The Tara Baker Trial
The trial for the 2001 murder of University of Georgia law student Tara Baker began Monday, Feb. 2, just over 25 years after her death. The trial lasted 11 days.
Baker was found murdered in her Athens home on Jan. 19, 2001. Police determined that she had been beaten, stabbed, strangled and possibly sexually assaulted before her apartment was set on fire.
Edrick Faust was found guilty on all 12 counts of the murder of Tara Baker, including murder, rape, arson and aggravated sodomy.
“For more than two decades, we have lived with the absence of the life she was building. We have imagined the attorney she would have become, the causes she would have championed and the people she would have helped. That future was taken from her in an act of violence that forever altered our family,” Tara Baker’s family said in a statement in response to the verdict. “Today’s verdict does not restore Tara’s future. It does not erase the years of grief. But it does represent accountability through the legal system she believed in so strongly.”
Defendant Edrick Faust sits in the courtroom during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. In January 2001, Tara Baker, a 23-year-old UGA law student, was killed in her apartment in Athens. Edrick Faust faces 12 felony counts in connection with her death. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
Defense Attorney Ahmad Crews speaks to the jury during his opening statement during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
State Attorney Kristopher Bolden speaks to the jury during his opening statement during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
Superior Court Judge Lisa Scott watches opening statements during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
Ashley Hall sits on the witness stand during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. The defense presented statements made by Hall, Tara Baker's then roommate, from the time of Baker’s death that alleged Chris Melton scheduled multiple dinner dates with Baker’s friends in the weeks following her death. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
Agent Elizabeth Bigham, of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, sits on the witness stand during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. Bigham along with Jeremy Howell from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation tested a sexual assult kit with TrueAllele technology and found a likelihood ratio in the DNA that matched Edrick Faust’s. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
State Attorney Kristopher Bolden looks at his notes during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
Defense Attorney Ahmad Crews speaks to the jury during his opening statement during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
Christie Kane writes on paper while speaking with Defense Attorney Ahmad Crews during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
Defense Attorney Ahmad Crews grabs paper off a stand during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. In January 2001, Tara Baker, a 23-year-old UGA law student, was killed in her apartment in Athens. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
Chris Melton sits on the witness stand during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. Melton, Tara Baker’s then boyfriend came up various times throughout the trial from both the defense and prosecution. The defense maintained the accused killer Edrick Faust’s innocence, instead claiming that Melton is the perpetrator of Baker’s murder. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
State Attorney Kristopher Bolden hands an envelope to Xykiera Sims on the witness stand during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. Sims tested three DNA swabs associated with this case in August 2024 for male DNA. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
Defense Attorney Ahmad Crews flips through papers during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
Athens-Clarke County court officers stand in a hallway eating pizza while waiting on a verdict during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
Virginia Baker, mother of Tara Baker, reacts to a guilty verdict during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
Defense Attorney Ahmad Crews waits for a verdict during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
Defendant Edrick Faust reacts to a guilty verdict during the Tara Baker murder trial at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse in Athens, Georgia, on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. In January 2001, Tara Baker, a 23-year-old UGA law student, was killed in her apartment in Athens. Edrick Faust faced 12 felony counts in connection with her death and was found guilty on all 12 counts. (Photo/Kaleb Tatum)
Beekeeper Tom Hankins
Beekeeper Tom Hankins Turns a Beekeeping Favor into a Local Honey Business in Danielsville, Georgia
In the quiet rural community of Danielsville, Georgia, Tom Hankins has created a passionate connection with a surprising partner: bees. What started as a favor for a youth pastor evolved into a passionate hobby, eventually leading to the founding of a new local business named Tom’s Bee Happy Honey.
Hankins’s interest in beekeeping started when his church’s youth pastor, David Bailey, asked him to help inspect queen bees. Hankins found joy in the process, which inspired him to start his bee farm. With a gift of bees from Bailey, he started raising bees of his own.
Hankins now manages multiple hives, treating the bees with care as if they were his family. He checks them weekly, inspecting the bees and weighing the hive to ensure the colonies thrive. However, managing a large bee operation comes with its setbacks.
“The challenges of taking care of bees are the varroa mites, the high beetles, and the wax moths. So your bees must be treated at least two to three times a year for the varroa mites,” explained Hankins.
Hankins produces two types of honey: wildflower honey in Danielsville and sourwood honey from bees transported to the mountains near Hiawassee, Georgia. True to its name, Toms Bee Happy Honey offers unpasteurized honey, which he sells at the J&J Flea Market in Athens, Georgia.
“A lot of people sell what I call funny ‘honey’,” Hankins explained. They heat it up to bottle it and kill all the purities and enzymes in it. If you want real, true honey, get it from a beekeeper.”
When starting his beekeeping hobby seven years ago, Hankins helped found the Beekeepers of Madison County. What began as a group of three beekeepers, including Hankins, meeting at his house has now grown into a faith-centered community of 300 members. Meetings are now held at Trinity Baptist Church on the fourth Monday of every month, where attendees share their advice and knowledge of beekeeping to support each other.
“Our motto is beekeepers helping beekeepers,” said Hankins.
After multiple years of beekeeping, Hankins still enjoys it. Taking care of his bees has become a part of his daily routine, and he doesn't plan on stopping. “I love my bees; I'll probably do it until the day I die,” said Hankins.
Quotes Trimmed for Clarity
Tom Hankins tends to his beehives in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. He checks the hives weekly to ensure the bees are thriving.
Tom Hankins builds beekeeping equipment on his back porch in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. In addition to advising new beekeepers, Haskins also builds bee equipment to sell to newer beekeepers at lower prices.
Tom Hankins pulls out part of a beehive to inspect the bees in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. He checks the hives weekly to ensure the bees are thriving.
Tom Hankins pours salt around his beehives in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. He uses this method to protect the hives from ants, a practice he also does when checking for pests like varroa mites and hive beetles.
Honey combs sit stacked on the ground in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025.
Tom Hankins tends to his beehives in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. He checks the hives weekly, ensuring the bees are thriving.
Feral bees emerge from a man-made hive constructed by Tom Hankins in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. Hankins captures feral bees using swarm traps.
Tom Hankins tends to his beehives in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. He checks the hives weekly, ensuring the bees are thriving.
Tom Hankins tends to his beehives in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. He checks the hives weekly to ensure the bees are thriving.
Tom Hankins tends to his beehives while holding a smoker in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. Hankins uses the smoke before opening the bee hives to prevent himself from being stung.
Tom Hankins drills the lid to a beehive shut in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. The bees enter and exit through a hole on the exterior of the hive.
Beekeeper Tom Hankins displays jars of raw honey at his stand at the J&J Flea Market in Athens, Georgia, on April 5, 2025. He has been selling his unpasteurized local honey at the market for over seven years, offering customers a taste of its health benefits.
Marcelo Palle browses jars of raw honey at Tom Hankins's stand at the J&J Flea Market in Athens, Georgia, on April 5, 2025. Marcelo has been a consistent customer at Tom's stand.
Jars of honey sit on top of Tom Hankins's honey stand at the J&J Flea Market in Athens, Georgia, on April 5, 2025. Tom Hankins offers raw honey and beeswax, products he has sold at the market for over seven years, highlighting its health benefits.
Honey bees crawl inside of a glass casing at Tom Hankins' honey stand at the J&J Flea Market in Athens, Georgia, on April 5, 2025. Hankins displays a large beehive inside of a glass casing at the J&J Flea Market to entertain kids as they pass by.
Beeswax sit on top of Tom Hankins's honey stand at the J&J Flea Market in Athens, Georgia, on April 5, 2025. Tom Hankins offers raw honey and beeswax, products he has sold at the market for over seven years, highlighting their health benefits.
Tom Hankins speaks with Eve Gallman about starting a honey bee farm at his honey stand at the J&J Flea Market in Athens, Georgia, on April 5, 2025. Hankins, who started beekeeping after assisting a youth pastor, shares advice from his experiences with feral bees and hive maintenance.
A sign that reads “Honey for sale” hangs on Tom Hankins front porch in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. Tom Hankins offers raw honey, a product he has sold at the market for over seven years, highlighting its health benefits.
Tom Hankins and his wife April Hankins, speak with David Perez about beekeeping equipment in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. Haskins uses his experience to educate and advise newer beekeepers on the process of beekeeping.
A smoker sits inside Tom Hankins's bee van in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. Hankins uses the smoke before opening the beehives to prevent himself from being stung.
David Perez talks to Tom Hankins after buying beekeeper equipment in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. In addition to advising new beekeepers, Haskins also builds bee equipment to sell to newer beekeepers at lower prices.
Old parts of a beehive lean on a man-made beehive in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. Certain parts of the beehive may have to be replaced to give the bees more room as they grow.
Tom Hankins speaks with David Perez and Priscilla Brozq about beekeeping equipment in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. Haskins uses his experience to educate and advise newer beekeepers on the process of beekeeping.
Tom Hankins's bee van parked in his backyard in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025. Tom Hankins uses the old Subaru van to haul his honey and bee-keeping equipment. Haskins also uses the van for advertisement, with a picture of his head attached to the body of a bee and his company name and number under the image.
A sign advertising Tom Hankins's honey business stands next to the road outside of his house in Danielsville, Georgia, on April 14, 2025.
51st UGA Great Southland Stampede Rodeo
The University of Georgia Block and Bridle Club held the 51st UGA Great Southland Stampede Rodeo from Thursday, March 19, through Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the University of Georgia Livestock Instructional Arena in Athens, Georgia. The Great Southland Stampede Rodeo is the largest student-run rodeo in the country.
