Grandson arrested for murdering Laguna Niguel woman, soliciting hit man

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- An Orange County man was arrested Thursday, accused of killing his grandmother more than five years ago. The break in the case came when the suspect, 32-year-old Michael Wesley Baker, allegedly tried to hire a hit man to kill a witness while in jail for another crime.

Sara Mowrey, 82, disappeared from her Laguna Niguel home nearly six years ago.

"(Baker) had been identified very early in the investigation as the last person who had spoken to and seen the victim alive," said Orange County Senior Deputy District Attorney Mike Murray.

Mowrey's family reported her missing in January 2009. Back then, investigators searched a landfill in Brea.

Prosecutors allege Baker tried to get rid of his grandmother's body in an apartment complex Dumpster.

"There was a witness who discussed seeing Mr. Baker with what appeared to be a body very close to the time of the victim's disappearance," said Murray. At the time the witness never told police.

Prosecutors say last year Baker, while in jail for something unrelated, tried to hire a hit man.

"There were three different instances where Mr. Baker made very clear overtures to different individuals to have this particular witness killed," said Murray.

Undercover sheriff's deputies were among the people Baker allegedly tried to hire.

Baker, who has a long criminal history, was arrested in Santa Clara County Thursday morning for murder and solicitation of murder.

His grandmother's body has never been found. Exactly how and why she was killed is still unclear.

"The motive could be a variety of things, but that's something we'll have to wait and see what develops at trial," said Murray.

Baker is expected to be transported to Orange County from Santa Clara County over the next few days. In the meantime he remains in custody. His bail has been set at $1 million.