker Sr., committed suicide in a local hospital’s bathroom, just one day after being charged with aggravated sexual battery of a minor family member. Baker, who held the position of vice president at Independent Baptist Online College, reportedly entered Maury Regional Hospital shortly after posting bail for the said charges involving a child younger than 12.

As reported by FOX 17 in Nashville as per information from the Columbia Police Department, Baker walked into the hospital restroom and inflicted fatal gunshots to his chest. The alarming incident placed the medical institution on an immediate lockdown around 12:45 p.m.

In a statement issued by the hospital authorities, they confirmed that an adult male entered their Emergency Department without seeking medical assistance. He straightway went inside the public restroom where he shot himself twice. Despite life-saving measures implemented by their Emergency Department staff upon discovery of his condition, Baker tragically succumbed to his injuries.

Dr. Martin Chaney, CEO of Maury Regional Hospital extended prayers for Baker’s family during this difficult period and commended both their security team and Columbia Police Department for their prompt response. Making it clear that patient and healthcare team members’ safety are paramount at Maury Regional Health.

Furthermore, Main Street Maury relayed that prior to this unfortunate event, Baker was booked into Maury County Jail Tuesday on one count of aggravated sexual battery. He later secured release Wednesday on a bond amounting to $200k and had been due for court appearance scheduled on October 9th.

In addition to serving in religious sector, David Baker also ran for Mayor position in Maury County during 2022 which included a defamation lawsuit against subsequent winner Sheila Butt highlighting his former colleague’s suicide; however the case was later dismissed.

The church led by Baker – Family Baptist Church founded by him did not make any comment when contacted following his death. A since-deleted webpage describing Baker described him as a proud Army veteran and Hyles-Anderson college alumnus who had pastored for over 18 years, in addition to revealing his large family.

Reflecting on this distressing development, former Lighthouse Baptist Church member Aimee Spires criticized the late pastor, categorizing him as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” She pointed out her concerns about potential additional victims apart from those already known.

This article serves as an example of trusted news sourced through real news agencies delivering breaking news stories with a Christian worldview. Reportage such as this underlines the importance of accurate reporting even when events perturb communal tranquility and belief systems.