A 48-year-old man from Georgia named Edrick Lamont Faust has been denied bond in Athens after being charged with the murder of 23-year-old first-year law student Tara Louise Baker. Faust faces charges that include murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, concealing the death of another, arson, possession of a knife during a felony, tampering with evidence, and aggravated sodomy. Baker was found dead in her apartment in 2001 after a fire, which was later determined to be arson. Faust was booked into the Athens-Clarke County Jail after his arrest in conjunction with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s cold case unit and the Athens-Clarke County police.
In September, the GBI’s cold case unit teamed up with local police to review and analyze the investigation into Baker’s death. This partnership ultimately led to Faust’s arrest for the murder of Tara Baker. GBI Director Chris Hosey expressed sympathy for the Baker family, acknowledging the violent act that took Tara’s life. Despite the fact that Faust’s apprehension cannot bring Tara back, Hosey hopes that it can help the Baker family find some sense of closure as they continue through their healing process.
Tara Baker, who would have turned 24 the day after she was found dead, had a promising future ahead of her as a hardworking law student. She had previously graduated Cum Laude from Georgia College with two bachelor’s degrees in 1998. Baker was last seen at the University of Georgia Law School Library before her death, and her friends reported that she even called to make sure they arrived home safely. Chief of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, Jerry Saulters, expressed relief that Baker’s family may finally find justice after all these years. He had been at the scene back in 2001 and had carried the case with him throughout his career.
Governor Brian Kemp commended the work of investigators in charging Faust with the murder of Tara Baker. He mentioned the Coleman-Baker Act, which he signed the previous year to bring justice to families who had been waiting for closure for too long. Kemp expressed hope that Tara’s memory will live on through the actions of the Unit that worked tirelessly to solve her case. The arrest of Faust after 23 years is a significant milestone in the long journey for justice for Tara Baker and her family. The hard work of the detectives involved in this case over the years has finally paid off with the arrest of the suspect responsible for Baker’s tragic death.
The life of Tara Louise Baker was taken in a violent and horrific manner, robbing her of a promising future and leaving her family and friends devastated. The tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies, including the GBI’s cold case unit and local police, have finally led to the arrest of Edrick Lamont Faust for Baker’s murder. The arrest of Faust and the denial of bond in Athens mark a significant step towards justice for Tara Baker and her loved ones. Despite the passage of 23 years since her tragic death, the memory of Tara Baker lives on through the dedication and perseverance of those who worked to bring her killer to justice.
