Broward sheriff’s detectives said John Baker and his wife, Joanne Baker, were found dead Monday morning at a Pembroke Pines home.
PEMBROKE PINES, FL — A retired Pembroke Pines police sergeant and his wife were found dead Monday morning in an apparent murder-suicide that remains under investigation, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators said preliminary evidence indicates Joanne Baker, 59, shot and killed her husband, retired Pembroke Pines Police Sgt. John Baker, 62, before taking her own life. Authorities have not publicly disclosed what may have led to the shooting. The Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office will make the official determination of the cause and manner of both deaths.
Pembroke Pines police officers and fire department paramedics responded at about 7:12 a.m. Sept. 21 to a 911 call reporting two people unresponsive in the 8300 block of Pine Drive, according to the sheriff’s office. Emergency crews arrived and found John and Joanne Baker dead.
Because John Baker was a retired member of the Pembroke Pines Police Department, the department contacted the Broward Sheriff’s Office and asked its Homicide and Crime Scene units to conduct the death investigation. BSO said its findings about the deaths remain preliminary as detectives continue their work.
John Baker spent nearly 28 years with the Pembroke Pines Police Department after joining the agency in 1994. During his career, he worked as a road patrol officer, field training officer, master patrol officer, public information officer and traffic homicide investigator. He later served as a sergeant in the department’s Traffic Unit and was a founding member of its Crisis Response Team, according to the police department.
Baker also worked closely with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and volunteered at the organization’s events as part of his interest in traffic safety. The department said he was a father of three who enjoyed music and traveling and frequently attended concerts with his family.
His police career changed dramatically after an on-duty motorcycle crash on Aug. 10, 2019. Police said a vehicle turned into the path of Baker’s motorcycle, leaving him critically injured and affecting his speech and movement. With help from his family and medical team, Baker later regained limited motor skills. He remained involved in community activities after the crash, including charity races and the Special Olympics Torch Run.
The Pembroke Pines Police Department said its members were mourning Baker’s death and remembered him for remaining active in the community despite the lasting effects of his injuries. The department said his positive personality continued after the crash and extended condolences to his children, relatives and friends.
The sheriff’s office has not announced a motive or described the circumstances leading up to the deaths beyond its preliminary finding. No additional people have been identified as being involved. The medical examiner’s findings will provide the official cause and manner of death, while BSO’s homicide investigation remains ongoing.
Author note: Last updated September 23, 2026.