Protective order filed before a Tulsa woman is killed by her ex-husband

Catherine Tudor had just filed a protective order against her ex-husband a couple of hours before he killed her. <br/><br/>News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright has been investigating that part of

Thursday, February 10th 2005, 9:09 pm

By: News On 6

Catherine Tudor had just filed a protective order against her ex-husband a couple of hours before he killed her.

News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright has been investigating that part of the story.

A Tulsa County Sheriffâ€™s deputy told me Catherine Tudor came to the sheriff's office earlier Thursday to warn the deputies who would have to serve the protective order. She was afraid they might be in danger because she thought Cory had a gun, rifle or shotgun, but she also thought he might be in hiding because of his warrants. Little did she know, two hours later, she'd be the one facing down his gun.

A mug shot of Cory Baker was taken in December after he was arrested on a December 6th charge of embezzlement. Before that, records show he had a fraud charge in October, obstructing an officer in September, two counts of using forged prescriptions to buy drugs in March and another fraud count in December of 2003.

Perhaps it's no surprise that Cory and Catherine's marriage dissolved last November, after eight years. He had warrants for failing to show up for his court date.

On the flip side, Tulsa Police say everyone they interviewed at Lowrance Electronics had good and kind things to say about Catherine Tudor. They tell the News on 6, she saved a co-worker's life by pushing the woman out of her office when her ex showed up with a shotgun.

Just a few hours earlier, she was frightened enough by a phone call to file a protective order. She wrote in it, that her ex-in-laws called her Wednesday afternoon to say Cory had stolen his mother's car might have a gun and was on the loose. She said they warned her because he had been calling her constantly and sending her harassing emails. She said Cory had also forced her against her will to Fort Gibson Lake where he threatened to kill himself in her presence with a knife.

It also ordered Cory to have no contact with Catherine, not in person, not on the phone. Plus she had checked a box that says she was in immediate danger and the emergency protective order was necessary to protect her from serious harm.

Since it hadn't been served to him, Tulsa Police aren't sure if Baker followed her to the Tulsa County courthouse and then to work or if something else set him off. Chances are now, they'll never know.