Overview
- Baker’s daughter-in-law reported not seeing the 88-year-old, prompting deputies to obtain a search warrant and enter his Okeechobee home where Paul Eugene Baker was found dead.
- Indian River deputies arrested 35-year-old Earl Douglas Wadlington III after a roughly 10-minute vehicle pursuit early Thursday, Oct. 15, during which stop sticks were used to disable the truck.
- Investigators identified Wadlington as the suspect driving a vehicle belonging to the victim and say he remains in custody on fleeing charges while authorities seek a warrant to charge him in the homicide.
- Flock Safety license-plate readers detected the vehicle in Sebastian and officers from Indian River, St. Lucie counties and the Sebastian Police Department coordinated the cross-jurisdiction tracking and arrest.
- The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office released photos showing a change in Wadlington’s hairstyle and asked the public for tips about his movements between Oct. 11 and Oct. 15, especially in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties.