Suspect Denies Slashing Throat Of Mother & Child

Reporter: Chad Sewich

New Media Producer: Kerry Corum

A week ago, in Madison County just northeast of Indianapolis, a 26-year-old mother and her four-year-old daughter were murdered. They were attacked from behind, their throats slashed.

The prime suspect - Fredrick Baer. A man with a lengthy criminal record that stretches from Knox County to Marion to Hamilton to Madison.

Prosecutors disagree.

In Marion County, Baer is being charged with two brutal rapes. In Hamilton County, he's accused of rape, and burglary, and more charges are expected there.

With new charges mounting daily, Baer faces hundreds of years in prison with the death penalty looming.

And the Madison County prosecutor is apparently livid. He's questioning why Knox County Prosecutor, John Sievers, didn't put Baer behind bars two-years ago, on an habitual criminal charge.

We stopped by John Sievers' office for a comment, but his assistant said he was in court all day, and he did not return our phone calls.

Rodney Cummings, Prosecutor for Madison County, where the mother and daughter were killed, is also trying to reach Sievers.

In fact, Cummings wrote a letter to Sievers, essentially asking why Frederick Baer wasn't given a longer sentence for his crimes. Here's part of that letter:

"It appears Baer was habitual eligible and possibly could have been charged with escape. I would appreciate information you could provide to help me explain why Baer was not incarcerated longer than 18 months."

Habitual eligible is an Indiana law that would have given Baer a longer sentence for committing several crimes.

Here's why Cummings is questioning Baer's sentencing: In Knox County alone, in 2001 and 2002, Baer was charged with drug trafficing and possession, probation violations, numerous thefts, robbery, possession of stolen property, resisting law enforcement, escape and battery.