ATHENS, GA — The murder trial of Edrick Lamont Faust, accused in the 2001 killing of University of Georgia law student Tara Baker, has been rescheduled to begin January 26, 2026, following a court order by Western Circuit Chief Superior Court Judge Lisa Lott on Thursday.
Faust, who turns 50 in early September, is facing a 12-count indictment including murder, rape, and assault charges stemming from Baker’s death at her Athens home on January 19, 2001. Baker, 23, was a first-year UGA law student when she was killed — a case that remained unsolved for more than two decades.
Authorities arrested Faust in May 2024, after a DNA breakthrough identified him as the suspect. At the time of the murder, Faust lived in the same neighborhood but had never been considered a suspect until recent forensic advancements.
Delay Requested Due to Volume of Evidence
Faust’s attorney, Ahmad R. Crews, based in Atlanta, requested the trial be delayed, citing the overwhelming size of the discovery materials. He told the court that the evidence included over 25,000 digital files spread across 1,600+ folders, in addition to other records gathered during the 23-year investigation.
Crews said the scale of documentation required more time for review and preparation. District Attorney Kalki Yalamanchili did not oppose the delay, acknowledging the file is “the largest I’ve ever worked with.”
Court Grants Digital Access, Denies Printing Request
Crews also sought an order for the state to provide printed copies of the digital discovery files, estimating the cost at $15,000 for one set and $30,000 for two — an amount his firm could not cover. Judge Lott denied that request but agreed to supply Faust with a computer inside the Athens-Clarke County Jail so he could personally review the files.
Pretrial Motions Expected in November
Judge Lott urged both sides to stay on schedule, stating she wanted the case to proceed efficiently ahead of trial. Pretrial motions are expected to be filed and reviewed in November 2025.
The Tara Baker case, long known as a cold case in Georgia, drew renewed public interest in 2024 when DNA evidence reopened the investigation and led to Faust’s arrest. The trial is now expected to take place over two weeks starting in late January 2026.
