- This article is about the caretaker at St. Gall. For the captain in Wickport, see Frank Morvell.
Frank Baldwin is the caretaker at St. Gall. He was an Aberdeen local recently hired by Father Ernest when St. Gall changed from a boarding school to an hospital. He is first seen in Chapter 2, digging graves in the backyard. When Devitt talks with him, Baldwin observes there have been many recent deaths in hospital. Despite Baldwin claiming to have never met his employer in person, Devitt finds evidence that Father Ernest had explicitly asked the nuns to hire him as caretaker.
Although friendly, the nuns and patients do not trust Baldwin. One patient even leaves a note with the sentence "Baldwin Lies" written all over it. Devitt discovers that Baldwin and Father Ernest are connected to the high death rate. Their activities have some mysterious connection with the Veil and Ernest's boundless curiosity and desire to return there.
When Devitt discovers the scheme of Baldwin and Ernest, the latter set himself ablaze. Baldwin decides Devitt knows too much and hits him on the head with a hammer. He then proceeds to bury Devitt alive. Luckily for Devitt, the nuns discover this in time and rescue him. Later, Alexandre tells Devitt that this was not just luck, but he was probably protected by the Bird King.
Later, Baldwin is sentenced to death by hanging and is executed for his crimes.
Baldwin himself appeared to have had no deeper interest in Father Ernest's goals and simply welcomed the prospect of "releasing" the sick, which he saw as an act of benevolent mercy, in spite of the cruel methods used. It is heavily implied that Baldwin is a necrophile, a lover of the dead, which is supported by the "An Impossible Love" sequence of Devitt's nightmare and his last statement defending his actions, claiming he had performed the deeds with "love".
A younger Baldwin in "An Impossible Love"
Baldwin in the backyard
Baldwin's execution