Crime House 24/7

Episode: 25 Years Later, Tara Baker Murder Trial Resumes in Georgia

Date: February 18, 2026
Host: Vanessa Richardson

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a packed morning briefing highlighting several high-profile and breaking crime stories. The main focus is the long-awaited, now-resumed trial of Edric F. Faust for the 2001 murder of University of Georgia law student Tara Baker—25 years after the crime. The episode also touches on major convictions in a Memphis gang racketeering case, a dramatic sentencing in Virginia’s “au pair affair” double murder, the resolution of NASA’s first “space crime” allegation, and a quick round-up of infamous Irish true crime cases.

Major Case #1: The Tara Baker Murder Trial (Athens, Georgia)

Segment start: [00:45]
Key points:

• Background:

  • On January 18, 2001, Tara Baker, a 23-year-old first-year law student at the University of Georgia, was found dead after a fire in her Athens apartment.
  • Firefighters discovered her body while extinguishing the blaze. An autopsy revealed she’d been strangled before the fire was intentionally set—an attempt to destroy evidence.
  • Case went cold for over two decades despite extensive investigation and advances in forensic technology.

• Current Developments:

  • Trial against Edric F. Faust (50) resumed February 13, 2026, after a temporary halt due to a defense attorney’s family emergency.
  • Faust, 19 at the time of the crime, was indicted in 2023 after new forensic DNA analysis matched evidence collected at the scene to his DNA profile.
  • Faust has pleaded not guilty.

• Testimony and evidence:

  • Jurors have heard from fire investigators, officers, and forensic scientists.
    • DNA testing presented by Georgia Bureau of Investigation used advanced techniques unavailable in 2001.
    • “Genetic material recovered from the scene was consistent with Faust’s DNA profile.” [05:02]
  • Defense cross-examined on possible contamination and challenged the chain of custody.
  • Prosecutors argue: “Modern DNA testing ultimately helped identify F as suspect.” [06:10]
  • Fire investigators testified about intentional fire patterns, possible use of an accelerant.

• Impact:

  • Baker’s family, community members, and former classmates present in court, highlighting the case’s long-lasting effects.
  • “For Baker’s family, the trial represents the first time in 25 years that the full body of evidence is being presented before a jury. What began as a campus tragedy in 2001 is now unfolding in open court, piece by piece…” — Vanessa Richardson [08:58]

• Procedural updates:

  • Prosecution nearing end of its case, defense to present next.
  • If convicted, Faust faces mandatory life in prison.

Other Major Headlines

Memphis UVL Gang Racketeering and Murder Verdict

Segment start: [09:47]
Key points:

• “Federal prosecutors in New York have secured convictions against two gang members in a brazen racketeering and murder case.” [09:47]
• Edward “Money” Allen and DeAndre “Dre” Rogers were convicted on murder and racketeering charges relating to a series of violent events tied to the Unknown Vice Lords gang in Memphis, spanning January 2019.
• The murder at the center of the case (“internal execution”) was portrayed as calculated enforcement of gang discipline.
• Racketeering charges allowed prosecutors to address the gang as an organization, not just isolated crimes.
• “Federal officials emphasized that the January 15 killing was not random street violence, but an organized act carried out to protect the gang’s power structure…” [11:05]

Virginia’s “Au Pair Affair” Double Murder Sentencing

Segment start: [13:21]
Key points:

• Juliana Perez Magalis, a Brazilian au pair, was sentenced to the maximum 10 years for her role in a 2023 double murder.
• Magalis had received a plea deal with recommendation for time served, but the judge rejected it, highlighting “the intentional and calculated level of violence involved.”
• Magalis testified against Brendan Banfield, her employer/lover, helping convict him.
• “I know my remorse cannot bring you peace. I lost myself in a relationship and left my morals and values behind.” — Magalis, in court [14:44]

NASA “Space Crime” Accusation Concludes

Segment start: [16:55]
Key points:

• Summer Worden, ex-wife of astronaut Anne McClain, sentenced to three months in prison for making false accusations that McClain illegally accessed her bank account from the International Space Station.
• No actual space crime occurred; investigation found no crime by McClain but false statements diverted significant federal resources.
• The legal novelty of “crime in space” briefly captured national attention.

Deep Dive: Ireland’s Most Notorious Crime Cases

Segment start: [21:40]
Key cases outlined:

1. Veronica Guerin murder (1996):

   • Crime journalist shot dead after years of investigating organized crime in Dublin.
   • “Her killing remains one of the most consequential crimes in modern Irish history. Not only because of who she was, but because of what her death forced the country to confront.” — Vanessa Richardson [22:35]

2. Disappearance of Annie McCarrick (1993):

   • American student vanishes without a trace; case remains unsolved.

3. Kerry Babies case (1984):

   • Newborn found dead; investigation marred by forced confessions and systemic failures.
   • “The case exposed serious flaws in the investigative process. Hayes later stated that her confession had been coerced.” [24:28]

4. Elaine O’Hara murder (2012):

   • Digital evidence and mobile phone data became central; conviction of Graham Dwyer for a murder involving manipulation and control.

5. Phoenix Park murders (1882):

   • Political assassination of senior British officials, shock waves through Ireland and Britain.

Thematic closing:

• “Ireland’s most infamous crimes span centuries… Each one left a mark, whether through legal reform, cultural reckoning or enduring mystery.” — Vanessa Richardson [28:21]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “What began as a campus tragedy in 2001 is now unfolding in open court piece by piece…” — Vanessa Richardson on Tara Baker [08:58]
• “Genetic material recovered from the scene was consistent with Faust’s DNA profile.” — GBI forensic expert (paraphrased by Vanessa Richardson) [05:02]
• “I know my remorse cannot bring you peace. I lost myself in a relationship and left my morals and values behind.” — Juliana Magalis, court statement [14:44]
• “Federal officials emphasized that the January 15 killing was not random street violence, but an organized act carried out to protect the gang’s power structure.” — Vanessa Richardson [11:05]
• “Her killing remains one of the most consequential crimes in modern Irish history. Not only because of who she was, but because of what her death forced the country to confront.” — Vanessa Richardson on Veronica Guerin [22:35]

Timestamps to Major Segments

• [00:45] – Tara Baker trial updates
• [09:47] – UVL gang racketeering verdict in Memphis
• [13:21] – “Au Pair Affair” sentencing in Virginia
• [16:55] – NASA “Space Crime” case resolved
• [21:40] – Deep dive: Ireland’s most infamous crimes (Modern + historical cases)
• [28:21] – The impact of crime on law, culture, and society

Tone & Style

The reporting is direct, urgent, and fact-driven, maintaining a respectful, clear, and slightly somber tone fitting for serious crime coverage. Vanessa Richardson synthesizes facts and courtroom developments for clarity, often emphasizing the social and emotional stakes for victims’ families and communities.

Summary

Crime House 24/7’s February 18, 2026 episode provides essential updates on a landmark Georgia murder trial, major federal gang convictions, high-profile murder sentencing in Virginia, and the closure of a bizarre NASA-related case. The show also examines the enduring legacy of Ireland’s most influential crimes, making this a dense, news-packed episode for anyone needing the week’s major true crime headlines and context.