I recently wrapped up an interview with Erika Castro-Miles, who is serving a 15 year prison sentence in Tennessee for second degree murder.

During a May 2018 traffic stop, Erica was in the passenger seat of a vehicle, the driver was Steven Wiggins. Once SGT. Baker approached Wiggins, he told the officer the window wouldn’t roll the entire way down, so he proceeded to make his way to the passenger side of the vehicle where Castro-Miles had been sitting. Paragraphs taken from the Tennessean: District Attorney Ray Crouch said that an event May 29, 2018 at a Cheatham County motel ultimately “triggers” Baker’s death. Crouch recounted the incident in which Castro-Miles ran naked from a motel room she shared with Wiggins, located the front desk worker and called the police to report that Wiggins had abused her and stole her Saturn car. Law enforcement searched the hotel room and found drug paraphernalia as well Castro-Miles' purse, which contained .45 caliber ammunition, Crouch said.

Baker, a Marine veteran and 10-year member of the sheriff’s office, was notified by dispatch the vehicle was reported stolen and then ordered Wiggins out of the car. The shooting is on Baker’s body camera footage, which was viewed in the Wiggins trial. In the footage, Wiggins complained that he couldn't open the door, stating “it’s a (messed) up door.” Baker asked if the passenger side door worked. Wiggins said yes, and Baker walked to the other side, telling Wiggins to keep his hands visible. As Baker approaches the passenger side, gunshots are heard. Baker was shot by a .45-caliber handgun and the body camera provides a first-person perspective as he ran for cover.

This interview will be available on all podcast platforms Spring 2023.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unforbidden-truth--4724561/support.