Greeley Woman Gets 30 Years in Prison for Plotting Brother's Murder

Published on January 25, 2019

GREELEY, Colo. (Weld County D.A.) – A Greeley woman will spend the next three decades in prison for her role in her brother’s 2017 murder.

Last September, 65-year-old Carol Baker plead guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Murder in the First Degree, in her brother Randy Baker’s murder case.

Authorities believe Carol and Randy’s wife, Kelly Baker, helped construct the plot to kill Baker at his Greeley home on August 16, 2017.

Last May, Carol’s son, 38-year-old Kelly Raisley, confessed to shooting and killing his uncle and pleaded guilty to Murder in the First Degree. He was sentenced to life in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Investigators believe Raisley was paid between $10,000 and $13,000 and was given his uncle’s motorcycle for the murder.

“This is just one more step in the closure and healing process for this victim’s family,” Weld Assistant District Attorney Robb Miller said. “However, I don’t think this defendant has even started to take full accountability for the death of her brother. I believe a small part of justice was served today, but nothing will ever completely heal this family from the sadness and brokenness they now live with every day.”

“If anyone should have put this plan to a stop, it should have been you,” Weld District Judge Shannon Lyons said to the defendant at Friday’s sentencing hearing. “Instead, you were the glue that held this conspiracy together.”

As part of a plea agreement, the parties stipulated to a sentencing range of 20 to 30 years in DOC. The judge handed down the maximum sentence of 30 years.

“I think what is fair is that you die in prison,” Judge Lyons said. “You didn’t kill a stranger, you killed your brother. If you kill your brother, who won’t you kill.”

What’s Next:

A jury trial for Kelly Baker has been scheduled for May 6 in Division 16. Kelly Baker is charged with:

COUNT 1: MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (F1)

COUNT 2: CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (F2)

COUNT 3: SOLICITATION TO COMMIT MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (F2)

COUNT 4: CRIME OF VIOLENCE