Have You Heard About the Edrick Faust Trial?
First and foremost, we want to acknowledge the gravity of this case. Tara was a 23-year-old law student at UGA whose death was horrific. And when a woman is sexually assaulted, abused, or killed, it is not just an individual tragedy, it reflects a larger societal failure to protect and value women’s safety and bodily autonomy. Nothing about this conversation dismisses her life or the pain her loved ones have carried for 25 years.
At the same time, justice requires fairness, transparency, and due process, especially in a cold case prosecution built largely on forensic evidence developed decades later.
Community members have raised some good questions such as:
• How was the DNA evidence handled and preserved over 20+ years?
• Why was the rape kit originally negative for male DNA but later produced a profile?
• Were all investigative leads and alternative theories fully examined?
• Is the defense being allowed to fully present its case?
These are not accusations, they are questions about process.
AADM does not engage in trial by social media. We do not assume guilt or innocence. But we do believe that every person is entitled to a fair trial, and every victim deserves justice rooted in integrity.
We encourage the community to:
Stay informed from credible sources
Attend court proceedings if appropriate
Have respectful, fact-based discussions
Due process for Edrick Faust and Justice for Tara Baker are not opposing ideas. They are part of the same system. And that system must work properly for the verdict to truly mean something.
If community concern continues to grow, AADM may consider hosting an educational forum on cold case prosecutions, forensic evidence, and due process so people can better understand how these cases are built and evaluated.
Justice requires accountability.
Accountability requires transparency.
And transparency requires public attention.
We’re listening.
This moment is also a reminder that our local justice system deserves consistent public oversight, not just when a high-profile case is in the spotlight.
The “Time To Open Up ACC Jail” campaign calls for the immediate restoration of in-person visitation at the ACC Jail as a matter of human dignity, constitutional rights, and public accountability. AADM is urging local officials, the Sheriff’s Department, and county leadership to implement a clear, safe, and accessible visitation policy that centers families, children, and community caregivers, not profit-driven video visitation systems or administrative convenience. Transparency, accountability, and humane treatment matter at every stage of the justice process, from arrest to trial.
We are calling on community members who believe in fairness and accountability to get involved.
You can:
Participate in court observation
Join AADM jail accountability initiative
Help organize educational forums
Support advocacy efforts for transparency
And if you believe in building a justice system rooted in dignity and integrity, consider donating to help us continue this work. Your support allows us to monitor systems, educate the public, and advocate for policy improvements.
Remember, Justice requires participation.
So let’s show up.
