A private-practice attorney set to represent the man accused of killing a psychiatrist in a Gayborhood hotel abruptly backed out of the case last week, citing a failure to be paid, said Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore.
At a Feb. 16 status hearing, public defender Francis Carmen agreed to be reappointed to represent Manuel Baez, the 27-year-old homeless man arrested in connection with the death of Dr. Howard Baker, 75, of Lower Merion Township.
“We were initially appointed to the case,” Carmen said, referring to himself and his office. “We were removed then reappointed. That’s the extraordinary thing.”
But, Carmen said, he is OK with taking on the case again.
“We’ve devoted some time and resources at a previous hearing,” he said. “We developed a relationship with the client.”
Philadelphia Municipal Judge Patrick F. Dugan scheduled a preliminary hearing for Baez at 9 a.m. April 20 in Room 306 of the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. Baez has been denied bail and is being held in the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility.
Carmen said, soon after he began working with Baez, he encouraged Baez’s father to get in contact with him. It never happened. The father “apparently worked something out” with Paul Michael Dimaio, the private attorney.
Pescatore said Dimaio told her last week that Baez’s father had not paid him, but she didn’t know who approached him at first.
“I just want to get this case going,” she said.
Baez, whose last known address was in Bethlehem, faces charges of criminal homicide, robbery and related offenses in the Dec. 21 strangulation of Baker.
According to authorities, Baker was staying at Rodeway Inn at 12th and Walnut streets, close to his practice in the 1400 block of Walnut Street. A housekeeper at the hotel discovered Baker’s body around 11 a.m. He was naked on the floor with a belt wrapped tightly around his neck.
Investigating officers determined two males visited Baker’s room separately the evening before his body was discovered. The second was seen leaving the room just after midnight with Baker’s wallet and backpack. Authorities contend this person was Baez.
A motive has not been released.