Murder in the Heartland is investigating the murder of Robin Baxter, who the police believe was beaten to death with a solid aluminum bar by her husband, Christopher Baxter, in New Albany, Indiana.
There was plenty of evidence against Christopher, but it was largely circumstantial, which meant it took the cops 20 years to lock him up.
On the night of June 19, 1990, neighbors of Christopher and Robin heard the couple arguing. One neighbor later reported seeing Robin in the street with blood on her eye, lip, and shirt and that she was visibly shaking.
At one point in the evening, Robin contacted a friend, telling them Christopher was ” acting worse” than she’d ever seen. Her friend said she sounded upset and scared.
The following day, friends of the couple, Spring Monroe and Charlie Lance, called on Robin, but Christopher told them she was missing. Monroe noted that there was damage in the house and that some of Robin’s clothes were strewn on the floor, which was considered odd as Robin was usually very tidy.
Monroe also noticed that an aluminum bar Christopher kept for protection was missing. He called it the bar “the Enforcer” or “the Equalizer” and always kept it in the same spot.
Monroe and Lance helped Christopher search for his wife but were surprised and suspicious when he aggressively insisted they not look in a brushy area near a set of railroad tracks. He claimed he had already looked in that area.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelThe police found remains of Robin Baxter in the Ohio River
On June 23, 1990, the Louisville Police Department found Robin’s body floating in the Ohio River. She was wearing a black T-shirt but was naked from the waist down.
Robin had sustained multiple lacerations to her head and face, and the cause of death was recorded as blunt force trauma to the back of the head.
The cops interviewed Christopher, and he denied knowing what happened to her. He admitted they had been arguing but claimed he’d gone to bed and never seen her again.
During a second interview, the cops asked Christopher straight up if he had murdered his wife. He responded, “Well, I might have done it, and I might not have. I blacked out. If I did do it, I want the electric chair.”
However, Christopher subsequently denied the murder, and the cops didn’t have enough evidence to make an arrest. The killer enjoyed his freedom for another two decades.
A cold case unit arrested Christopher Baxter for Robin Baxter murder
The case was reopened in 2011, and a cold case unit began interviewing witnesses with renewed vigor. Christopher was arrested in the spring of 2012.
In August 2012, the now 54-year-old Christopher Baxter was sentenced to 55 years. He told the sentencing hearing, “I’m innocent. This trial was settled. It was decided before I went to court.”
According to Indiana Dept. of Corrections records, he has since passed away.
Murder in the Heartland airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on Investigation Discovery.