'Justice for my dad;' Vicki Shelton convicted of Topeka murder of decorated Vietnam vet

A Shawnee County District Court jury convicted Vicki Lee Shelton Thursday of the reckless second-degree murder in May 2022 in Topeka of decorated Vietnam veteran Harvey Lee Baker, who lived with her.

Baker's daughter, Nicole Folger, said Friday she thought Shelton should have been convicted of first-degree murder, with which she had been charged.

"The verdict is not exactly what we wanted, but I'm very thankful that they did get some justice for my dad," Folger said.

Folger said of Shelton, "I'm glad that she's going to jail because we don't need people like that on the street."

How was Harvey Lee Baker killed?

Shelton lived with the 74-year-old Baker in a mobile home at 1900 N.W. Lyman Road, Lot 16, where he was killed on May 4, 2022, said Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay.

Law enforcement officers were called the following day to the scene, where they found Baker deceased in the mobile home with severe blunt force trauma to his head, he said.

Officers then found Shelton at a downtown Topeka hotel and arrested her after confirming she did indeed live with Baker, Kagay said.

When will sentencing be?

Shawnee County District Court Judge Brett Watson scheduled Shelton to be sentenced Aug. 10.

Jurors convicted Shelton, 62, of the lesser charge of second-degree murder after Kagay's office charged her with with intentional and premeditated first-degree murder in Baker's death.

Kansas statute describes reckless second-degree murder as the killing of a human being committed unintentionally but recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.

Victim's daughter: Things the jurors saw were 'horrific'

Folger, who lives in Wichita and is one of Baker's four children, was present for the entire trial, which began Monday.

Two of Baker's other children were present for Thursday's verdict, she said.

Folger said she wanted to thank Topeka police detectives and the case's prosecutor, Assistant Shawnee County District Attorney Will Manly, for the excellent job they did.

Folger also thanked the jury.

"I know that the things that they saw were horrific," she said.

Folger said her father suffered numerous injuries, including blunt trauma wounds, lacerations, puncture wounds, throat injuries and bruises, with one of his eyes having been swollen shut.

How was Harvey Lee Baker honored for valor shown in Vietnam?

Baker received a Silver Star for valor displayed with the Marines in Vietnam on Feb. 26, 1969, when he saved the lives of two fellow Marines and killed an enemy soldier in hand-to-hand combat as he tried to attack one of them.

Baker, who was a private first class, was taking part at the time in a search-and-destroy operation in a dense jungle area, his citation said.

Heavy small arms fire and anti-personnel mines detonated by a North Vietnamese Army unit occupying a well-concealed position mortally wounded two Marines who were with Baker while seriously injuring two others, it said.

"Reacting instantly, Private First Class Baker boldly moved between the enemy and his fallen comrades and, taking advantage of the terrain, commenced delivering fire which enabled the remainder of his company to deploy into effective fighting positions," the citation said. "When a hostile soldier attacked one of the wounded Marines, Private First Class Baker fearlessly charged forward from his position and intercepted the attacker and killed the man in hand-to-hand combat."

Baker then returned to his covered location and continued firing at the North Vietnamese soldiers, who made a disorganized withdrawal, the citation said.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Vicki Lee Shelton convicted of Topeka murder of Harvey Lee Baker