Family of UGA law student at center of murder cold case speaks out following arrest
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation shared new details in a decades-long cold case involving a University of Georgia student.
Tara Louise Baker, a 23-year-old law student, was found dead inside her off-campus apartment in the Deer Park community of Athens in 2001. Firefighters discovered her body after responding to a fire at the home. An investigation determined that the fire was set intentionally, authorities said.
The case remained largely unsolved and led to a new state law establishing the GBI Cold Case Unit.
RELATED: Cold case murder of UGA student solved nearly 23 years later, authorities say
On Thursday, GBI officials announced the arrest of Edrick Lamont Faust, 48, in connection to Baker’s death. Faust is facing charges of murder, felony 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 court documents.
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Baker was a graduate of Lovejoy High School’s class of 1995. She continued her education at Georgia College in Milledgeville before starting up law school at UGA.
During a news conference on Monday, authorities said it was technological advancements and investigative work that helped link Faust to Baker’s murder.
“In Tara’s case, it was biological evidence and DNA science, combined with collaborative investigative work from our law enforcement partners that you see here today, that brought us this result,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey.
Baker’s family ed officials on Monday. Her brother described the 23-year-old as smart, loyal and kind. He urged people to focus on who she was and not what happened to her.
“Don’t ever stop praying. Don’t ever stop having hope in your heart, because it can happen,” Tara Baker’s mother said.
Authorities said there was no connection between Baker and Faust.
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