Amy Baker's children have not committed a crime

Baker custody details withheld
Greber, Dave. Cincinnati Post, April 14, 2007, pg. A2.

A Clermont County Juvenile Court Magistrate ruled Thursday the public interest in a custody battle is "greatly overshadowed" by the need to protect Amy Baker's three children.

In a written decision issued Thursday, Clermont County Juvenile Magistrate Stephanie Wyler prohibited parties involved in the custody case from disclosing the names, current residences, schools, medical or psychological evaluations and daily activities of the Baker children, ages 4, 6 and 7.

Baker, the live-in girlfriend of foster parents Liz and David Carroll Jr. convicted of killing 3-year-old Marcus Fiesel, was granted immunity to charges relating to the developmentally disabled Middletown boy's death and disappearance in Hamilton and Clermont counties. The 25-year-old Amelia woman also was the prosecution's key witness against the couple. Baker and her estranged husband, Brian, both are fighting for custody of their children, as are the children's maternal grandparents Robert and Tracy Ramsey.

"Certainly, it can be observed that these children are 'second-tier victims' of this tragic event," Wyler wrote. "Because of this, this court believes strongly that the public interest in this drama is greatly overshadowed by the need to preserve and respect the privacy of these children, most of whom are of sufficient age and ability to be fully aware of the television and print media coverage."