UGA cold case: GBI talk about arrest in law student's death 23 years ago

ATHENS, Ga. - Investigators held a press conference on Monday afternoon to reveal new details about their investigation into the decades-old cold case mystery of the murder of University of Georgia Law student Tara Louise Baker. 

It's been more than 23 years since Baker's body was discovered by Athens-Clarke County firefighters in a burning apartment on Fawn Drive. Investigators determined the fire was an act of arson and that Baker had been brutally murdered.

Last week, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced an arrest in the case. Edrick Lamont Faust, 48, of Athens, has been charged with multiple offenses including murder, felony murder, and arson in connection to Baker’s tragic death.

Officials say the GBI's cold case unit partnered with the ACCPD last September for a comprehensive review of the case, which led to Faust's arrest.

At this time, it's not known whether Faust and Baker knew each other before her murder. 

Biological evidence and DNA science along with new technology all played a role in solving the case.  

"Everything was reviewed, whether it be interviews forensic evidence, whatever the case may be," said GBI Director Chris Hosey. 

Athens-Clarke County Police Department Chief Jerry Saulters was on the scene back in 2001. 

"It affects you because you really would like to see justice for that family and for Tara, so to see it come full circle, it's just a blessing.," said Chief Saulters. 

"She was a champion for so many during her life, albeit short, and through this long she would continue to help others," Tara’s sister said.  

"I'm so grateful. I want people to know that prayers work. Don't ever stop praying, don't ever stop having hope in your heart because it can happen," said Tara’s mother. 

"The past few days have been filled with a host of convoluted emotions, as if it were 23 years ago, we grieve," Tara’s sister said. 

Who is Tara Louise Baker? 

Baker, born on January 20, 1977, in East Point, is remembered not only for her academic achievements but also for her remarkable character. A graduate of Lovejoy High School in 1995, Baker went on to attend Georgia College in Milledgeville, where she graduated Cum Laude in 1998 with two bachelor’s degrees. 

Friends and classmates recall Baker as a beacon of kindness and inclusivity. Her commitment to social justice was evident early on as she consistently advocated for those less fortunate and often led efforts to include all students in academic activities. 

Her academic prowess was matched by her dedication to making the university experience better for everyone around her. Baker was known for her ability to bring people together, ensuring that no serious student felt excluded from study groups or class projects. 

UGA law student's murder

On the morning of January 19, 2001, Athens-Clarke County firefighters discovered Baker’s body while responding to a fire at her Athens apartment located at 160 Fawn Drive. Investigations concluded the fire was an act of arson, part of a deliberate and heinous crime that abruptly ended the life of the 23-year-old student. 

Baker was last seen by friends around 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 18, at the UGA Law School Library. That same friend got a call from Baker around 9:46 p.m. to make sure they got home safely. She told her friend she planned to leave the library around 10 p.m. That was the last time she was seen.

According to the arrest warrants, Baker was killed between 9:45 p.m. on January 18, 2001, and 11:30 a.m. on January 19, 2001. Faust allegedly used "an instrument, when used offensively against a person, [that] results in strangulation," and is accused of stabbing Baker in the neck with a knife with a blade longer than three inches and striking her head with a blunt object.

Additionally, the warrants say that Faust sexually assaulted Baker during the attack, hid her body, and tried to destroy evidence by setting her apartment on fire.

Who is Edrick Lamont Faust?

Faust has dozens of arrests documented in Athens-Clarke County. According to court records, less than a month after Baker was killed, Faust was arrested and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for cutting someone's neck. 

According to records obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta from the Georgia Department of Corrections, Faust was incarcerated between Aug. 21, 1997, and July 20, 1999, as well as between May 1, 2001, and May 28, 2003.

A search of the Athens-Clarke County court website also returned records for numerous arrests and probation violations dating back to at least 2001. 

Faust's latest prior arrest was on March 3, 2022, when he was arrested for simple battery, disorderly conduct, and criminal trespass. He pled guilty on Nov. 14, 2022. He was given 50 hours of community service and 12 months probation.

He now remains in the Clarke County Jail without bond.