Grandson Accused of Murdering Grandmother, 82, to Appear in Court

A 34-year-old man accused of killing his 82-year-old grandmother seven years ago in Laguna Niguel and trying to have a witness murdered is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for a pretrial hearing.

Michael Wesley Baker, was arrested in Santa Clara County two years ago and has been held on $1 million bail while awaiting trial for murder and three counts of solicitation to commit murder.

Baker is accused of killing his 82-year-old grandmother, Sara Mowrey, in her Laguna Niguel home about 9 p.m., Jan. 13, 2009, according to prosecutors.

On the morning of Jan. 14, 2009, Baker was allegedly trying to dump the body in a trash bin of an apartment complex when he was confronted by an acquaintance, prosecutors allege. The witness never reported it to authorities.

Mowrey’s son, William Warren Baker, reported his mother missing, touching off a massive search in Orange County, but authorities never found the body.

William Baker’s report to authorities also touched off an investigation of him that led to his conviction in a Ponzi scheme and for cashing in his missing mother’s Social Security checks. William Baker pleaded guilty in May 2011 to stealing about $922,000 from at least 10 victims of the Ponzi scheme and was sentenced three years ago to 10 years behind bars.

Michael Baker, behind bars on unrelated charges last year, allegedly solicited several people, including undercover Orange County sheriff’s deputies, to kill the acquaintance who saw him allegedly trying to dump the body, prosecutors said.

City News Service contributed to this report.