G Unit the bottom of the pecking order
Karen is transferred to G Unit, the bottom of the pecking order. It is the discipline unit, the wild wild west of the women's prison. Karen meets the next teacher, The Alpha. Karen is moved several times over six months. Karen meets teacher, Mittens. Forms a “friendship” group Five Alive, witnesses brutal fight between Helen of Troy and Girlfriend. Begins exploring chapel services and writing. Contributes to prison writing book Bound for Freedom. Karen works in the kitchen. Pruno bust occurs, Karen learns about layers of discipline including The Hole. Karen begins visits from family and friends. Nikki comes from school for visiting, admits she is depressed and poor. Gerry begins to come nearly every week. Karen meets Good Cop, and is less afraid of punishment. Haley flies up from California to visit, Christine, Loretta, Katie and Sue take turns bringing her. Good Cop introduces herself and visitors are relieved at her humanity. Karen begins regular attendance of church, yoga and zen services. Karen is moved to J Unit, the honor unit two weeks prior to earning 6 months clear conduct. Karen is a cellmate for a harsh woman who is the head of the Canine Companion program. Karen lasts four days and is kicked back down to G Unit. Karen sees the turnstile of women returning, hears poverty in every narration of recidivism. Vows to save money and learn all she can.
Transfer to Coffee Creek Correctional facility
Karen and the trio of teachers are transferred to Coffee Creek Correctional facility. Karen is house on the Intake unit in a cell with another female inmate and begins the lessons of doing time.
Karen spends time in solitary confinement
Karen spends time in solitary confinement due to wrist in splint. Due to dire conditions of solitary confinement, Karen choses to remove wrist splint and moves to general population, faces greatest fear, the women inmates. Meets a trio of women who are the first prison “teachers”who teach her the ropes.
Manslaughter II 75 months
Sentencing: DA overturns mediated agreement. Pressing fro two counts of Manslaughter I, Consecutive, 20 years. Victims family choses sentence. Manslaughter II 75 months. Present: Nikki, (Haley in San Diego), Christine, her son Shane, Sam, Step-mother Audrey, Gerry, Jack, Robin and Loretta. Karen is taken to Clackamas County jail and begins her sentence there until paperwork is in order for prison. Karen experiences slamming doors, cells, strip searches.
Mediation ordered for settlement
District Attorney changes direction three times. Mediation ordered for settlement. Wrong Karen Baker is still in file at mediation. Karen learns details of Tom's accident one year prior to death. Karen tells mediator divorce proceeding had begun. Victim's family learns of this detail and that Karen is not Karen Baker of criminal worksheet. Mediator report: Karen's behavior an extreme deviation from normal behavior. Mediation is agreed upon: 6 years.
Wrong Karen Baker Introduced into Legal Proceedings
District Attorney, Victims and Karen's defense attorneys can not agree on out of court settlement. Karen must submit to psychological study. Psychologist has the worksheet of the other Karen Baker in the file. Psychologist attempts to have Karen admit to crimes that were not hers. Test results reveal Karen is suffering from depression.
District Attorney is pressing maximum charges
Daughters Nikki and Haley begin visiting Karen. Karen has friend or family member at the home at all times. Nikki gets driver's license, becomes driver for Karen.
District Attorney is pressing maximum charges: Consecutive sentences for 2 victims, 10 years each for 20 years total. Defense attorneys discover another Karen Baker's criminal history has been included into Karen's file. The other Karen Baker has an extensive criminal history including auto theft, prostitution, forgery, conspiracy.
Karen leaves hospital and goes to rehab for several weeks
Christine and Sam handle Karen's affairs, distribution of Tom's effects and support to Karen's daughters, Nikki and Haley. Karen leaves hospital and goes to rehab unit for several weeks. Returns home and has two more events of failure to thrive. Karen at 5'9” weighs 115#. Christine transfers Karen for second time to E.R. Transfers Medical care with primary doctor as gate keeper to supervise medications from various disciplines: (orthopedics, urology, dentistry, GI, Neurology). Stabilization begins. Karen transfers to following orthopedist who discovers back/pelvis/hip surgery has failed. Hip halo removed. Karen continues to use platform walker for hip/back and wrist. Second wrist surgery. Poor results.
Car accident
Tom dies at the scene. Other female victim dies at the scene. Karen is life-flighted to Trauma Unit at Oregon Health Sciences University. Karen begins several days of surgeries for over 20 broken bones, GI rupture, lung puncture, bladder repair, dental surgery.
Christine, sister and father, Sam arrive at hospital. March 29th: daughters father takes Nikki and Haley to hospital. On respirator, hip halo installed. Indicted for Manslaughter II, DUII. Defense lawyers hired. Karen is mostly unconscious. Poor memory of events leading to accident. None of accident, life-flight or early days of hospital. Friends and family gather at hospital. Tom's brother arrives from Denver. Unbeknownst to Karen hip surgery has failed due to hospital therapists twisting bed pad for supine to sit edge of bed. Failure to thrive.