Tara Louise Baker : Justice for Murdered Law Student Tara Baker: 20-Year Wait Ends

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Tara Baker murder case
2. Justice for Tara Baker

After over two decades of mystery and heartache, investigators made a significant breakthrough this week in the cold case of murdered University of Georgia law student Tara Louise Baker. Local authorities arrested Athens man, 48-year-old Edrick Lamont Faust, in connection with Baker’s murder. “Tara’s life was stolen in a horrific act of violence. While this arrest does not bring her back, I pray it helps bring closure to the Baker family,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey. Faust, with a long criminal history, lived in the same neighborhood as Baker. Charged with various offenses, including murder and arson, Faust’s arrest came after a collaborative effort by multiple agencies.

After more than two decades of mystery and heartache, investigators made a significant breakthrough this week in the cold case of murdered University of Georgia law student Tara Louise Baker.

Local authorities arrested an Athens man, identified as 48-year-old Edrick Lamont Faust, in connection with the murder of Baker, who was found dead inside her apartment on Jan. 19, 2001.

“Tara’s life was stolen from her in a horrific act of violence. While this arrest does not bring her back to us, I pray that it helps bring closure to the Baker family as they continue their healing journey,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey in a news release emailed to Newsweek.

Faust was booked into the Clarke County Jail at 10:34 p.m. Thursday. He remains in jail without bond, according to the jail’s list of current inmates.

At the time of her death, Baker was only 23 and a diligent first-year law student at the University of Georgia in Athens. A 1995 graduate of Lovejoy High School, she went on to earn her undergraduate degrees at Georgia College in Milledgeville.

Details from police reports on the day of her murder indicate that Athens-Clarke County firefighters responded to a fire at her apartment around 11:20 a.m., where they discovered Baker’s body.

Investigators determined she was killed and the fire was intentionally set, launching a long-standing search for her murderer.

The evening before her death Baker was seen at the UGA Law School Library. According to reports, she spoke with a friend on the phone around 9:46 p.m. saying she planned to leave the library soon. This was the last time her friend would ever speak with Baker.

**How law enforcement cracked the cold case**

The arrest of Faust came after a collaborative effort spearheaded by the GBI, working closely with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and receiving significant support from the FBI and Georgia State Patrol.

In September, these agencies performed an in-depth review of the case, re-examining evidence collected over the years that ultimately pointed to Faust as a key suspect.

Faust lived on Cooper Road in the same neighborhood off Lexington Road as Baker, who lived barely a block away on Fawn Drive in east Athens. According to Athens-Clarke County Clerk of Court records, Faust has a long criminal history.

Jerry Saulters, now Chief of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, recalled the long history of the case and its impact on the local law enforcement community.

“This is a case that has lived with me throughout my career,” he said. “Seeing this case now come full circle, I appreciate the hard work of the detectives, from then and now.”

Faust is charged with murder, aggravated assault, concealing the death of another, arson, possession of a knife during the commission of a felony, tampering with evidence, and aggravated sodomy, according to the GBI.