A Florida appeals court has officially rejected a legal challenge from Billy Baker, the Lindale, Texas, man serving a life sentence for the 2017 death of his fiancée, Candice Cooper.
In a ruling handed down on April 8, 2026, the Third District Court of Appeal denied Baker’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus, keeping his conviction and life sentence intact.
The case dates back to August 4, 2017, when the body of 38-year-old Cooper, a resident of Gilmer, Texas, was pulled from the water at Smather’s Beach in Key West. Baker, now 51, originally told investigators he had been swimming some distance away when he noticed Cooper floating and unresponsive.
However, a Florida jury eventually found him guilty of second-degree murder, leading to his life sentence on January 20, 2023.
In his latest legal move, Baker represented himself and argued that his previous lawyers were ineffective during his original appeal. He claimed they failed to challenge a specific jury instruction regarding attempted voluntary manslaughter, citing a legal precedent known as State v. Montgomery.
READ: Man Accused Of Beating Good Samaritan On Florida Highway Enters ‘Not Guilty’ Plea
The three-judge panel—Chief Justice Scales and Judges Lobree and Gooden—found the argument lacked merit. They noted that the Florida Supreme Court had already moved away from the Montgomery ruling years ago in a 2019 case.
Because the law had changed before Baker’s trial even began, the court ruled that his lawyers didn’t do anything wrong by staying silent on the issue.
“Counsel cannot be deemed deficient for failing to make a meritless argument,” the court stated, quoting state law. The judges emphasized that as a district court, they are strictly bound to follow the current standards set by the Florida Supreme Court.
Throughout the process, Baker has maintained his innocence, even submitting a letter to the court asserting he did not kill Cooper.
Despite those claims, this ruling marks another major hurdle for the East Texas man.
His conviction was previously upheld in 2023, and with this latest petition denied, the court has signaled that the original trial’s result remains fair and correct. Assistant Attorney General Daniel Colmenares represented the State of Florida in the matter.
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