2017-03-03 Baker

Murder of Blake Thorvaldsen – Borger Apartment Shooting

Blake Matthew Thorvaldsen was shot and killed on Friday, March 3, 2017, at his apartment in Borger, Texas. Mathew James Baker, 34, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with Thorvaldsen's death. Baker was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Incident

According to Borger Police Department Assistant Chief Brandon Strope, on March 3, 2017, officers were dispatched to an apartment on a shooting call.^[1]

According to a criminal complaint, Baker barged into Thorvaldsen's apartment and began shooting in front of a witness. Thorvaldsen was pronounced dead at the scene.

Based on wounds Baker received, Strope said it appears Thorvaldsen returned fire and shot Baker, who later arrived at Golden Plains Community Hospital in Borger with a gunshot wound. Detectives arrested Baker on the first-degree felony charge after he received treatment, according to Strope.^[2]

Baker was booked into the Hutchinson County Jail in connection with the death of Blake Thorvaldsen. Baker remained in jail on a $1 million bond, Strope said in a news release.

Background – Love Triangle

A love triangle ended in gunshots on the evening of March 3, 2017. Corrie Baker had been married to appellant since 2010, and the two shared two daughters. The relationship deteriorated, resulting in Corrie filing for divorce twice but remaining legally married to appellant when she began a relationship with her co-worker, Blake Thorvaldsen.^[3]

The record suggests that Corrie contemplated reuniting with appellant but also maintained her relationship with Blake. The two men were seemingly somewhat aware of Corrie's relationship with the other, though it is not entirely clear to what degree.

The looming disaster came to pass after appellant, who had custody of the daughters for the night, called Corrie, who was spending the night with Blake. Corrie got out of bed and purportedly prepared to meet the distraught appellant. As she neared the door, appellant called again, apparently not alerting Corrie to the fact that he was outside the apartment door.

The details of what happened next are in dispute.

Appellant maintains that Corrie came outside to pull him away from the door when Blake shot him in the arm as Blake stood inside the apartment. Appellant then claims to have turned around and opened fire in Blake's direction, ultimately shooting him several times and killing him.

Corrie's version was different; she explained that appellant tried to force his way into the door as soon as she opened it. She and Blake tried to close the door to deny him entry but, as soon as appellant was able to get his upper body through the door, he began shooting toward Blake. When appellant fully entered the apartment, he shot Blake in the face three more times.

Though Corrie did not specifically remember Blake shooting a gun, it appears he did.

According to the forensic evidence, Blake shot appellant in the arm at some point during the altercation. Evidence that a bullet from Blake's gun was found in the attic of the apartment building, seemingly having passed through the apartment's ceiling, supports Corrie's account of the respective locations of the involved parties.

Indictment

A Borger man was indicted Wednesday on a murder charge by a Hutchinson County Grand Jury in connection with the death of Blake Matthew Thorvaldsen.

Matthew James Baker, 34, is facing a first-degree felony for the murder charge and could face punishment of up to life in prison if convicted.

Baker was also indicted on two counts of endangering a child, which is a state jail felony. Baker could serve up to two years in a state jail if convicted.

Baker was currently in the Hutchinson County Jail and was being held on a $1 million bond for the murder charge and $50,000 for each charge of child endangerment.

The Borger Police Department investigated the incident.

Trial and Conviction

On October 26, 2018, a Hutchinson County jury found Matthew Baker guilty of the murder of Blake Thorvaldsen in March of 2017.

Police said Baker entered the victim's apartment, shot him, and later Baker went to the hospital with a gunshot wound.

The case was handled by the attorney general office.

Sentencing

A man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after a Hutchinson County jury found him guilty of murder.

Mathew James Baker was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of Blake Thorvaldsen.

Case Timeline

• March 3, 2017 (Friday): Shooting occurs at Borger apartment; Thorvaldsen killed; Baker arrested
• May 30, 2017: Baker indicted on murder charge and two counts of endangering a child
• October 26, 2018: Jury finds Baker guilty of murder
• October 30, 2018: Baker sentenced to life in prison without parole