St. Paul Man Arrested in Connection With Oakdale Woman's Death

Police arrested a 44-year-old St. Paul man Thursday in connection with the slaying of Lori Christine Baker, 39, of Oakdale, who had been stabbed, according to a news release from the Oakdale Police Department.

The man, who police aren’t naming until he is charged, was an acquaintance of Baker, the release says.

She was found dead in her Oakdale Village apartment Wednesday morning after she failed to show up for work for her job as a nanny, the Pioneer Press is reporting, and the Afton woman she worked for came looking for her. 

The woman told the newspaper that Baker had worked for her for nine years, and that she was always on time.

A preliminary report from the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s office said she suffered multiple stab wounds, according to the release.

Agents from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Department of Corrections and the Minneapolis Police Department made the arrest in Minneapolis around 2:30 p.m. Thursday, the release says.

Baker’s next-door neighbor, Angie Frybarger said Baker was quiet, for the most part, and she didn’t see her often.

Although she’s saddened by what happened, she said, she’s not fearful.

“I don’t feel any different about being here. This kind of thing can happen anywhere,” said Frybarger, who has lived in the building for five years. “It’s terrible that it happened. It’s awful; I feel so bad for her.”

Police believe Baker was targeted, and they are not seeking any other suspects in connection with the homicide, according to the release.

The man who was arrested in connection with the incident was wanted on a state department of corrections warrant, the Star Tribune reports. He has a history of assaults and armed robbery, according to the report.

See our earlier story for more details on how Oakdale Village Apartments management is responding to the incident.