Camden Woman Found Guilty in Bakery Owner's Murder

A Camden woman was found guilty in the shooting death of a Woodlynne bakery owner who was shot in his store during an attempted robbery, Camden County Prosecutor Warren W. Faulk announced on Wednesday.

Latasha Baker, 34, was convicted of felony murder, conspiracy, hindering and robbery for her part in the Oct. 14, 2009 shooting of Oscar Hernandez.

Baker was one of four people charged in connection with Hernandez’s murder.

William Cooper, 35, of Camden, Rashawn Carter, 28, of Philadelphia, and Maurice Carter, 31, of Philadelphia are also charged and are awaiting trial. They are charged with felony murder, armed robbery and weapons offenses. Cooper is also charged with murder, as he is accused of shooting Hernandez.

The two Carters are Baker’s brothers and Cooper is a friend of their family.

Baker was found guilty of participating as a lookout during the robbery at Alex’s Bakery on the 1600 block of Ferry Avenue in Woodlynne. She posed as a customer at the bakery multiple times the day of the killing, and was in repeated phone contact with her brother Rashawn Carter the day before and the day of Hernandez’s death.

Baker provided the other three defendants with information about who was in the bakery prior to the robbery attempt, and then played the part of the victim when the armed men entered the business. Hernandez was shot as the men tried to open the register at the bakery. They were never able to open it and fled empty handed.

After the robbery Baker told investigators the robbers had stolen her cell phone, but the phone was later found at her home and a search of the phone records led investigators to the other three defendants.

Baker faces a minimum sentence of 30 years incarceration on the count of Felony Murder alone and could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Her sentencing is scheduled for June 20.