Edrick Lamont Faust, 48, was recently arrested and charged with the murder of Tara Louise Baker, a University of Georgia law student, in January 2001. Baker’s body was discovered in her burning apartment in Athens by firefighters, leading to Faust facing multiple charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated sodomy, tampering with evidence, and arson. Investigations revealed that Baker had been killed, and the fire was intentionally set, prompting authorities to search for her killer for over two decades.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Athens-Clarke County police worked together to arrest Faust in connection with Baker’s murder. Firefighters who responded to the blaze at Baker’s apartment found her lifeless body. An in-depth review and analysis of the case were conducted by the GBI’s cold case unit in partnership with the Athens-Clarke County police in September, leading to Faust’s arrest. The circumstances surrounding Faust’s arrest, specifically what led investigators to him or how he may have been connected to Baker, were not disclosed in the initial news release.
Upon his arrest, Faust was taken to the Athens-Clarke County Jail on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated sodomy, tampering with evidence, and arson. It remains unclear whether Faust has legal representation who could comment on the charges. Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters, who was present at the crime scene on the day Baker was found dead, expressed his satisfaction at the progression in the case and the possibility of justice being served for Baker and her family after so many years of uncertainty.
Chief Saulters remembered the horrific scene and expressed gratitude for the diligent work of the detectives involved, both then and now. He acknowledged the significance of the evidence collected at the time contributing to Faust’s arrest and expressed pride in all officers who had worked on the case throughout the years. GBI Director Chris Hosey echoed Chief Saulters’ sentiments, referring to Faust’s arrest as the first step towards obtaining justice for Tara Baker. The collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the dedication of officers throughout the investigation were fundamental in bringing closure to this long-standing cold case.