A 48-year-old Georgia man accused of killing 23-year-old first-year law student Tara Louise Baker and setting fire to her apartment 23 years ago has been denied bail in Athens.
Edric Lamont Faust is charged with murder, two counts of felony murder, one count of aggravated assault, concealing the death of another person, arson, possession of a knife during the commission of a felony, tampering with evidence and one count of aggravated sodomy. , according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
He was booked into the Athens-Clarke County Jail.
Baker was found dead in his apartment on January 19, 2001, after emergency calls were called to a fire caused by arson.
In September, the GBI’s Cold Case Division partnered with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department to “conduct a detailed investigation and analysis of the ongoing investigation into Mr. Baker’s death.”
Faust was arrested Thursday.
“Tara Louise Baker was a hard-working student with a bright future ahead of her.” GBI Director Chris Hosey said in a statement. “Tara’s life was taken in a horrific act of violence. While her latest arrest will not bring her back, we hope this brings closure as the Baker family continues their healing journey.” .”
Baker, who would have celebrated her 24th birthday the day after she was found, graduated with honors from the University of Georgia in Milledgeville in 1998 with two bachelor’s degrees. According to FOX5.
According to the station, she was last seen alive by friends on the night of Jan. 18 in the University of Georgia School of Law library, after which she called friends to ask if she had returned home safely. It has been confirmed.
Current Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Salters said in a statement: “For many years I have hoped that the Baker family would find justice for the loss of Tara.” “This is a case that has lived with me throughout my career with ACCPD.
“I remember being there during that horrific time. Now that this case has come to a close, I am grateful for the hard work of our detectives then and now. The evidence collected then contributed to today’s arrests. I am extremely proud of all the officers who have worked on this case over the years.”
Salters was a police officer at the scene in 2001.
Gov. Brian Kemp this week praised the efforts of law enforcement officials in indicting the suspect in the case.
“Last year, I signed the Coleman-Baker Act so we could bring closure and justice to families like these that have been overdue for far too long,” he said Thursday after Faust’s arrest. I wrote this. “May Tara’s memory live on through the great work of this unit.”
