Athens Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2001 Murder and Sexual Assault

An Athens-Clarke County jury has convicted a man in the decades-long cold case murder of University of Georgia law student Tara Baker, bringing long-awaited closure to a case that remained unsolved for more than 20 years.

On February 17, 2026, a jury found Edrick Lamont Faust guilty of multiple charges connected to Baker’s death on January 19, 2001. The verdict included Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Rape, Aggravated Sodomy, Burglary, Aggravated Assault, Arson, and Possession of a Knife During the Commission of a Felony.

Faust was sentenced on February 19, 2026, to two consecutive life sentences, followed by an additional 45 years in prison.

Investigators said Baker’s case remained active for more than two decades, with law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels continuing to pursue leads. Advances in DNA technology, combined with persistent investigative work and the determination of Baker’s family, ultimately led to the identification and prosecution of her killer.

Officials credited the creation of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Cold Case Unit and ongoing collaboration among agencies for helping move the case forward after years without answers.

Prosecutors said the conviction reflects the community’s commitment to pursuing justice regardless of how much time has passed.

Authorities also recognized the many investigators who worked the case over the past quarter century, emphasizing that Baker was never forgotten.

While acknowledging that no verdict can erase the loss suffered by Baker’s family, officials expressed hope that the conviction provides some measure of comfort and accountability after more than two decades.