Centerville Man Gets Life Without Parole for Reynolds County Murder

(Steelville) A man from Centerville, facing first degree murder and three other felonies out Reynolds County, decided to plead guilty to all charges last week in Crawford County court on a change of venue, instead of flirting with the possibility of getting the death penalty if he went to trial.

45-year-old Jason W. Baker shot and killed the mother of his 9-year-old and 7-year-old sons, Chelsea Conway, at Conway’s Centerville home in June of 2021.

Before she died, Conway told police who shot her.

After the murder, Baker fled the area with his boys.

He didn’t get far.

An Amber Alert was issued and not long after, Baker was found and arrested.

The boys were also found safe. Baker received life in prison without the possibility of parole for the first degree murder charges.

For the other three felonies he pled guilty to, Baker received 37 more years in prison.