MERCER, Pa. -- The case of Sandra Kay Baker, who vanished more than seven years ago, officially became a homicide yesterday.

Mercer County Common Pleas Judge Thomas R. Dobson declared Ms. Baker dead after a somber 10-minute hearing in which her son and daughter were the only witnesses.

The children, Shawn Krebs and Shedara Binkley, testified that they had not seen or heard from their mother since May 25, 2000. State police said Ms. Baker's bank account and credit cards were never accessed after that day.

In 2005, police identified Billy Crea, Ms. Baker's fiance, as the suspect in her disappearance and presumed murder. But they have not arrested or charged Mr. Crea, a 52-year-old electrician who now lives in Ellwood City.

Ms. Baker's children said they believe police have pinpointed the right man, but lack hard evidence, including a body.

Mr. Krebs, 34, of Denver, said Mr. Crea never called police to report Ms. Baker missing, even though they were living together when she disappeared.

For his part, Mr. Crea declines to speak about the case.

His lawyer, James Ecker, said yesterday that Mr. Crea has never wavered in proclaiming his innocence.

Mr. Crea agreed to be questioned by police after Ms. Baker disappeared. But soon after, he retained Mr. Ecker as his lawyer and stopped cooperating in the investigation, state police said.

Police learned that Mr. Crea had been deeply suspicious of Ms. Baker, who was 46.

He hired a private detective to investigate Ms. Baker's background after they became engaged. The detective, Clifford Aley, lied repeatedly to police about his involvement and now is serving up to four years in prison for hindering the Baker homicide investigation.

Among other things, Mr. Aley found that Ms. Baker had been married six times, and was still married to a Florida man when she accepted Mr. Crea's proposal. Mr. Aley also learned that Ms. Baker was struggling financially. She was behind on car payments and other bills.

On May 25, 2000, the day she vanished, Mr. Aley called an auto finance company to report that Ms. Baker's 1988 Honda Accord was parked at the Shenango Valley Mall. Soon after, repossession men hauled away her car and any evidence it contained.

Mr. Aley told authorities he was only peripherally involved in Ms. Baker's disappearance. He claimed Mr. Crea was the killer and acted alone.

Mr. Aley said Mr. Crea told him he had strangled Ms. Baker after an argument, then put her body in some sort of container and hid it in Mercer County.

Pennsylvania law says a missing person can be presumed dead after seven years.