Authorities make arrest in 2001 killing of Georgia law student who was found dead in a burning home

Authorities person arrested a antheral who they judge killed a University of Georgia instrumentality pupil much than 2 decades ago

ATHENS, Ga. -- More than 2 decades aft a University of Georgia instrumentality pupil was recovered dormant successful her burning home, authorities person arrested a antheral and charged him with execution successful her slaying.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Athens-Clarke County constabulary connected Thursday announced the apprehension of Edrick Lamont Faust, 48, successful the January 2001 sidesplitting of Tara Louise Baker. Firefighters responding to a blaze astatine Baker's flat successful Athens recovered the 23-year-old first-year instrumentality student's body.

Investigators determined that Baker had been killed and the occurrence intentionally set, and constabulary had been trying to find Baker's slayer since then. The GBI's acold lawsuit portion partnered with Athens-Clarke County constabulary successful September to bash an “in-depth reappraisal and analysis” of the investigation, the GBI said successful a quality release.

The merchandise did not bespeak what led investigators to Faust oregon explicate however oregon whether helium and Baker knew each other. He was booked into the Athens-Clarke County Jail precocious Thursday connected charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated sodomy, tampering with grounds and arson.

It was not instantly wide whether Faust had an lawyer who could remark connected the charges.

Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters, who was an serviceman astatine the transgression country connected January 19, 2001, said successful the quality merchandise that helium has hoped for galore years that Baker's household would find justice.

“I retrieve being determination during that horrific time,” helium said. "Seeing this lawsuit present afloat circle, I admit the hard enactment of the detectives, from past and now. Knowing that the grounds collected astatine that clip contributed to the apprehension contiguous gives maine tremendous pridefulness successful each the officers who worked this lawsuit implicit the years.”

GBI Director Chris Hosey called Faust's apprehension “the archetypal measurement successful uncovering justness for Tara.”