Overview of Talking Dateline: A Window of Time
In this Talking Dateline episode, Keith Morrison and Blaine Alexander break down Dateline’s cold-case story “Window of Time,” centered on the 2001 murder of Tara Baker, a first-year law student at the University of Georgia. The conversation focuses on how a brutal, long-unsolved crime was eventually cracked by DNA evidence, the emotional impact on Tara’s family, and the complicated role of Chris Melton, Tara’s boyfriend at the time, who was long suspected but later cleared.
The Case at a Glance
What happened to Tara Baker
- Tara was last seen studying at the law library with a friend and then returned home.
- The next morning, police were called after her house was reported on fire.
- Tara was found inside, having been:
- stabbed
- strangled
- beaten
- sexually assaulted
- and then set on fire in what appeared to be an effort to destroy evidence
Why the case stood out
- The murder was especially horrific and layered, which made it feel like more than a simple rage crime.
- Investigators noted that the murder weapons and materials used in the crime were already in the house:
- the knife came from Tara’s kitchen knife block
- the cord used in the attack was her own printer cord
- That initially suggested the killer likely knew Tara or had been inside the home before.
How the Case Was Solved
DNA and cold-case work made the difference
Blaine explains that this case likely would not have been solved without advances in DNA technology and renewed cold-case attention.
Key factors that helped:
- DNA from Tara’s sexual assault kit was reexamined
- A newly created cold case unit within the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took a fresh look
- A podcast and public attention helped keep the case alive
- New legal and investigative tools finally allowed detectives to connect the evidence to Edric Faust
The result
- Edric Faust was convicted and sentenced to life in prison more than 20 years after Tara’s murder.
Family Impact and the Search for Justice
Tara’s family stayed determined
Blaine shares that Tara’s mother, Virginia Baker, and younger sister, Meredith Baker, were deeply involved in pushing for justice.
Meredith in particular:
- became a paralegal
- tracked case developments meticulously
- kept notes and spreadsheets
- stayed in close contact with investigators
- became a key family voice in the long search for answers
Who Tara was
Her family and friends painted Tara as:
- bright
- funny
- optimistic
- caring, especially toward her younger siblings
- someone who loved antiques and made her room feel very personal
Chris Melton’s Role and His Emotional Interview
Why Chris was suspected for so long
- He was Tara’s boyfriend at the time of the murder.
- As in many homicide cases, police initially focused on the romantic partner.
- The defense later leaned heavily into the theory that he could have been responsible, which fueled public speculation.
What Blaine said about interviewing him
- Chris was very hesitant to speak on camera.
- He wanted to be sure he was understood correctly.
- The interview was long and emotionally difficult, with multiple pauses.
- His wife was present, and Blaine noted that it takes a special kind of understanding to be married to someone whose life still carries the weight of a former love and a terrible loss.
Chris’s moving reflection
In the featured clip, Chris describes:
- overwhelming guilt after Tara’s death
- a moment of collapse and prayer
- the ringing phone call from the woman who would become his wife
- how he took that as a sign to move forward
He says, in effect:
- he still loves Tara and always will
- a part of his heart will always remain with her
- but he now wants closure so he can fully give himself to his wife and children
Public Reaction and Trial Controversy
Why some viewers still doubt the verdict
Blaine notes that a small but vocal group of people online continued to speculate that Chris Melton was guilty, largely because:
- the defense repeatedly brought up his name
- his hand injuries became a point of discussion
- online theory-sharing amplified uncertainty
What the evidence showed
- Chris had no injuries on the day he was first interviewed by police
- the injuries appeared later
- the evidence presented at trial supported the jury’s verdict against Edric Faust
Notable Takeaways
- Cold cases can be solved when old evidence is revisited with new technology.
- Fire scenes are deceptive; arson meant to erase evidence can leave behind important clues.
- Families often become the driving force in long-running cases.
- Public speculation does not always match the actual evidentiary record.
- The episode is as much about loss and endurance as it is about the crime itself.
Audience Q&A Highlights
Question: Did Chris’s hand injuries suggest violence?
- Blaine says the injuries were addressed at trial.
- Chris said they came from punching a wall in grief.
- Crucially, investigators testified he had no hand injuries when first seen by police.
Question: Does the show change for podcast listeners?
- Blaine explains that the team produces the story first as a television episode.
- The podcast audio comes from that finished TV production.
Question: What about protesters who supported Faust?
- Some suggested Tara and Faust may have had a consensual relationship.
- Blaine says no evidence supported that claim.
- Faust denied knowing Tara when interviewed by investigators.
- Dateline reached out to Faust and his attorney; neither agreed to participate.
Final Impression
This episode is a strong example of what makes Dateline cold-case coverage compelling: a tragic story, a determined family, years of suspicion and uncertainty, and finally a resolution made possible by persistence and science. Blaine’s reporting also highlights the emotional complexity of everyone involved, especially Chris Melton, whose life was permanently shaped by Tara’s murder even though he was not her killer.