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Accused Deerfield murderer gave himself a hair cut
Daniel Baker
Updated: October 7, 2012 6:25AM
A Deerfield man broke Lake County Jail rules to give himself an unusual hair cut, Lake County Sheriff Sgt. John Hall said Thursday.
Daniel Baker, 24, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing Vernon Hills woman Marina Aksman with a baseball bat on April 1, 2010.
Baker wore his unusual hair cut Thursday for his second court appearance in less than a week. Both court hearings dealt with materials related to Baker’s mental health from defense experts. Defense attorney Ed Genson has previously said he intends to use the insanity defense.
Baker wore the same hairstyle he had last Friday. He had short hair with a single, close-cropped stripe down the middle of his head. It looked like a reverse mohawk.
“Apparently, we gave him a razor to shave himself with. He took it upon himself to shave it himself,” Hall said. “It’s a little ridiculous with the hair cut. I don’t know why he’d want to do that.”
Inmates are not allowed to cut their own hair. They can use their commissary money to hire a barber for $5. If indigent, they can get free hair cuts, Hall said.
Jail inmates can use their commissary money to purchase products for their hair, but hair dye is not allowed and there are no restrictions to how inmates can style their hair.
Inmates are also allowed to use a razor for their facial hair, Hall said. Inmates are allowed to use razors unless they are going to use it to harm themselves.
The penalty for breaking jail rules is to get placed in Administrative Segregation Unit, in which an inmate is placed under lockdown for 23 hours per day.
However, Baker has already been placed in protective custody at ASU, Hall said. Baker has been in ASU for about 90 percent of the 874 days that he has been in custody at the jail, Hall said.
Baker is being held without bond. Attorneys said Thursday that they intend to proceed with trial Oct. 9.
Baker is due back in court Sept. 4 to continue addressing mental health data and resolve other outstanding trial issues.
This is not the first time Baker has broken jail rules. In August 2010, he got into a fight with two correctional officers that resulted in Baker getting Tasered. The officers questioned Baker on July 30, 2010 about chips outside of his cell, officials previously said.
Baker also was put in ASU after making verbal and written threats to kill jail correctional officers June 26, 2011.
