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Dateline NBC just aired a gripping episode on the Tara Baker murder case, a 23-year cold case solved with breakthrough DNA evidence. The two-hour special, titled “A Window of Time,” premiered May 1st, revealing how modern forensics finally brought justice. Discover how investigators cracked this case after 25 years.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Victim: Tara Louise Baker, 23-year-old UGA law student murdered January 19, 2001
- Cold Case Duration: Case went unsolved for 23 years until arrest in May 2024
- Breakthrough: DNA evidence from crime scene matched Edrick Lamont Faust, age 48
- Conviction: Faust found guilty on February 17, 2026, on all 12 charges including malice murder
A University of Georgia Student’s Last Night
On January 19, 2001, Tara Baker was found dead inside her burned apartment in Athens, Georgia. The first-year law student had been sexually assaulted, beaten, strangled, and stabbed. Investigators quickly determined the fire was intentional, confirming this was a homicide. Despite vigorous investigative efforts, the case grew cold. For 23 years, Tara’s family waited for answers.
The crime shocked the University of Georgia campus and devastated those who knew her. Tara had graduated cum laude from Georgia College in 1998 with dual degrees. She was pursuing law school when her life was brutally taken. The lack of resolution haunted the community.
Tara Baker murder case: Dateline revisits 23-year-old Athens cold case solved with DNA evidence
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25 Years Later, DNA Delivers Justice
In May 2024, authorities announced a major breakthrough. The arrest of 48-year-old Edrick Lamont Faust came after re-testing of DNA evidence from the crime scene. Faust’s biological material matched evidence found during the original investigation. The match came from a national database comparison, identifying him as a suspect after more than two decades.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation had preserved evidence from the original 2001 investigation. Modern DNA technology finally provided what investigators couldn’t find in the pre-digital era. Faust was charged with multiple felonies including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, rape, and arson.
The Trial That Brought Conviction
| Trial Element | Details |
| Trial Start | February 2, 2026 |
| Key Evidence | DNA testimony, hair analysis, forensic evidence |
| Verdict Date | February 17, 2026 |
| Charges Convicted | 12 counts including malice murder, rape, arson |
The trial lasted two weeks and centered on DNA evidence presented by forensic scientists. Prosecutors detailed how Faust’s biological material was found on the victim. The case was “built on a solid foundation” according to legal analysis. Edrick Faust maintained innocence throughout, claiming he never knew Tara and had no connection to her or her neighborhood.
“You can only imagine the shock, the emotions that hit all of us, when we learned that not only did the Coleman-Baker Act bring about resolution in Tara’s case, but she was the very first case that they solved as a result.”
— Cameron Jay Harrelson, podcast creator and Coleman-Baker Act advocate
The Coleman-Baker Act: A Lasting Legacy
Tara’s case became the namesake for Georgia’s groundbreaking Coleman-Baker Act, passed unanimously in spring 2023. The law allocated $5 million in funding to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Cold Case Unit. It allows families to request that cold cases be reexamined with modern forensic technology. Virginia Baker, Tara’s mother, worked with podcast creator Cameron Jay Harrelson to push this legislation forward.
Remarkably, Tara Baker’s case became the very first cold case solved under the new law. The act proved its worth immediately, demonstrating that modern DNA technology and renewed investigative efforts could bring long-awaited closure. Governor Kemp signed the law in Athens with the Baker family present.
Why Does Dateline’s “A Window of Time” Matter to Viewers Today?
The Dateline episode airs at a pivotal moment. Edrick Faust has been convicted, but the broader story of cold case justice continues. The two-hour special, narrated by correspondent Blayne Alexander, explores how a 25-year-old murder finally reached resolution. It details the investigation, the DNA breakthrough, and the trial that proved modern forensics can deliver justice when cold cases are revisited.
For true crime enthusiasts, this episode showcases the power of preserved evidence and updated technology. For Tara Baker’s family, it represents closure and vindicates years of hope. The Dateline coverage ensures her story reaches millions, honoring a young law student whose case helped change Georgia law forever.
