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After finding body near gravel road, police make arrests in woman's grisly murder

1 year 1 month 3 weeks ago Friday, October 20 2023 Oct 20, 2023 October 20, 2023 11:46 AM October 20, 2023 in Crime
Source: WBRZ

WALKER - Police announced two arrests in the killing of a 60-year-old woman, a day after they found her body wrapped in a shower curtain and dumped at a hunting lease in Livingston Parish.

The Walker Police Department identified the victim as Sarah Santini, who was last seen Oct. 7. Santini was found dead around 10 a.m. Thursday near a gravel road off LA 63, north of the town of Livingston.

Police say they received a tip that Santini was killed inside of her home in Walker last week. When they went to check it out, Santini and her car were missing, but investigators found signs of a struggle. 

“Our detectives found evidence that gave us concern that someone had been hurt inside the home,” Walker Police Chief David Addison said. “But without a victim or any witnesses, we were unable to determine what had happened or who was involved. Accordingly, our detectives immediately began an investigation.”

As of Friday, police believe she was strangled and stabbed, though they have not identified her precise cause of death. Investigators have reportedly recovered the weapons used in the killing. 

Santini's car was later found abandoned in LaPlace on Oct. 12. A search of the vehicle yielded signs of foul play and clues to where it was at the time of Santini's disappearance, which helped police locate the body.

Though police said they had a possible culprit in mind on Thursday, it wasn't until the next day they identified two suspects: Bobby Schneider and Gregory Baker.

Police believe Santini met the suspects at a party. 

Schneider, 34, was booked with second-degree murder. Baker, 56, is booked as an accessory after the fact. Both are also facing a charge for unlawful disposal of remains. 

Schneider's bond was set at $275,000, and Baker's was $50,000.

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