A wheelchair user who fatally stabbed a friend when she came to his aid during a drug-fuelled breakdown has died unexpectedly in prison.
Autumn Baker, 40, from Darley, about 60km north-west of Melbourne, was killed by Mark Graham Ludbrook on August 3, 2023.
Ludbrook was naked when he took a steak knife from the kitchen and stabbed himself in the abdomen. He then attacked the unarmed mother of two as she tried to intervene.
A Supreme Court of Victoria jury convicted him in February, after jurors at his first trial were unable to reach a verdict.
Ludbrook, 54, was sentenced in May to 19 years behind bars, with a minimum 14-year non-parole period. He was appealing the murder conviction at the time of his death.
He had been held in the specialist medical unit at Port Phillip Prison after a rare neurological disorder, transverse myelitis, left him dependent on a wheelchair.
Ludbrook reportedly died at the prison on September 13. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the circumstances surrounding his death.
News of his death prompted an angry response from Ms Baker’s friends, who used social media to challenge tributes posted in memory of the convicted killer.
“Rot in Hell Mark Ludbrook, you savage murderer of a young mother, Autumn Baker,” one person wrote.
Mark Ludbrook died suddenly in jail while appealing his murder conviction
“The death penalty, and in the same karmic manner. Now he knows how it feels to be on the receiving end,” another commenter said.
A further post read: “He may not have served out his sentence, but he got one better, in my opinion.”
The criticism followed tributes from people who had known Ludbrook and remembered him more positively.
“Will cherish the times we had together DJing at gigs and going to festivals,” one friend wrote. “A great bloke and will be missed by everyone who knew him.”
Ms Baker was a prominent anti-vaccination campaigner who appeared in several videos protesting mandatory Covid vaccinations during Victoria’s lockdowns.
On January 15, 2022, she took the microphone at a major protest held in support of tennis star Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic had been detained and later deported from Australia after opposing Covid vaccination requirements.
In footage from the rally, Ms Baker led chants including “The people united will never be defeated”, “Hey Pfizer, leave our kids alone”, “Hands off our kids, they are not your guinea pigs”, “Free Victoria” and “No more vax pass.”
Autumn Baker had shown Ludbrook kindness before he murdered her as she fought for her life
Friends remembered Ludbrook fondly despite his conviction for murder
The court heard Ms Baker had shown nothing but compassion for her killer in the lead up to her murder.
The court heard Ms Baker was stabbed repeatedly in the chest and face around her eyes and left to die on the bedroom floor.
She had suffered defensive cuts to her hands as she fought for her life.
The court heard Ludbrook’s behaviour had become erratic after he took a double dose of an illegal ketamine-like drug called PCE at his Hoppers Crossing home, west of Melbourne, while being attended by his carer.
‘You told [her] that you needed to sleep with her to save the animals, which she rebuffed,’ Justice Gorton said.
‘You then removed your pants and stood at the end of the bed … You asked [her] to give you high fives or a high tenner to say, “Hallelujah when your hands connected.”‘
Ludbrook was also seen spitting on cash and smearing it over his naked body while ‘saying that you would save 10,000 souls,’ Justice Gorton said.
Autumn Baker, 40, of Darley – about 60km northwest of Melbourne – was murdered by Mark Graham Ludbrook on August 3, 2023
Autumn Baker had opposed former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ Covid-19 lockdowns
The episode escalated when Ms Baker arrived at the house out of concern for Ludbrook, who had been her friend.
His death will be investigated by the coroner.
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