Jury sentences Steven Wiggins to death for Dickson Sgt. Baker's murder

DICKSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — Steven Wiggins is sentenced to death for the murder of Dickson County Sergeant Daniel Baker in 2018. The jury returned the verdict Thursday afternoon.

After finding Wiggins guilty of premeditated first degree murder and a slew of other charges, the jury held the responsibility of deciding whether Wiggins received the death penalty, life in prison without the possibility of parole or life with the chance of parole. In order for a death sentence to be handed down, the jury was required to reach a unanimous verdict.

The jury gave Wiggins a death sentence on two of his charges:premeditated first degree murder and first degree murder in perpetration of a felony. He is also charged withcriminal impersonation of law enforcement, abuse of a corpse, arson, tampering with evidence, theft of property and false report.

Judge Wolfe concurred with the jury's sentence, saying "I believe that justice has been served."

According to investigators, Wiggins fatally shot Dickson County Sgt. Daniel Baker within close range, as the 32-year-old law enforcement officer responded to a suspicious vehicle report at the intersection of Tidwell Switch Rd. and Sam Vineyard. Authorities say Wiggins dragged Sgt. Baker's body to his patrol SUV and placed it in the backseat before driving away and later setting it on fire with Sgt. Baker still inside.

Law enforcement officers used GPS tracking technology to find Baker’s patrol vehicle after he had not been heard from. The young husband and father was found dead with six gunshot wounds inside the patrol unit abandoned in a field near Bear Creek Valley.

In her victim impact statement, Sgt. Baker's widow Lisa Baker said nothing will bring her husband back, but that she would spend the rest of her life making sure Wiggins is miserable.

"Any picture of what I had hoped my life, our life to be, is now gone. My life and our daughter’s life can never be the same, and we are reminded daily of the depth of his absence," Lisa Baker said.

Family members of Wiggins previously expressed they would be heartbroken if Wiggins received a death sentence.

“It would completely destroy me," aunt Julie Creasman said during the sentencing phase of the trial. "I love him as much as if he were my own son.”

Pending appellate review, Wiggins will be transported to the state penitentiary. Judge Wolfe says Wiggins will die by means of lethal injection.

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