After 23 years, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has arrested an Athens man for the murder of Tara Louise Baker, a case that has haunted the University of Georgia community since 2001. Edrick Lamont Faust, 48, faces multiple charges, including murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, arson, and aggravated sodomy. The break in the case came after an intensive review and analysis by the GBI's Cold Case Unit in partnership with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.
According to a recent GBI press release, Baker's body was discovered by firefighters responding to a fire at her Athens apartment in January 2001. The investigation concluded the fire was set intentionally. Baker, a 23-year-old first-year law student at UGA, was remembered as a diligent student with a "bright future ahead of her," GBI Director Chris Hosey said in the release. "Tara's life was stolen from her in a horrific act of violence."
The Cold Case Unit, created in July 2023, utilizes experienced agents to sift through old case files and re-examine physical evidence. In Tara's case, it was determined that biological evidence and DNA advancements, combined with rigorous investigative work, ultimately led to Faust's arrest. "For over two decades, investigators have worked tirelessly to find answers for the family and friends of Tara Louise Baker," Hosey stated, expressing his hope that the arrest would begin the process of closure and healing, as stated by the GBI press release.
The Baker family, while still grappling with the loss, has found a semblance of hope. "Last year we watched the Governor sign the Coleman-Baker Act. This bill was not for us, it was for Tara’s legacy," a family member remarked during the GBI news conference. While the arrest marks a significant milestone, Chief Jerry Saulters of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, who was present at the crime scene in 2001, said, "This is a case that has lived with me throughout my career at ACCPD. I remember being there during that horrific time. Seeing this case now full circle, I appreciate the hard work of the detectives, from then and now," according to the GBI press release.
Faust was booked into the Athens-Clarke County Jail, and local law enforcement encourages anyone with more information about the investigation to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously through a toll-free hotline or the GBI website. The GBI emphasizes their commitment to persist in the pursuit of justice for victims and their families, conscious that even seemingly insignificant details may hold the key to resolving these long-standing mysteries.
