AKA 137F - Part 1 (Brook Baker)
Re-examining a Vincennes University cold case with DNA profile 137F
This episode revisits a pair of Anatomy of Murder installments that trace the investigation into the 1997 slaying of Vincennes University student Brooke Baker. The narrative follows the crime scene discovery, painstaking forensic work, and the evolution from local detective work to multi-state cooperation and FBI behavioral analysis. It highlights how a single DNA designation—137F—became central to the inquiry and how investigators balanced scientific leads with community pressure.
Crime scene details and early investigative steps in a small college town
First responders found Brooke in a posed, violent scene suggesting both overkill and a sexual component. Lack of forced entry, binding marks, defensive wounds, and a bent knife in the sink framed early hypotheses that the killer was known to the victim and possibly lived nearby. Investigators canvassed the campus and surrounding town, tracing acquaintances, roommates, and intimate partners while carefully documenting chain of custody for all evidence collected.
How the DNA profile 137F shaped the nationwide search for a suspect
Serological evidence yielded a DNA profile labeled 137F, which investigators treated as the investigation’s primary target. Exhaustive testing of students, acquaintances, and even a landlord produced repeated exclusions. Leads extended across state lines, culminating in a California warrant to obtain a DNA sample from a person of interest. Despite intense interagency coordination and long-distance evidence collection, the 137F profile remained unlinked for months.
Behavioral science and linking cold cases across years
With DNA hits stalled, the team consulted the FBI’s profiling unit. The multidisciplinary analysis suggested a white male likely living near the victim, potentially sexually aggressive and possibly a first-time murderer. That behavioral approach refocused inquiries and led detectives to revisit an earlier unsolved homicide with similar victimology, raising the possibility of a serial offender and shifting investigative priorities.
Managing community rumors, institutional concerns, and investigatory integrity
Rumors of campus secrets and alleged rapes complicated the probe, drawing public outrage and pressure on law enforcement. Investigators emphasized exhaustive follow-up on every tip to avoid confirmation bias and to protect prosecutorial integrity later in court. The episode underscores how small-town dynamics, university liability fears, and rumor mills can distract from evidence-driven work.
Ultimately this retelling demonstrates the combination of forensic science, behavioral profiling, legal collaboration across jurisdictions, and relentless investigative persistence required to pursue answers in cold homicides. It is a reminder that thorough, methodical work can keep cases alive and provide hope for families awaiting justice.
Key points
- Treat every piece of serological evidence as critical when developing a DNA profile like 137F for cold cases.
- Follow every tip and rumor thoroughly to avoid defensive gaps that could undermine later prosecution.
- Document and preserve chain of custody meticulously to ensure laboratory results remain admissible at trial.
- Coordinate cross-jurisdictional warrants and sample collection when suspects relocate across state lines.
- Use FBI behavioral profiling to generate suspect characteristics when forensic leads have stalled.
- Re-examine older unsolved homicides for pattern similarities that may indicate a serial offender.
- Balance community outreach with strict evidence-based investigation to prevent confirmation bias and vigilante action.
