Crime House 24/7

Episode: After 25 Years of Silence, Tara Baker’s Murder Case Goes to Trial
Host: Vanessa Richardson
Date: February 4, 2026

Episode Overview

In this packed daytime edition, host Vanessa Richardson delivers a comprehensive update on four major crime stories currently commanding national attention. The episode’s chief focus is on the long-awaited trial for the murder of Tara Louise Baker, a 2001 cold case that haunted the University of Georgia and its surrounding community for decades. Other breaking segments include the ongoing appeal in the murder-for-hire case of FSU professor Dan Markel, the urgent search for Nancy Guthrie in Arizona, and the sentencing in an Ohio case illustrating tragic consequences of modern scams. The episode closes with a thoughtful look at the so-called “Kennedy curse” and the infamous unsolved murder of Martha Moxley.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tara Baker Murder Trial: Justice After 25 Years

Segment Start: [01:16]

• Case Summary:

  • Tara Louise Baker, a promising 23-year-old UGA law student, was murdered in her off-campus apartment in Athens, Georgia, on January 18, 2001. A fire, set to destroy evidence, was how her body was discovered by firefighters.
  • For 25 years, the case was one of Georgia’s most persistent unsolved homicides.

• Breakthrough & Arrest:

  • Advances in DNA technology and renewed emphasis on cold cases brought the investigation to Edric Lamont Faust, who was arrested in May 2024.
  • Vanessa: “Investigators say forensic breakthroughs tied Foust to genetic evidence from the scene, a breakthrough made possible by a specialized cold case unit.” [03:15]

• Charges:

  • Faust faces multiple counts: malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, sexual assault, arson, and related offenses.

• Prosecution & Defense Narratives:

  • Prosecution asserts Baker was beaten, strangled, stabbed, and sexually assaulted; the perpetrator tried to cover up the crime with arson.
    • “The crime’s last moments were remarkably brutal and have remained largely shielded from public view until now.” [05:20]
  • Defense questions the framing of evidence, worked to exclude some testimony, and moved (unsuccessfully) to remove the presiding judge for alleged bias.
    • Also sought to block references to Faust’s 2001 aggravated assault conviction.

• Impact on Victim’s Family & Community:

  • For Baker’s family, this trial represents “an emotional moment of reckoning and remembrance.”
    • “They emphasized Baker’s promise, her ambitions as a student, and the years of uncertainty following her disappearance and death.” [07:55]

• Significance:

  • First time a jury hears evidence; outcome may bring a long-awaited sense of justice to Baker’s loved ones and the Athens community.
  • Ongoing trial: Testimony expected from forensic experts and original investigators.

2. Dan Markel Murder-for-Hire Conviction Appeal

Segment Start: [09:29]

• Background:

  • Florida State University law professor Dan Markel was shot outside his Tallahassee home on July 18, 2014, in a murder tied to a bitter custody dispute.
  • Multiple individuals (including Markel’s ex-wife’s family) ultimately convicted after years of investigation.

• Charlie Adelson's Appeal:

  • Charlie Adelson, convicted in 2023, is seeking a new trial, arguing the original was unfair due to massive media coverage and jury issues.
    • Defense attorney Michael Offerman: Problems included pre-trial publicity and juror misconduct. “Some prospective jurors discussed the case throughout the day while others were not truthful about whether they’d already formed opinions about Adelson’s guilt.” [10:25]
  • Prosecution maintains the conviction was lawfully obtained and stands.
  • No current charges against Dan Markel’s ex-wife, Wendy Adelson.

• Status:

  • The First District Court of Appeal is reviewing the defense’s request, with a written decision expected in coming weeks or months; Charlie Adelson remains incarcerated.

3. The Search for Nancy Guthrie

Segment Start: [14:40]

• Case Details:

  • Nancy Guthrie, 84, mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared near her Tucson, AZ, home on January 31, 2026.
  • Significant evidence (blood inside the home) led police to suspect foul play rather than a routine missing persons case.

• Urgency & Law Enforcement Response:

  • Sheriff Chris Nanos: “This is a race against time. I hope that window hasn’t closed.” [15:35]
  • Guthrie’s documented health issues raise additional concern.
  • No suspects identified; investigation is ongoing.

• Family Statement:

  • Savannah Guthrie and family are fully cooperating, focusing on Nancy’s safe return.

4. Sentencing in Ohio Uber Scam Killing

Segment Start: [18:45]

• Incident Recap:

  • Lolitha Hall, an Uber driver, was sent to Clark County, Ohio residence as part of a scam in March 2024, where William Brock fatally shot her, believing she was involved in the scam call.

• Court Outcome:

  • Brock sentenced to 21 years to life; the judge rejected pleas for leniency, emphasizing the gravity and irreversible harm.
    • “Regardless of Brock’s fear or confusion, Hall posed no threat and did not deserve to lose her life.” [19:30]

• Broader Significance:

  • Case is a sobering example of how fear and scams can lead to innocent lives lost.
    • “Even in moments of deception and fear, violence against innocent people carries lasting consequences.” [20:00]

5. Explainer: The Kennedy Curse and Martha Moxley’s Unsolved Case

Segment Start: [22:10]

• Context:

  • Tied to an upcoming episode of “Clues” examining Martha Moxley’s 1975 murder in Greenwich, Connecticut—often linked to the Kennedy family.

• Key Points on the “Curse”:

  1. Assassinations Cemented the Myth:

     • JFK in 1963 and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 formed the tragic foundation for decades of speculation and fascination.
     • Vanessa: “The human brain is wired to look for patterns when the randomness feels unbearable… and once the pattern feels real, every new tragedy becomes another sign.” [24:00]

  2. Tragedies Shifted in Nature:

     • Scandal, addiction, and accidents such as Chappaquiddick (1969), David Kennedy’s 1984 overdose, and JFK Jr.’s 1999 plane crash.
     • “When you look closely, the story is less supernatural and more painfully human.” [25:10]

  3. Martha Moxley Case as a Symbol of Unfinished Justice:

     • Moxley’s murder in a Kennedy-adjacent social circle; Michael Skakel’s conviction overturned in 2018, the case remains unresolved.

• Final Reflection:

  • “Martha Moxley is not a symbol. She was a teenage girl with a life, family, friends, and a future that was stolen… Behind every headline is a person, a victim, a family, a community left living with the aftermath.” [27:35]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Tara Baker Case:

  • “A cold case that has remained among the most persistent unsolved homicides in northeast Georgia.” – Vanessa Richardson [02:30]
  • “The trial itself represents a measure of justice long sought.” – Vanessa Richardson [09:00]

• On Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance:

  • Sheriff Chris Nanos: “This is a race against time. I hope that window hasn’t closed.” [15:35]

• On the Kennedy Curse:

  • “It’s hard to overstate the scale of that moment. The shock, the images, the uncertainty, the feeling that the country’s future had been ripped open in broad daylight.” – Vanessa Richardson (on JFK’s assassination) [23:20]
  • “When you look closely, the story is less supernatural and more painfully human.” – Vanessa Richardson [25:10]
  • “Martha Moxley is not a symbol. She was a teenage girl with a life… keep Martha at the center, not the mythology.” – Vanessa Richardson [27:35]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Tara Baker Trial Coverage: [01:16] – [09:29]
• Dan Markel/Charlie Adelson Appeal: [09:29] – [14:10]
• Nancy Guthrie Disappearance: [14:40] – [18:45]
• Ohio Uber Scam Sentencing: [18:45] – [20:14]
• Kennedy Curse & Martha Moxley Explainer: [22:10] – [28:43]

Summary Takeaway

This episode expertly weaves together new developments in both cold cases and active investigations, highlighting the complicated, often personal impact of these crimes on families and communities. With clear-eyed reporting and empathetic storytelling, Vanessa Richardson keeps victims’ stories at the center, emphasizing the importance of justice, accountability, and remembering the human cost behind the headlines.