July 30, 2010

An Augusta County man has pleaded guilty to a 1998 murder in Augusta County Circuit Court.

Forty-three-year-old Kenneth Baker entered the pleas Thursday morning to charges of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and aggravated sexual battery of an incapacitate victim.

He was accused of killing 48-year-old Ruth Mays of Churchville, whose body was found in a septic tank.

At the time of the crime, Baker was ruled incompetent to stand trial. He was committed to Western State Hospital for several years and was later moved to another location. It was at the other location that Baker was accused of inappropriately touching a 97-year-old woman.

Baker will be sentenced October 28.