Edrick Lamont Faust is the man convicted in the 2001 murder of University of Georgia law student Tara Louise Baker. His name became publicly linked to the case in May 2024, when authorities announced his arrest more than two decades after the crime.
At the time of the renewed investigation, officials noted that Faust had a criminal history and had been arrested and incarcerated at various points in the years surrounding Tara Baker’s death. His connection to the case was not identified during the original 2001 investigation, and he remained unknown to the public in relation to the crime until advances in forensic testing led investigators back to the evidence.
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The Link to Tara Baker’s Case
The breakthrough in the case came after investigators revisited evidence collected from Tara Baker’s apartment using updated DNA technology. This reexamination allowed authorities to identify a match that had not been possible at the time of the original investigation.
According to investigators, that DNA evidence became central to linking Faust to the crime. The case then shifted from a long-standing cold case to an active prosecution, with law enforcement building a case based on forensic findings and the timeline of events surrounding Tara’s death.
Arrest and Charges
Faust was arrested in May 2024 and charged in connection with Tara Baker’s murder. The charges reflected the nature of the crime as described by investigators, including allegations that Tara had been killed before a fire was set inside her apartment.
He ultimately faced 12 felony counts, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated sodomy, burglary, tampering with evidence, and first-degree arson. The scope of the charges reflected both the violent nature of the attack and the attempt to conceal the crime.
The Trial Proceedings
Faust’s trial began in February 2026 in Clarke County, Georgia. Prosecutors presented a case centered on DNA evidence, the condition of the crime scene, and the reconstruction of Tara Baker’s final hours.
The defense challenged the prosecution’s case and argued that the evidence did not prove Faust’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Defense arguments also suggested the possibility that someone known to Tara could have been responsible. During deliberations, jurors reviewed key pieces of evidence, including interviews conducted by investigators.
Conviction and Sentencing
On February 17, 2026, a jury found Edrick Lamont Faust guilty on all 12 charges. The verdict marked the first time anyone had been held legally responsible for Tara Baker’s murder after more than 25 years.
Two days later, on February 19, 2026, Faust was sentenced by Judge Lisa Lott to two consecutive life sentences plus an additional 45 years in prison. The sentence reflected the severity of the crimes and the jury’s findings.
Where He Is Now
Edrick Lamont Faust is currently serving his sentence in the Georgia state prison system. With two life sentences plus 45 years imposed consecutively, he is expected to remain incarcerated for the rest of his life.
Following the sentencing, members of Faust’s family indicated that they intended to pursue an appeal. As of now, his conviction stands, and he remains in custody under the sentence handed down in February 2026.