Baehr Family Picks Up the Pieces as Investigation Continues

LIVERPOOL, NY (August 8, 2001) - For Bruce Baehr - one of those commissioned for pastoral ministry at this year's Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church - life continues to be a whirlwind of activity as he serves as associate pastor of Grace Covenant Church in Liverpool.

Baehr's family was thrust into the public limelight three years ago following the brutal murder of his mother, Mary "Lily" Baehr, in the family's home in Baldwinsville, New York. Bruce Baehr and his family stunned those gathered in an upstate New York courtroom as they publicly forgave Kenneth Hobart Sr. during his criminal trial.

The incredible tale of the murder and the months of agonizing searching for those responsible was the subject of a story in the July 2000 issue of The Covenant Companion - a story that later won a top journalism award for excellence. To revisit the compelling story of Hobart's criminal trial and Baehr's comments in the courtroom, read Testing the Limits of Forgiveness.

Baehr is now in his fifth year as associate pastor of Christian education and youth at the Liverpool church. Although considerable time has passed since the trials and convictions, he remains steadfast in his belief that forgiving Hobart was the right thing to do. His attitude didn't change when a second suspect, Angel Perez, confessed to his part in the crime months later. To revisit the story published following the Perez conviction, read Second Suspect Convicted of Murder.

"God always has an opportunity to redeem the worst person," Baehr said when asked if his family would have supported imposition of the death penalty for Hobart and Perez. "It really wasn't an option, although we had a lot of time to think about it. We had some time to process the fact that one person had already confessed to killing my mother. But the longer we kept on, the more we resolved to oppose the death penalty."

A third suspect has since been charged in the murder. Kenneth Hobart Jr. could receive a sentence of from one-and-a-third to four years in a New York State prison, a lesser sentence than he could have received if convicted on multiple felony assault charges related to a November 2000 group assault in Fulton, New York. The lesser sentence was considered in return for the younger Hobart's cooperation with Onondaga County investigators. Young Hobart's testimony could prove crucial in prosecuting a fourth individual believed to have participated in the Baehr murder.

Bruce Baehr no longer follows the day-to-day activities involved in the continued investigation of his mother's murder. However, he has maintained his relationships with police officers, investigators and others who have been part of the ongoing investigation. Detective Chuck Florzyk and wife, Connie, have become more acquainted with Bruce and his church, participating in a recent Alpha evangelism course at Grace Covenant. Mary Lawrence, who worked on the investigation through the victim's advocate program in the county district attorney's office, likewise has become more involved with Baehr and the church.

Herb Baehr, Mary "Lily" Baehr's husband, has since remarried.

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