Partner pleads guilty to Jenny Baxter's murder and receives 40 years in prison – Port Arthur News

The partner of a Vidor-area woman has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for her murder in 2023. The trial of Russell James Kinney, 40, was originally scheduled to take place this week, but the trial was set to be postponed until October. Rather than wait for trial, he opted to take a deal of 40 years in prison, giving up his chance to appeal. He must serve at least 20 years before he is eligible for parole.

Kinney pleaded guilty to killing 45-year-old Jenny Baxter, who was confined to a wheelchair for health reasons.

Jenny Baxter will be remembered as a funny, witty, intelligent and loving person. (Photo courtesy)

Baxter's body was found on March 14, 2023, after a welfare check at her home in the Denbow Mobile Home Park, 206 FM 1131 near Vidor. Authorities believe she may have been killed at least three weeks earlier. Her partner, Russell James Kinney, was arrested in connection with her death. Baxter's body was found wrapped in plastic under a bed.

Orange County Assistant District Attorney Krispen Walker said Baxter's family and friends are devastated by her murder. She believes the sentence is appropriate under the circumstances. The motion was made Monday in 163rd District Court by Judge Rex Peveto. Friends close to Baxter spoke of her kindness and love for every living animal, saying she was funny, witty and very intelligent. Her laugh could fill a room, and she always gave huge hugs, squeezing as much love into each hug as she could, friends said in a story after her death.

In 2022, Baxter was a guest author at the Vidor Public Library, signing copies of her book, “Gordon Baxter: Flying Lessons and Pilot Talk,” which is excerpted from books by her father, Gordon Baxter. Her father, known as Bax, was a Port Arthur native and well-known locally as a radio host, newspaper and magazine columnist, author and pilot. Gordon Baxter was 54 when Jenny was born, and in 1985 he wrote “Jenny n' Dad: The Love Story of a Very Young Daughter and a Very Old Father,” telling their story with his own brand of humor. Jenny Baxter lost her father in June 2005 at age 81 and her mother, Diane, in September 2014 at age 73. Close family friends said these losses have been hard on them.