The tragic death of Malcolm Baker, a former Metropolitan Police detective superintendent, remains shrouded in uncertainty following a fatal house fire in Somerset on September 14, 2022. At 60 years old, Baker perished when a blaze consumed his home in Brompton Regis, near Dulverton.
The inquest revealed that Baker had barricaded himself in his bedroom using heavy oak furniture after an argument with his wife, Francesca Onody. Police found him refusing to open the door when they arrived, despite repeated attempts to communicate. After confirming an arrestable offence, authorities intended to enter forcibly but detected the strong smell of petrol, prompting evacuation of the house.
Shortly after evacuation, an explosion ignited the petrol fumes, engulfing the property in flames and resulting in Baker’s death. The jury concluded that while the explosion and fire were caused by deliberate or reckless acts, it could not ascertain whether Baker intended to take his own life.
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Baker and Onody, married for nearly 20 years and parents of two, were in the process of divorcing. Post-retirement from the Met Police in 2011, they ran a security consultancy in Somerset. Throughout the summer preceding the fire, police were called multiple times following allegations by Onody accusing Baker of domestic abuse and financial fraud.
The inquest also disclosed concerns about Baker’s declining mental health and heavy drinking. Family members noted disturbing behaviors, including his storage of petrol canisters on the property and leaving a dead rabbit in his wife’s bed.
Conversations through the locked bedroom door revealed Baker was experiencing distress over his divorce, denying he needed help and accusing his wife of tactical maneuvers to damage him legally. While police interacted with both parties, they observed petrol dripping through the ceiling below Baker’s bedroom, leading to evacuation and the subsequent fatal fire.
Fire investigations determined the fire initiated on the ground floor, likely caused by ignition of petrol fumes by an electrical device, though investigators could not specify which item due to extensive destruction. Experts ruled out Baker deliberately starting the fire himself, as he was confined upstairs, and no third-party involvement was detected.
With only limited remains recovered, the precise cause of Baker’s death remains unestablished, classified as unascertained by officials. This multifaceted tragedy thus closes without clear answers on intent, leaving questions about Baker’s final moments unresolved.