Georgia investigators announced Thursday that they had arrested a man in the 2001 murder of a University of Georgia law student who was found dead in her apartment after a fire there.
Edrick Lamont Faust, now 48, has been charged with murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, concealing the death of another, possession of a knife during the commission of a felony, tampering with evidence, and aggravated sodomy in connection with the death of Tara Louise Baker, 23, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.
Baker was a first year law student at the University of Georgia and a graduate of Lovejoy High School and Georgia College in Milledgeville.
Athens-Clarke County firefighters found her body in her apartment in Athens after extinguishing a fire on the morning of January 19, 2001. Investigators determined the fire was intentionally set and that Baker was murdered.
“Tara Louise Baker was a hardworking student with a bright future ahead of her,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “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.”
The GBI’s Cold Case Unit began a new review of the case, along with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department in September 2023.
No further information was released, but the GBI said that a news conference “in the coming days” would provide more details.
Investigators are still collecting evidence in the case and ask anyone with information to submit tips by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
