Tara Louise Baker

Case Information:

Tara Louise Baker was 23 years old when she was brutally murdered inside her apartment in Athens, Georgia, on January 19, 2001. The dedicated University of Georgia law student was killed just one day before her 24th birthday.

Her death shocked the local university community and sparked a massive arson and homicide investigation. For over two decades, the identity of her attacker remained a mystery as the case went completely cold.

Case Details:

Tara spent the evening of January 18 studying with a close friend at the UGA School of Law library. Her friend left early, but Tara stayed late and called that same friend at 9:46 p.m. to ensure they arrived home safely. Tara noted that she planned to head back to her residence around 10:00 p.m.

The brief phone conversation marked the final time anyone ever spoke to the young student. The next morning, local firefighters responded to a severe house fire at her east Athens home. Responders discovered Tara’s body inside the burning structure, and investigators quickly determined the fire was set intentionally to conceal a homicide.

Timeline of Events:

• January 18, 2001: Tara studies at the university library and makes her final phone call to a friend at 9:46 p.m.
• January 19, 2001: Firefighters discover Tara’s body inside her burning apartment, prompting an immediate murder investigation.
• May 2003: The University of Georgia posthumously awards Tara her law degree to honor her memory and academic dedication.
• June 2020: The Classic City Crime podcast launches a deep-dive audio series to renew public interest in the cold case.
• September 2023: The GBI Cold Case Unit partners with local police under the newly enacted Coleman-Baker Act.
• May 2024: Authorities officially arrest and charge a local resident with felony murder and multiple related felony offenses.
• April 2025: The Baker family sits down for their first joint on-camera discussion since the major arrest announcement.

Investigation:

An initial autopsy confirmed that Tara was beaten, stabbed, and strangled before her apartment was set ablaze. Despite extensive neighborhood canvassing by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, actionable leads quickly dried up. The case lingered for over twenty years until local advocacy helped pass the Coleman-Baker Act, establishing a specialized cold case team.

In September 2023, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation reopened the physical evidence files alongside local detectives. Utilizing advanced DNA science and newly analyzed biological evidence, authorities successfully linked a suspect to the crime scene. In May 2024, police arrested 48-year-old Athens resident Edrick Lamont Faust, charging him with murder, arson, aggravated sodomy, and tampering with evidence.

Community Response:

The local Athens community rallied tightly around the Baker family throughout the decades of painful silence. True crime advocates and the Classic City Crime community regularly distributed flyers and kept her memory alive online.

In 2021, student groups and friends organized a moving flower memorial on the university campus to mark twenty years without justice. The community also lobbied state lawmakers heavily to secure crucial funding for structural cold case reforms.

Family Statements:

Tara’s mother, Virginia Baker, maintained incredible resilience and never gave up her public fight for the truth. Her three siblings actively questioned law enforcement over the years and successfully fought to secure her original autopsy report.

Following the 2024 arrest, the family expressed eternal gratitude to the state and federal investigators who cracked the case. They noted that while they are closer to the truth, the breakthrough brings fresh grief and unanswered questions.

Physical Appearance:

Tara was a 23-year-old Caucasian female with a bright smile, dark hair, and a friendly demeanor. She originally grew up in Lovejoy, Georgia, before attending college in Milledgeville and later moving to Athens for law school.

Photographs from the time of her disappearance show her with shoulder-length hair and a professional appearance. Her loved ones always remember her as a fiercely loyal individual who constantly fought for the underdogs of society.

Current Status:

The status of Tara’s case is officially solved following the successful execution of the forensic arrest warrant. Edrick Lamont Faust remains held in the county jail on a strict bond while awaiting his criminal trial.

The true crime podcast has paused all production on her case to avoid interfering with the upcoming courtroom proceedings. State prosecutors are currently preparing their extensive evidence file as the wheels of justice continue to turn.

Contact Information:

Though an arrest has been made, anyone possessing additional background details should contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477).

You can also submit tips to the GBI Athens Regional Office at (706) 542-7901. Alternatively, individuals may reach out directly to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department at (706) 613-3337.

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