The Chilling Testimony: How Michelle Rogers’ Survival Exposed Matthew Terry’s Deadly Pattern

The shocking true crime case involving Matthew Terry and his ex-girlfriend, Michelle Rogers, remains a pivotal example of how a history of domestic violence can forecast tragedy, with the latest updates confirming the killer's fate. As of December 17, 2025, the case has moved past the verdict and sentencing phase, but the harrowing details of the trial—specifically the testimony from Rogers—continue to resonate, exposing a chilling pattern of premeditated violence that tragically culminated in the murder of Terry's subsequent girlfriend, Kay Baker. The legal proceedings in Hillsborough County, Florida, relied heavily on the prior attack to establish Terry’s dangerous and consistent modus operandi, turning Michelle Rogers from a survivor into a key figure in securing justice for Baker. The narrative of Matthew Terry and Michelle Rogers is not one of a relationship gone sour, but a stark warning of escalating abuse and the failures of the justice system to prevent a final, fatal act. Rogers’ courageous decision to testify about her own near-death experience in 2017 provided the jury with irrefutable evidence of Terry's capacity for extreme brutality, ultimately leading to his conviction for the murder of Kay Baker. This article delves into the biographical context of the key figures and the timeline of events that connected two separate acts of violence across state lines.

Key Figures: The Matthew Terry and Michelle Rogers Case

The case that captivated true crime audiences across the United States involves three central figures: the perpetrator, the survivor, and the final victim. Understanding their backgrounds is crucial to grasping the gravity of the events that unfolded.

• Matthew Terry (The Perpetrator):
  • Age: 47 at the time of conviction.
  • Origin: Lansing, Michigan.
  • Criminal History: Served prison time in Michigan for the brutal 2017 stabbing attack on his then-girlfriend, Michelle Rogers.
  • Crime: First-degree premeditated murder of Kay Baker in Florida.
  • Sentence: Life without the possibility of parole.
• Michelle Rogers (The Survivor/Key Witness):
  • Connection to Terry: Ex-girlfriend who dated him for nearly two years.
  • Survival Story: Survived a near-fatal stabbing attack by Terry in 2017 in Lansing, Michigan.
  • Role in Trial: Crucial prosecution witness in the Florida murder trial of Kay Baker, testifying about the eerily similar nature of the 2017 attack.
  • Location: Lansing, Michigan (at the time of the attack).
• Kay Baker (The Victim):
  • Age: 43.
  • Profession: Beloved third-grade math and science teacher.
  • Location: Ruskin, Florida.
  • Crime Details: Killed by Matthew Terry in 2021 after an argument, in an act of extreme violence that involved multiple stab wounds and near decapitation.

The Chilling 2017 St. Patrick's Day Attack on Michelle Rogers

The foundation of the prosecution's case against Matthew Terry for the murder of Kay Baker was his prior, documented history of violence, specifically the near-fatal attack on Michelle Rogers. This event, which occurred on March 17, 2017, in Lansing, Michigan, served as powerful *M.O. evidence* (Modus Operandi) to demonstrate a pattern of behavior. The night began with St. Patrick's Day celebrations, where Terry reportedly became "clearly drunk" and aggressive. As the evening progressed, an argument escalated into a horrifying act of violence. Michelle Rogers testified that Terry, in a drunken rage, produced a knife and brutally attacked her. She described being stabbed multiple times, with one source indicating seven separate wounds, including in her right shoulder and throat area. Rogers’ survival was a miracle, but the attack left an indelible mark. Terry was arrested and subsequently convicted for this assault. However, a major point of contention and a critical detail in the later murder case was the leniency of his sentence. Despite the gravity of the assault, the Michigan Parole Board released Matthew Terry from prison after only three years, a decision that was met with criticism and warnings from local authorities. Tragically, within five months of his release, Terry would go on to commit the ultimate crime against Kay Baker, demonstrating the devastating consequences of failing to recognize and contain a clear pattern of lethal domestic violence.

Kay Baker’s Murder and the Crucial Survivor Testimony

The cycle of violence tragically repeated itself in 2021, this time in Ruskin, Florida, and with fatal consequences for Kay Baker. Following an argument, Matthew Terry attacked Baker, stabbing her multiple times and nearly decapitating her with a knife. The brutality of the crime immediately drew parallels to the 2017 assault on Michelle Rogers. The Florida prosecutor’s office, seeking a conviction for first-degree premeditated murder, made the strategic decision to introduce evidence of the 2017 attack under Florida’s rules of evidence, which allow for prior bad acts to be admitted if they establish a common scheme or plan. This is where Michelle Rogers became the star witness. Rogers took the stand in the Hillsborough County courtroom and delivered a harrowing account of her near-death experience. Her testimony was not just about a past crime; it was a living, breathing demonstration of Matthew Terry’s violent tendencies and his specific method of attack—using a knife against an intimate partner during an argument.

The Impact of Michelle Rogers’ Testimony

The court allowed Rogers to detail how Terry had threatened to kill her, how he stabbed her, and how she managed to survive. This testimony served several critical purposes for the prosecution:

• Establishing Intent: It countered any defense claim that Baker’s murder was a crime of passion or accidental, by showing a clear, repeated pattern of intent to kill.
• Demonstrating Modus Operandi: The similarities—the escalation from an argument, the use of a knife, and the extreme violence—were too striking to ignore.
• Providing Context: It painted a picture of Matthew Terry as a serial domestic abuser with a documented history of near-lethal violence against his partners.

The jury heard directly from a survivor whose life mirrored the final moments of the victim, Kay Baker. This powerful, emotional, and legally relevant evidence proved to be a deciding factor in the trial.

The Verdict and Sentencing: Life Without Parole

The trial concluded with the swift and unanimous conviction of Matthew Terry for the first-degree premeditated murder of Kay Baker. The jury’s decision affirmed the prosecution's argument that the murder was not a random act but the tragic culmination of a violent pattern. Following the conviction, the sentencing phase began, with the prosecution originally seeking the death penalty due to the heinous nature of the crime and the defendant's prior history. However, after deliberation, the Hillsborough County jury ultimately recommended a life sentence for Matthew Terry, a recommendation the judge was bound to follow. Matthew Terry was formally sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. While this outcome did not bring back Kay Baker, it ensured that a dangerous domestic abuser, whose pattern of violence was clearly established by the courageous testimony of Michelle Rogers, would never again be free to harm another woman. The case of Matthew Terry, Kay Baker, and Michelle Rogers stands as a stark, modern-day legal precedent, underscoring the vital importance of survivor testimony in exposing and punishing the deadly, escalating nature of intimate partner violence.