Missing 31-year-old mother of 2-year-old boy died after the 38-year-old man with long criminal record she was dating shot her in the head; man charged
North Carolina – In a deeply troubling case in North Carolina that left a young child without a mother, 38‑year‑old L. Inman has been charged with murder, assault on a female, and a misdemeanor domestic violence offense in connection with the death of 31‑year‑old F. Baker, a devoted mother of one. Prosecutors allege that Inman — a man with a long and violent criminal history — shot Baker in the head after an argument, ending her life and shattering her family.
Authorities say Inman and Baker were in “a dating relationship” at the time of the killing. The charges are based on evidence gathered by law enforcement and statements from witnesses that place Inman with Baker on the night she disappeared and contradict his earlier narrative. Inman remains in custody without bond as the case moves through the court system, with his next scheduled hearing on January 2, 2026.
The disturbing sequence began in early December. Baker was last seen alive on December 4, 2025, when she dropped off her 2‑year‑old son with family members. That evening, she spoke with loved ones by phone — and on that call, Inman’s voice can be heard in the background. When Baker failed to return home or make contact by December 6, her family reported her missing to the police department. Detectives reviewing surveillance footage later located video showing Baker and Inman together on the night of her disappearance at a gas station. The video appears to show Inman assaulting Baker inside the store — pushing her, grabbing the back of her neck, and throwing an object that struck her. After the incident, the two are seen leaving together in Baker’s car.
Ten days later, on December 9, police received a tip indicating that Inman had been heard saying Baker was already dead and had been shot in the head. Officers took the tip seriously and continued investigating. On December 11, investigators found Baker’s vehicle parked behind a church in the area. Inside the car, they discovered her body unresponsive in the front passenger seat, showing what police described as apparent head trauma. She was wearing the same clothes seen in the gas station footage. In conversations with detectives, a witness reported that Inman had told his probation officer that an argument with Baker escalated and led to “a gun going off, shooting Baker in the head.” That same witness later told police that Inman had admitted to killing someone and shared specific details about the incident that authorities say would only be known by someone directly involved.
In court, Inman’s attorney argued that no video or fingerprint evidence directly ties him to Baker’s death, and emphasized that the prosecution’s case relies heavily on witness statements and anonymous tips. The defense also noted Inman’s family ties and work as a tattoo artist in an effort to secure bond. However, the judge denied that request. Prosecutors countered by highlighting Inman’s extensive criminal history, particularly charges involving violence. Records show he had previous convictions and charges for assault with a deadly weapon and multiple assault‑on‑a‑female cases, making him a continued threat to public safety in the eyes of law enforcement.
Public documents reveal that Inman was previously convicted of attempted first‑degree murder and other violent offenses in relation to a 2017 incident. In that case, he allegedly followed, confronted, and shot a man in the chest at close range” at a shopping center. Prosecutors said that after the initial shot, Inman “stood over him and fired several more rounds at the victim.” He was also accused of contacting the victim before trial in an attempt to pressure him to change his story. A jury convicted Inman in that earlier case, and in 2019, a judge sentenced him to a minimum of 13 years and a maximum of 17½ years in prison. However, he was out on probation at the time he allegedly killed Baker.
Baker’s family was visibly emotional during Inman’s first court appearance, pleading with the judge to ensure he remained detained. As the legal process continues, prosecutors are pursuing murder charges that carry severe penalties, including the possibility of decades in prison if he is convicted. For Baker’s loved ones, the road toward justice offers some measure of accountability, but it can never bring back a mother taken far too soon. The loss underscores the profound impact of domestic violence and raises painful questions about the dangers posed when individuals with violent pasts remain at large. As the case moves forward, the courts will determine Inman’s fate — and whether the tragic end to Baker’s life will be matched by a sentence befitting the gravity of her loss.
