Parents charged with murder- 3-year-old says "I shot (my sister) with Daddy's gun"

 

A South Greenfield couple will be arraigned later this morning in Dade County Circuit Court on charges of second degree murder and endangering the welfare of a child.

The murder victim was the 1-year-old daughter of Stormy Baker, 27 and Chelsey Martin, 28.

The girl was shot to death by her 3-year-old brother July 20, 2022.

Bond for each of the parents is set at $100,000.

According to the probable cause statement, Martin told the Highway Patrol she was at home with the kids and had just finished dinner and cleaning the kitchen and was watching TV when she heard the gunshot.

The idea that one of the children would pick up a gun and shoot the other never crossed her mind.

"The guns have always sat in the corner by the dresser and they've never touched them ever."

When asked who was in the bedroom she said her son was standing on the bed, at the head of the bed, and her daughter was on the floor. Chelsey stated she didn't know for sure what happened but guessed the gun "fell over." Chelsey described her husband being gone checking cattle at the time of the accident.

Stormy Baker had been checking his cows when the shooting took place, according to the probable cause statement.

Regarding firearms in his room, Stormy stated there were two .22 rifles, a 12-gauge shotgun and a .270 rifle.

Additionally, he described a .45 caliber pistol on a shelf in his closet. Stormy said he didn't necessarily keep the guns loaded, but he didn't keep them unloaded either. He described the firearms as standing between the wall and dresser. When asked which guns were loaded, Stormy stated, "Probably all of them."

When asked if the firearm safety switch was activated on the firearms, Stormy replied, "As far as I know."

When asked if he had any questions, Stormy indicated he wished he knew what happened. He speculated one of the kids could have knocked over one of the firearms, but clarified his statement and said, "It's my fault. I'm the one who left the goddamn guns loaded in the house where they could get to it."

A search of the residence "revealed large amounts of loose marijuana in the kitchen and in the living room, plastic bags containing marijuana in a drawer in the master bedroom and in table located in the living room, a Browning .270 rifle lying on the bed in the master bedroom, a loaded Marlin Model 60 .22 rifle, a loaded Remington 12-gauge shotgun and a loaded Ruger .22 rifle in the corner of the master bedroom."

During an interview at the Children's Advocacy Center in Springfield, the 3-year-old described what happened.

"I shoot her with the gun. With Daddy's gun." 

The shooting took place after the boy found the girl with his Woody (from Toy Story) doll.

"She had Woody and I had to get a gun."