Authorities are investigating an apparent murder-suicide that claimed the lives of a retired Pembroke Pines Police sergeant and his wife.
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The couple’s bodies were found Monday morning after Pembroke Pines Police and paramedics had responded to a 911 call regarding two people who’d been found unresponsive in the 8300 block of Pine Drive, Broward Sheriff’s Office officials said.
John Baker, 62, and his wife, 59-year-old Joanne Baker, were pronounced dead at the scene.
A preliminary investigation found Joanne shot and killed John before turning the gun on herself, authorities said.
The incident remains under investigation and the official cause and manner of death will be determined by the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office.
John Baker was a longtime sergeant with the Pembroke Pines Police Department and had been involved in a motorcycle crash while on duty in 2019 that left him severely injured.
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As a result, his speech and movement was impacted but he was able to regain limited motor skills.
In a statement Tuesday, the department said he’d spent nearly 28 years with them after he joined in 1994, and was a founding member of the department’s Crisis Response Team.
He worked regularly with Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, the Special Olympics Torch Run, and Special Compass, a local non-profit that assists children and families with disabilities.
“Outside of work, Sergeant Baker was a dedicated father to his three children. Some of his interests included traveling and music, as he often attended concerts alongside his family,” the department’s statement read, in part. “The entire PPPD family mourns the sudden loss of Sergeant John Baker. Even with the challenges he faced from his work-related injury, his joyful and positive personality always persisted. Our deep condolences are with his children, family and his many friends during this difficult time.”
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If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.