March 17, 2025 | By: Summer Ramsay 

This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class.

Michael Baker always extended help and care to all of those around him. He would give the clothes off his own back if it meant he could help one of his friends succeed.

“One day he came home with no shoes on his feet,” said his mom, Tiffany Baker. “I asked him where they had gone, and he said he had given them to his friend so that he would be able to have work shoes for the day.”

His friends have been without his generosity for over a decade now. In a case of being “in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Tiffany, after attending a friend’s viewing, on July 20, 2013, at the young age of 22, Michael was found lying dead in front of a Hollywood, Florida home. Although details of that night are mostly known, his murder has never been solved.

Michael grew up in Hollywood in a blended family of nine siblings. He was the youngest son and was very much treated like the baby. He loved Jim Carrey and one of his favorite movies was The Mask. “He could recite the whole thing word for word,” said Tiffany.

Throughout his childhood, he was an exceptional artist, always being recognized by his teachers. He was also a great cook and aspired to be a chef. Wrapped up in a relationship with his first love, he often cooked for his girlfriend, making her pancakes every morning they were together.

The holidays were always a special time for the Baker family. Everyone came together to celebrate. “I always think he’s going to walk through the door,” said Tiffany. She longs to hear him say, “What’s up, OG?” like he always did.

Helping people in his community was always important to Michael. He often helped an elderly neighbor shop and do her taxes. One time his mom questioned why he was out so late, and he explained that he was reading the Bible to a friend’s daughter to help her fall asleep.

After joining the church at around the age of 14, Michael continued to follow God and model his life in many ways around his faith.

On the day Michael died, he attended the viewing for a friend who had recently died. He was hanging out at a house with some other friends and got caught in what is believed to have been a gang-related shooting. His friend was targeted, and Michael was caught in the crossfire. He was found the next morning after a woman saw him lying on the sidewalk and thought he had just passed out. Police arrived and confirmed that he had been killed. On July 20, 2013, Tiffany got the call that her son had been shot in the chest and had died on scene.

The city of Hollywood quickly ran out of answers. A press conference was held in December 2013, and the family has had no contact with the detective on the case ever since the initial list of suspects dwindled down

“Everything felt as if it was moving in slow motion,” said Tiffany. She had been visiting Georgia when the murder occurred and drove back to Florida immediately upon getting the phone call.

In his remembrance, the family goes to Michael’s grandmother’s house and does a balloon release on the anniversary of his death. They all join together, get an ice cream cake, and rejoice in the memories of him. Tiffany often goes through his Facebook memories as a way to capture the moments in time.

Michael was cremated and his ashes laid to rest in his grandmother’s backyard. An aloe bush grows above his grave, and the family can still feel close. Tiffany holds a strong faith in God and knows that her faith is what got her through this. “I put everything in God’s hands,” she said.

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If you have any information regarding the unsolved murders of Michael Baker and Andre Kemp, please call the Hollywood Police Department at (954) 967-4636. You can also remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward by calling the Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.

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