Stuart Police charge homeless man with New Year’s Day stabbing murder of another homeless man

Earlier today, Florida’s Stuart Police Department announced the arrest of a man they’ve charged with the first-degree stabbing murder that went down on New Year’s Day at Smith Turner Park, located at 599 Southeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Background: On the evening of January 1, 2025, Stuart Police Officers responded to a 911 call reporting a male victim stabbed at Smith Turner Park. Officers arrived at the scene within one minute of the 911 call and commenced an intensive investigation.

Upon arrival, officers found their victim, Marvin Fitzgerald Hall, covered in blood with a stab wound to the left side of his chest and another stab wound to the left side of his body. Hall died after being taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce.  ~ TC Palm

During their investigation, officers and detectives obtained a detailed description of the suspect.

Officers located 49-year-old Slater Lee Baker of Port St. Luci within an hour of the stabbing and took him into custody on a warrant for violation of parole. Baker was booked at the Martin County Jail early on January 2, 2025, where he has been held on no bond.

Detectives continued their investigation, collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and executing search warrants. On January 7, 2025, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Stuart Police Detectives formally charged 49-year-old Slater Lee Baker with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal stabbing that occurred on January 1 at Smith Turner Park.

Stuart Police Chief Joseph Tumminelli told WPTV that Baker and the victim — both of whom were homeless at the time — got into an altercation.  Tumminelli said Baker stabbed the victim while he was sleeping on a bench in the park in broad daylight.  According to the chief, Baker was just released from prison for a similar crime.

Detectives cite the prompt response by first responding officers and the cooperation of members of the community as key factors in the swift arrest of the suspect in this case. Chief Tumminelli said he “prioritizes positive police and community relationships to help reduce crime in our community.”

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(Source and Slater Lee Baker booking photo: Stuart Police Department)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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