1 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: A twenty three year old Athens, Georgia cold case is solved. 2 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:18,280 Speaker 1: Honey Tara Baker was a law student at the University 3 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: of Georgia. She was studying at the library with friends. 4 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: She was last seen by them about seven thirty on 5 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: January eighteenth, two thousand and one. Tara ironically called her friend, 6 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:36,880 Speaker 1: who left the library before she did, about nine forty 7 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:40,559 Speaker 1: six to make sure she had made it home safely. 8 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:42,840 Speaker 1: She told her friend that she wasn't going to stay 9 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: much longer. She was probably going to be headed home 10 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: about ten. That's the last time anybody heard from her. 11 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: Baker was killed between nine forty five pm on January 12 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 1: eighteenth and eleven thirty am on the nineteenth. According to 13 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: law enforcement, Tara had been strangled, stabbed, and suffered blunt trauma. 14 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: She was also sexually assaulted. Then her home was set 15 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: on fire. Now, any one of those events could have 16 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 1: killed her. It didn't take all four, so that tells 17 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: us a little bit about who the suspect might have been, 18 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: the type of person the suspect might have been. The 19 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:30,119 Speaker 1: events that occurred at one sixty Phone Drive were heinous 20 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 1: and shocking to the town of Athens. Now those of 21 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: y'all that don't know Athens, I'm going to tell you. 22 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: It is a beautiful college town. It is fun, it 23 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: is vibrant, it is hustling. It is bustling. You've got 24 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: an athletic situation that is second to none, whether it's football, basketball, gymnastics. 25 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: You've got fine arts that are second to none. You've 26 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: got the Redcoat Marching Band. You've got singers, you've got dancers, 27 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: you've got artist It's just a wonderful place to visit. 28 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 1: It is a tremendous place for these students to live 29 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: there three or four or five years while they're studying 30 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 1: different things. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Athen, Georgia. 31 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 1: But I want to ask y'all something. Who kept this 32 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:22,959 Speaker 1: case alive, Who shed light on the facts of this case, 33 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: Who stayed in contact with her mama, Virginia Baker, who 34 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: helped her siblings Meredith, Adam and Kevin get organized and 35 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: put their thoughts out there and champion fighting for their sister. 36 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 1: A podcaster, he helped weave questions from listeners and law 37 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 1: enforcement to ferret out to the family, to serve as 38 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 1: the funnel or clearing house to get the answers back 39 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 1: that law enforcement desperately needed. Y'all, I have been waiting 40 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 1: to introduce y'all to my friend. Introduce yaw to the 41 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 1: hosts of Classic City Crime podcast, Cameron Jay, Cameron, welcome 42 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 1: to his own seven Oh Max. 43 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. Such an honor to be with 44 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 2: you today, and thank you for all of your work 45 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 2: and advocacy for homicide victims across this state. It's such 46 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 2: an honor to be with you. 47 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 1: This child, he championed this case, he worked this case. 48 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:25,959 Speaker 1: And I think it's okay if I tell y'all a 49 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: little something personal about him. But he was going to 50 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: school at the time. He was studying, he was going 51 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 1: to classes, he was researching, writing papers, but he was 52 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: also fighting cancer. He did not let none of it 53 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: slow him down stop him. Let me tell you, even 54 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: after the press conference, all of this celebrating, everything is 55 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: just popping off, so fabulous and confetti and champagne, everything's flowing. 56 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: But he's got to go back to the oncologist for 57 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: another check. And so he was texting me and he's like, Hey, 58 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: as soon as I get out of this appointment, I'm 59 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: going to call you. And I'm like you're still having 60 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 1: to deal with that madness, you know, but here he 61 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: is handling all of it. Just Jay, I gotta tell you, extraordinary. 62 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: You never once complained. You never said I'm too tired, 63 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 1: I'm too sick, too wore out, too disgusted, too fed up, 64 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:24,279 Speaker 1: to just I don't want. 65 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 2: To do it. 66 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: Never, not one time. We got a lot to cover. 67 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 1: But I want people to know when you say, well, 68 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 1: I don't know if I can help. I don't know 69 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: if there's anything I can do. You know, I'm in school, 70 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: or i'm working, or I'm not in the best of help. 71 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: Yes you can. All you got to do is think 72 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: of Cameron, Jay, and you better come on and you 73 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: can help, no doubt about it. All right, buddy, So 74 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: let's jump in this thing. 75 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 2: Let's do it. 76 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 1: How did you come to want to highlight this particular 77 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:56,600 Speaker 1: case of Tarr Baker. 78 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 2: Well, I've got to be honest. In order to answer that, Mac, 79 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 2: I've got to go back about eleven years ago, when 80 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 2: an eighteen year old me was sitting in a dorm 81 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 2: room at the University of Georgia. I had been for 82 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 2: a long time intrigued by true crime and why people 83 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 2: do what they do, not just what they do, and 84 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 2: that really stemmed from a very personal place for me. 85 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 2: In nineteen ninety six, my mom's first cousin and best 86 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 2: friend was murdered in South Georgia. When I was thirteen 87 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 2: years old, My best friend was killed by a distracted driver, 88 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 2: and I joined forces with his family at that young 89 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 2: age to advocate on his behalf and to inform people 90 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 2: of the dangers of being behind the wheel while distracted. 91 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 2: So this has always been very personal for me. And 92 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,359 Speaker 2: one night in that dorm room, I just decided to 93 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 2: google crime cases of Athens and read through a litany 94 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 2: of cases, and of course stumbled across an anniversary article 95 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 2: about Tara's case. You know, those happen every year every 96 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,840 Speaker 2: few years in the student newspaper. And you know, at 97 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 2: that time, I just kind of filed it away in 98 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 2: the back of my head. Wow, this is an interesting case. Wow, 99 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,839 Speaker 2: this family reminds me of my own family, you know, 100 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:10,239 Speaker 2: good old Southern people with Southern values. So it would 101 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 2: be years later though, twenty twenty actually when I rolled 102 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 2: over one morning and I said, I'm going to start 103 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 2: a podcast, and my partner said, well, what are you 104 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 2: going to do it? On and I said, well, you know, 105 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 2: there's this case that I read about eleven years ago 106 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 2: that I have not been able to let go of 107 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 2: and that I think about often. And so that's kind 108 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 2: of when one thing led to another. I reached out 109 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 2: to Tara's family, her sister first, as I was able 110 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 2: to make contact with We have a mutual friend, as 111 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 2: luck would have it, and they made the introduction. And 112 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 2: you know, one thing that I told them in that 113 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 2: first conversation, or told Meredith in that first conversation, was 114 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 2: a few things. The first that I would not cover 115 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 2: her sister's case without her family's participation in the work 116 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 2: or at the very least their blessing. And secondly, I 117 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 2: made it very clear that you know, I was not 118 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 2: here to solve Tara's case, but instead that I was 119 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 2: here to renew public interest, to bring awareness, to shake 120 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 2: the trees, to you know, remind law enforcement that there's 121 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 2: an entire community that cares about you know, not just 122 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 2: Tara's case, but the forty Unsaw Thomisides thirty nine now 123 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 2: the Athens Clark County Police Department currently has on their books. 124 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 2: So that's how it all got started. And really grateful 125 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 2: to her family for joining me in this effort. And 126 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 2: one thing I'll say, Mac is if you look back 127 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 2: at the last twenty three years, this family never gave. 128 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 2: They have advocated and pushed and asked the tough questions 129 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 2: for quite some time. And so you know, all I 130 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 2: did was come along and elevate their voices in a 131 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 2: modern day platform that's consumed by millions of people, as 132 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 2: you know, across the world, with the hopes that something 133 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 2: might happen. And you can only imagine the shock that 134 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 2: came when something did happen. 135 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 1: But it's a great feeling to know you've been a 136 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: part of it, and not just ground level. You took 137 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: this thing to a state level in a really unique way. 138 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: Tell everybody about House Bill eighty eight. 139 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 2: Oh yes, So you know, one thing I have always 140 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 2: been Cheryl is a problem solver. If I see a problem, 141 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 2: I don't just complain about it. My grandmother taught me 142 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 2: to get up and do something about it. And so 143 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 2: as I was covering Terra's case, I really identified that 144 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 2: there were two issues that were facing not only her family, 145 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 2: but countless families across the state. The first was when 146 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 2: a family feels that their case has fallen to the wayside, 147 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,559 Speaker 2: not intentionally right. We know law enforcement has a lot 148 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 2: of current crime they're dealing with. Where do they turn to? 149 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 2: And what I found was that the answer was really nowhere. 150 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 2: The second thing that I learned was that, you know, 151 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,959 Speaker 2: law enforcement is so overwhelmed and burdened with the current 152 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 2: crime that are facing our communities in the present day, 153 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 2: that it's often hard for them to have the time, resources, 154 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 2: percy power, and the monetary resources needed to look back, 155 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 2: retest and reinvestigate evidence in these cases. So, in identifying 156 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 2: those two problems, I started looking for a solution. We 157 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 2: got a really good gift from the federal government when 158 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 2: a bipartisan bill came out called the Homicide Victims Family's 159 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 2: Rights Act of twenty twenty two. And what that bill 160 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 2: did was said after five years, a family or an 161 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 2: investigative entity could reapply for reinvestigation by an independent body. 162 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 2: But there was one problem with that bill. It only 163 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 2: took care of cases that were in federal jurisdiction, so 164 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 2: that left behind countless hundreds of families in Georgia that 165 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 2: didn't qualify for that. And so I said, well, if 166 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 2: the federal government can agree on something, if Republicans and 167 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 2: Democrats can come together and get something done at the 168 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 2: federal level, then I'm just crazy enough to believe that 169 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 2: we can bring it back home gear to Georgia. 170 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: Amen. 171 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 2: That's exactly what we did, and we did not do 172 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:00,959 Speaker 2: that alone. So as we started research and coming up 173 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 2: with the language of this bill, what we found was 174 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 2: that there was another family with another podcast in South 175 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 2: Georgia that we're advocating really for almost the exact same thing. 176 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 2: So I picked up the phone. I called that family 177 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 2: and I said, you don't know me, but I know you. 178 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 2: This murder actually that I'm talking about the Ron but 179 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 2: Coleman case happened in the hometown next door the city 180 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 2: next door to the hometown I grew up in, so 181 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 2: I've been familiar with it my entire life. So I 182 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 2: picked up the phone, called them and said, there is street, 183 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 2: then numbers, and there's nothing that beats two moms looking 184 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 2: at legislators and saying this is my truth, this is 185 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 2: what I'm here for, this is what my daughters deserve. 186 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 2: And so we brought those together. We got together a 187 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 2: group of legislators from both sides of the Aisle. I'm 188 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 2: really grateful to our Athens delegation for the work that 189 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 2: they did, and we got this thing passed, the Coleman 190 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 2: Baker Act, with unanimous support in both chambers of our 191 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 2: state legislature, and the governors signed it. So one thing 192 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 2: that I will say is that, really what I realized 193 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 2: is once we got through all the details and looking 194 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,199 Speaker 2: back at different people and situations that have occurred in 195 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 2: Tara's case over the last twenty three years, we hit 196 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 2: a wall. Right. We went as far as we could go, 197 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 2: and so at that point we really had a choice 198 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 2: to make, and the choice we made was let's pivot 199 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 2: to advocacy, and that's exactly what we did together. 200 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:28,959 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty, I had written the Cold Case Accountability Act, 201 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: and I was trying to get the federal government to 202 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 1: pay attention and they said, well, if you can get 203 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:37,679 Speaker 1: ten thousand signatures, then we'll pay attention. Well I got 204 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: just over nine thousand, but they decided to take it 205 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: up and run with it anyway. They changed it some, 206 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 1: but my hope was if the federal government will do it, 207 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 1: then maybe states will take it on and you know, 208 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:53,559 Speaker 1: run with it. But what you did here in Georgia 209 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:57,599 Speaker 1: is going to help so many families. So to me, 210 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 1: Tara and Ronda are going to live on and be 211 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 1: able to help thousands of families. 212 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 2: Oh my goodness. The first thing that I said when 213 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 2: we got the news on that Thursday was, well, the 214 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 2: good news in all of this. As hard as it 215 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,839 Speaker 2: is to process the fact that the Baker family will 216 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 2: now have to live through the actual truth of what 217 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 2: happened twenty three years ago, and now when they go 218 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 2: to bed at night, Cheryl, it's not a faithless person anymore. 219 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 2: It is a real individual, a monster, a violent criminal 220 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 2: who now when they lay their heads down at night 221 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 2: and close their eyes, they see So that is very difficult. 222 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 2: But the one silver lining that I saw in this news, 223 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 2: in addition to justice obviously being on its way, is 224 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 2: that this would not be the last headline like this. 225 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 2: I mean, I firmly believe that it's going to change 226 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 2: the course for families in Georgia. But what I also 227 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 2: hope other states are doing is looking at to us 228 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 2: as an example now to say, hey, if we do 229 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 2: take time and allocate money, resources, person power and the 230 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 2: things needed to look back at these cases that are 231 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 2: sometimes ten, twenty, thirty, forty years old, then Not only 232 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 2: are we going to bring justice for victims and their 233 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 2: families and answers to these communities, but we're going to 234 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,679 Speaker 2: make sure that violent criminals are held accountable so that 235 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 2: they cannot hurt someone again. And so I hope that 236 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:27,199 Speaker 2: these legislators, these police departments and sheriffs departments, law enforcement 237 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 2: agencies across the country will look to what we did 238 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 2: here and say, there is power in this, there is 239 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 2: justice in this. So that's my hope in all of 240 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 2: this that we see this not be the last time 241 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 2: that something like this happens, that it will be replicated 242 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 2: in all fifty states over the next few years. And 243 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 2: that's what I'm going to be pushing for. 244 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: And let me just say I will speak for Cameron 245 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:54,079 Speaker 1: jay Rite this minute and myself. Anybody that wants a 246 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 1: copy of the Cold Case Accountability Act. If anybody wants 247 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 1: to see exactly the wording of House Bill eighty eight, 248 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:03,199 Speaker 1: get in touch with either one of us. We are 249 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:06,200 Speaker 1: more than happy to not only help you frame it 250 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 1: the way you want to write it the way you 251 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: want to will help advocate for it. So reach out. 252 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 1: We're all about it. Is that okay that I spoke 253 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: for you? 254 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 2: Absolutely, please do read it and read it again. 255 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: Read it and read it again seriously, because there's not 256 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: only power in numbers when it comes to making phone 257 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: calls and saying, hey, y'all got to take a look 258 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: at this, y'all need to support this. But there's power 259 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 1: in numbers to say, hey, you want us to help 260 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: you frame it in Montana and Louisiana and Florida and Illinois, 261 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: call us good lord. It's just logical to me, It's logical. 262 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: Law enforcement needs help. Everybody's overworked. People have gotten rid 263 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 1: of cold case units because of budgets. There's not enough money, 264 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 1: there's not enough personnel. So if you have outside resources 265 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: and outside help, for the love of all that is right, 266 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: utilize them. That's why people are there. There's so many 267 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: unbelievable organizations and talented individuals that are sit known go 268 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 1: to help you. 269 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely. And one thing I'll add to that, if you 270 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 2: don't mind, is really, what was truly remarkable about this was, 271 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 2: you know, it's one thing mac for me or you 272 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 2: to get in front of a group of legislators and 273 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 2: talk about, you know, why these issues are so important. 274 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 2: But I can tell you you put a family in 275 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 2: front of them, you put a mother that talks about 276 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 2: a mother's breaking part. One thing Tara told every legislator 277 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 2: we met with was it doesn't matter how many years pass, 278 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 2: it doesn't matter how long I'm waiting. And when you 279 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 2: see the families start telling these stories, you see these 280 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 2: legislators not only get emotional, but really by in to 281 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 2: what we're trying to do here. And you know that's 282 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 2: why in my podcast work, I was so hyper focused 283 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 2: on familial involvement and putting their voices, you know, me 284 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 2: guiding telling their story because I believe it was one 285 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 2: thing for the community to hear my voice talking about it, 286 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 2: but my goodness, you let them hear from the family, friends, colleagues, 287 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 2: classmates of these victims, and suddenly they feel personally connected, 288 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 2: personally invested. And that is what leads to the successful advocacy, 289 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 2: because you build a community around these cases. 290 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 1: And that's what these cases need to be. They need 291 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: to be personal. People need to be angry about it. 292 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 1: They need to say, look, I'm going to help this 293 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: mama do something. I don't maybe know what I can 294 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: do right this minute, but I'm going to share about 295 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 1: the podcast. I'm going to tell people to listen to it. 296 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna, you know, send up a prayer, a good wish, 297 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: whatever it is you do, light a candle, something to 298 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: get this thing rolling. Yes, And that's what you see 299 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: your community, your podcast community, the Athens community, the law 300 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 1: enforcement community, you know, the church family of the Baker family, 301 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: the neighbors, the friends, the fellow students of Tara. I mean, 302 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: you're talking about different pockets, different communities that are all 303 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:10,160 Speaker 1: one when at the end of the day, we're all 304 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:12,160 Speaker 1: one group for her. 305 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 2: Well, I was just going to say, and two, you know, 306 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 2: justice is might be delayed sometimes, my friend, but it's 307 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:22,919 Speaker 2: still going to be right on time when it comes knocking. 308 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,239 Speaker 1: I agree with that, and I've seen it more than 309 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:29,680 Speaker 1: once that the timing makes sense because again, if this 310 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 1: case had been solved ten years ago, we wouldn't have 311 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:32,359 Speaker 1: a law. 312 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:35,360 Speaker 2: And I will tell you when we were advocating for 313 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 2: this case, I think this is one of the most 314 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:40,880 Speaker 2: fascinating parts of what we were doing. When we were 315 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 2: advocating for this every legislator that the family and I 316 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 2: walked into their office to talk to we said the 317 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:51,880 Speaker 2: exact same thing, quote, we know that this law will 318 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:57,120 Speaker 2: probably never change the reality that Tara's case is unsolved. 319 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 2: But what we do believe is that she was such 320 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 2: a fierce advocate for justice as a law student at 321 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 2: the University of Georgia, that she was such a champion 322 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:10,199 Speaker 2: of the less fortunate, in the underdog in situations, that 323 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 2: this would be her legacy, the way that she would 324 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 2: live on continually by helping others. And so, you know, 325 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 2: we never expected that not only would her case be 326 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 2: solved as a result of this law, but that it 327 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 2: would be the first. 328 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 1: What you just said, Cameron is one of those things 329 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,919 Speaker 1: where you take it if you scripted it for a 330 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 1: Hollywood movie, it could not be any better. And I 331 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:38,679 Speaker 1: think of the quote you said when you said a 332 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:42,640 Speaker 1: mother's heart never gives up. When I listened to Virginia 333 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 1: Baker talk and I listened to Tara's siblings talk, all 334 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 1: I heard was strength, power, devotion, loyalty. And they did 335 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: that for Tara, but they also did it for all 336 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:01,680 Speaker 1: of these other families they won't ever. 337 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:05,400 Speaker 2: Meet, absolutely, and if they're listening, and I will send 338 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 2: it to them, I want to say that their strength 339 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 2: has inspired not only me and I get emotional talking 340 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 2: about it, but they've become such a bonus family to me. 341 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 2: And you know, in the press conference, Meridith referred to 342 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 2: me as the little brother that they didn't know that 343 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 2: they need it, and we've just gotten very, very close. 344 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 2: But what I can say is their strength not only 345 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:30,119 Speaker 2: inspired me, but it inspired hundreds of thousands of people 346 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 2: across this country. It inspired law enforcement to believe that 347 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 2: something could happen again. So for any family out there 348 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 2: listening who's still waiting, hoping, believing and praying, don't give up, 349 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:46,360 Speaker 2: because this is proof in the pudding that something can 350 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 2: be done if only we give it time, give it resources, 351 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:51,160 Speaker 2: and give it attention. 352 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: I know the GBI has not wanted to release exactly 353 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 1: from their playbook how they solved it, but there are 354 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 1: some clues. There's some clues in what the suspect is 355 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: charged with. So one thing I want to ask you 356 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:09,879 Speaker 1: about is I'm just going to go on the belief 357 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 1: that the DNA, whether it was through ancestry or codis 358 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:19,959 Speaker 1: somehow connected this person. I think that's something that again 359 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:24,160 Speaker 1: we need to keep preaching that we have got technology 360 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: now that we didn't even have a few years ago, 361 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 1: and more and more people are putting their DNA into 362 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 1: these sites. More and more people that are in jail 363 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: in prison are having to give up their DNA, so 364 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 1: the odds of connecting people are greater than ever before. 365 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 1: The technology like authram and m VAT and the Bardol 366 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: method are so crazy good and so just remarkable that 367 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:57,480 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't know how anybody gets away with 368 00:20:57,480 --> 00:20:59,119 Speaker 1: the crime anymore. I'm just going to say it. 369 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 2: I'm telling you. 370 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: I mean, if somebody said, hey, do you think I 371 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: could get away with this, I'm a glad tell you no. No, 372 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:11,200 Speaker 1: You're almost always on camera, you almost always leave your 373 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: evidence behind you. Just do you touch something, you sweat, 374 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:20,120 Speaker 1: you spit, there's something you have done where they're gonna 375 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: find you, They're gonna get you. But in this situation, 376 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 1: I believe that at some point, not only should the 377 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 1: GBI come out and share their playbook, I think it's 378 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: going to be imperative because I think other departments need 379 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 1: to know what they did. It's probably not something that 380 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 1: we don't already know. It's probably not something that other 381 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:45,640 Speaker 1: cases haven't already tried. But I would love to see 382 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:48,920 Speaker 1: that shared. What is your feeling about that? Not today, 383 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:50,959 Speaker 1: but just sometime. 384 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 2: Sure, Well, you know It's one of those things where 385 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:56,920 Speaker 2: we know that the criminal justice system's wheels are now turning. 386 00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:00,160 Speaker 2: So I do believe that those details will come out 387 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 2: the appropriate time. What I can say is from my 388 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:07,159 Speaker 2: knowledge of this case is that the GBI itself, no 389 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:12,119 Speaker 2: outside forces, no other individual groups. As much as you know, 390 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:15,439 Speaker 2: I love those groups doing all of this technological and 391 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 2: scientific work in the modern age. What I believe that 392 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 2: I can say is that when this does come out, 393 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 2: I believe firmly that the GBI will be getting a 394 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:28,480 Speaker 2: lot of credit for maybe just looking at things through 395 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,200 Speaker 2: a different lens than we did twenty three years ago. 396 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 2: And to your point, science technology, specifically DNA technology has 397 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:38,400 Speaker 2: come so far just in the last few years, if 398 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 2: you count up decades, we're talking about a lot of 399 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:45,080 Speaker 2: the advancements. So, like you, I'm looking forward to hearing 400 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:49,400 Speaker 2: those specific details. But it sounds like they're very confident 401 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 2: they have the right person, and I believe that as well. 402 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 2: I am one person that doesn't like to deny science 403 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:59,400 Speaker 2: nor fact, and I know you're the same way. So 404 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:02,640 Speaker 2: you know, I'm grateful that they were able to bring 405 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 2: this across the finish line. And you know, one thing, 406 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:08,239 Speaker 2: I've just been encouraging listeners and friends of mine to do. 407 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:12,199 Speaker 2: Is there's a lot of well what is or you know, 408 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:14,959 Speaker 2: well did this happen or that happen? Or is this 409 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 2: person connected to that person? And what I keep reminding 410 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:22,320 Speaker 2: everyone is that all of that is coming. We just 411 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:26,399 Speaker 2: have to be patient and wait on the process. And uh, 412 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:28,560 Speaker 2: it's kind of goes back to my quote earlier Martin 413 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:30,679 Speaker 2: Luther King Junior said it best. The arc of the 414 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:34,399 Speaker 2: moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice every 415 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 2: single time. And so you know, this process may take 416 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 2: some time, especially when you think about twenty three years 417 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 2: worth of evidence, twenty three years worth of tracking down 418 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 2: people that were interviewed all the way back then. And 419 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 2: as you mentioned, Athens is a fun town, but it's 420 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:52,560 Speaker 2: a transient town people that people live here for four 421 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 2: or five years and then they move around the world. 422 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 2: So you know, I think all of that will take time. 423 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:00,359 Speaker 2: And I'm looking forward to with you, my friend, and 424 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 2: I'm learning some of those details. But great work to 425 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:05,880 Speaker 2: the GBI. And one thing that I want to give 426 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:09,919 Speaker 2: them specific credit on is they always viewed this, I 427 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:14,560 Speaker 2: feel as a partnership. It was never the GBI versus 428 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 2: the Appens Park County Police Department. It was never the 429 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 2: GBI versus Classic City Crime podcast. It was never the 430 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 2: GBI versus the Baker family. It was always we together, 431 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 2: a team in partnership with one another, can do things 432 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 2: that have never been done. We can go places that 433 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,480 Speaker 2: have never been gone. And therefore that's why I think 434 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:38,400 Speaker 2: we are exactly where we are now. It was looking 435 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 2: at one another and saying, we're all part of a 436 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 2: tea gear. Let's do this together. 437 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 1: You know, when I was first assigned to Operation Wagncye 438 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 1: back in the nineties, the person that was in charge 439 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 1: of that, his name was Jim Birch, and Jim was 440 00:24:57,320 --> 00:25:00,240 Speaker 1: a GBI agent that was given the task of in 441 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 1: this whole operation. He did so with such integrity and 442 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 1: such genuine care and concern for other people. But he 443 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:15,119 Speaker 1: also never forgot to have a great time, to have fun, 444 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:19,360 Speaker 1: to include everybody, whether it was a rookie or a captain. 445 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,120 Speaker 1: I mean, he was so inclusive and the other thing 446 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 1: that he did better than anybody I had ever seen 447 00:25:24,520 --> 00:25:28,160 Speaker 1: at that time. It was a team. So we had 448 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:32,360 Speaker 1: the Secret Service, the FBI, the GBI, APD, Fulton County. 449 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:38,919 Speaker 1: Everybody was involved, but nobody felt like anybody was in 450 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 1: a better position or given the you know, golden child status. 451 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:45,960 Speaker 1: It was never that we worked as one unit. 452 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 2: I told so many people that we have to get 453 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 2: away from the mindset of I want to be right, 454 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,360 Speaker 2: and we have to get more in the mindset of 455 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 2: I want the truth, regardless of whether that means what 456 00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 2: you might have thoughts or you know, a scenario that 457 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:05,359 Speaker 2: you put together or you know, in these cases that 458 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:08,280 Speaker 2: are really, you know, so old, there's often a lot 459 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 2: of people that could be involved, right, So you know, 460 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,399 Speaker 2: I think that is such an important piece too. Is 461 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 2: just recognizing that. 462 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:20,640 Speaker 1: But you know, you're you're living that same way. When 463 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 1: I first heard and saw the press conference, I was like, Dad, Gummett, 464 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 1: Cameron did it. He freaking did it. But when I 465 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 1: talked to you, you were like, oh, listen, every single 466 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:34,879 Speaker 1: person played such a stellar role in such a solid involvement. 467 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: It was the same feeling. And I always tell people 468 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:42,439 Speaker 1: I don't care who puts the handcuffs on somebody, amen, 469 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 1: I just want it done. I want this person off 470 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:48,160 Speaker 1: the street. I want them away from innocent people where 471 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:53,120 Speaker 1: they cannot hurt anybody else. So whether this department gets 472 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 1: credit or this individual gets credited, it doesn't matter. Doesn't matter. 473 00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:59,320 Speaker 1: We all know the truth. We all go to bed 474 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 1: at night going, hey, that was a pretty good day. 475 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:02,400 Speaker 2: You know that's right. 476 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:05,600 Speaker 1: But I just want everybody to know I personally know 477 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 1: what you did and again the way that you did it. 478 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: But I ain't the only person. I'm not. Why don't 479 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:16,880 Speaker 1: you tell everybody what gift you were given and by whom? Yes. 480 00:27:17,119 --> 00:27:20,440 Speaker 2: So it has been really remarkable, and I really appreciate 481 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 2: your kind words, Cheryl. One thing I do want to 482 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 2: say is back to what I told Miss Baker and 483 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 2: Meredith in the first few conversations I had with I 484 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:30,639 Speaker 2: don't believe I saw to this case. I believe I 485 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:34,920 Speaker 2: raised awareness, shook the trees, did the advocacy, and because 486 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:38,199 Speaker 2: of all of that work, the GBI was able to 487 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:40,600 Speaker 2: solve the case. So I want to make that very clear. 488 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:44,400 Speaker 2: But I've been very, very blessed to be reached out 489 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:47,400 Speaker 2: to by members of the Athens Park County Police Department, 490 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:51,520 Speaker 2: the Baker family, of course, members of this community, people 491 00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:55,119 Speaker 2: from all over the country and world. But one of 492 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:59,359 Speaker 2: the pieces that really got to me was I got 493 00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:02,480 Speaker 2: a call maybe a few days after the case was 494 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 2: solved or it was announced that someone had been arrested, 495 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:09,119 Speaker 2: and it was from a GBI agent on the case. 496 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:12,200 Speaker 2: And I won't say their name just to protect their 497 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:14,800 Speaker 2: privacy as they continue to work through all of the 498 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:17,680 Speaker 2: details I know they're facing right now. But they called 499 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:20,359 Speaker 2: me said stop by my house. I have something I 500 00:28:20,359 --> 00:28:21,760 Speaker 2: want to talk to you about or give you. And 501 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:23,480 Speaker 2: the first thing I thought was what the hell have 502 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 2: I done now? So I was a little nervous, My 503 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:31,320 Speaker 2: hands were sweaty driving over, had no idea what was 504 00:28:31,359 --> 00:28:34,280 Speaker 2: going to happen. And this person invited me into their home, 505 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 2: sat me down on the couch and just really expressed 506 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 2: gratitude for the work that this podcast community, not just me. 507 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 2: You'll hear me often say we together, this community, this family, 508 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 2: we were able to enable them to solve the case. 509 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 2: It was something to that effect. We would not be 510 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 2: here if it were not for you. And when they 511 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:00,920 Speaker 2: say you, in my mind, that's us, and I was like, well, 512 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 2: thank you. You know, that's very kind. It was obviously 513 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 2: something I didn't expect. And so I'm getting ready to 514 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:11,040 Speaker 2: leave and this person says, I have something I want 515 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:13,280 Speaker 2: to get to you. And I opened my hand and 516 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 2: they put a lapel pen in my hand and I 517 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 2: was like, oh, thank you. And I just thought it was, 518 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 2: you know, a GBI lapel pen, right that everyone gets 519 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:24,960 Speaker 2: at a job. And what I found out was its 520 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 2: actually the lapel pen that was pinned on this person 521 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:33,080 Speaker 2: when they became an agent, their class pen and so, 522 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:36,480 Speaker 2: and it was the same pen they wore to the 523 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:39,200 Speaker 2: Baker press conference, which I could not attend because I 524 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 2: was busy working in my full time job that day. 525 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 2: So it just meant so much to me to be 526 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:49,000 Speaker 2: acknowledged in that way, to feel like I am not 527 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 2: tangential but actually a part of what's happening here and 528 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 2: what has transpired. So if that person is listening, thank 529 00:29:57,240 --> 00:30:00,480 Speaker 2: you for the acknowledgment and for the work you're doing. 530 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:01,200 Speaker 2: I appreciate you. 531 00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:06,760 Speaker 1: And what a sentimental, fabulous gift. To share that pen 532 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:11,240 Speaker 1: with anybody would be an honor. But you know what 533 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:14,160 Speaker 1: that means, And I think that you know, you should 534 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 1: get choked up when you talk about it, because this 535 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:19,200 Speaker 1: was not you know, ever since the first time we 536 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:24,920 Speaker 1: ever spoke, you have never been anything but authentic and 537 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:27,640 Speaker 1: what you wanted and what your vision was. You've never 538 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:30,960 Speaker 1: swayed from it. And it was never about, hey, I'm 539 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:33,680 Speaker 1: going to put a podcast out, and it was never 540 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:37,800 Speaker 1: just a side hustle, so to speak. This was something 541 00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 1: you were devoted to and it showed in everything that 542 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:45,040 Speaker 1: you did, the way you went to you know, to 543 00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 1: the family, the way that you again you became that 544 00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 1: little brother they didn't know they needed. And it's something 545 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:54,880 Speaker 1: that you know, I try to teach my own children 546 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:59,240 Speaker 1: sometimes when you do for other people, you literally gain 547 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 1: more than the people you're trying to do something for. 548 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:05,120 Speaker 1: And you have gained family, you have gained fans, you 549 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:08,160 Speaker 1: have gained a law you have gained a solved case, 550 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 1: you have gained respect from law enforcement. 551 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:14,320 Speaker 2: That ain't a bad day, not at all. And you know, 552 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:17,120 Speaker 2: I am a student to this job, is what I 553 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:20,320 Speaker 2: say so much, Cheryl. I wake up every day and 554 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:22,920 Speaker 2: learn something new. I wake up every day and say, oh, 555 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 2: looking back at that first episode from three years ago, 556 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:27,959 Speaker 2: I might could have worded that a little differently. You know, 557 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 2: I'm sure you have those moments too, or you know, 558 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:33,960 Speaker 2: what started out as a critique of law enforcement has 559 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:39,120 Speaker 2: transformed into a understanding of law enforcement. And a partnership 560 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 2: with law enforcement. So it's come such a long way. 561 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 2: And when I first started this out, yes, it was 562 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:47,480 Speaker 2: always going to be more than just a pet project, 563 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:49,400 Speaker 2: because when I do something, I give it one hundred 564 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:53,479 Speaker 2: percent always, But I certainly did not expect it to 565 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:55,520 Speaker 2: become what it became. I thought we would have a 566 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:58,400 Speaker 2: few hundred listeners, that we would do five or ten 567 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:02,160 Speaker 2: episodes maybe, and then you know, we would see what happened. 568 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:04,800 Speaker 2: But what happened was the exact opposite of that. We 569 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:07,000 Speaker 2: started doing the episodes, and I opened my phone the 570 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 2: next morning and I'm like, five thousand people, And then 571 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:12,800 Speaker 2: a few weeks go by and it's twenty thousand, then 572 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:14,920 Speaker 2: it gets into the hundreds of thousands, then it gets 573 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:17,760 Speaker 2: up to a million, and I'm just like, oh my goodness, 574 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:20,920 Speaker 2: something is happening here, and people need a platform an 575 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 2: outlet to be heard. And you know, it's not that 576 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 2: they're speaking the truth always, right, but they are certainly 577 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:29,440 Speaker 2: speaking their truth, and that's something to be looked at 578 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:32,480 Speaker 2: and deciphered, you know, by the powers that be. But 579 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:36,760 Speaker 2: it very quickly morphed into more than I ever dreamed 580 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:39,440 Speaker 2: or imagined. I was working a full time job at 581 00:32:39,480 --> 00:32:44,040 Speaker 2: the time in housing in a marketing position. And what 582 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:47,120 Speaker 2: I found was as I started doing this podcast that 583 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:50,000 Speaker 2: I was spending more time stepping out of my office 584 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 2: to answer calls from listeners and people that had information 585 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:56,200 Speaker 2: than I was doing the job I was hired and 586 00:32:56,240 --> 00:32:58,760 Speaker 2: paid to do. And so I really made a tough 587 00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:01,600 Speaker 2: decision at that point my part, Aaron, I said, look, 588 00:33:01,840 --> 00:33:04,440 Speaker 2: I believe in what we're doing here. I believe in 589 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 2: this family, I believe in this story. I'm going to 590 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 2: leave my corporate job. I'm going to leave my salary 591 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:13,400 Speaker 2: and benefits, and I'm going to pursue this thing with 592 00:33:13,520 --> 00:33:16,080 Speaker 2: my heart's soul, mind and strength. And that's what I 593 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:18,960 Speaker 2: did for two years full time. It was Terror Baker 594 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 2: every day, all day. And that doesn't necessarily mean I 595 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:24,680 Speaker 2: was reporting or interviewing all the time, you know how 596 00:33:24,680 --> 00:33:26,840 Speaker 2: it goes. Some nights when I couldn't sleep, I would 597 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:29,600 Speaker 2: just pull down the file book that was three inches 598 00:33:29,640 --> 00:33:31,960 Speaker 2: wide of every incident report that occurred in a three 599 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:35,320 Speaker 2: year period in that neighborhood. Right, it was just all 600 00:33:35,360 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 2: that I could think about. But it was not because 601 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:42,440 Speaker 2: of the podcast work. It was because of her mom, 602 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:45,800 Speaker 2: and it was because every time I wanted to call 603 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:48,720 Speaker 2: and talk to her mom, I wanted, you know, to 604 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:51,880 Speaker 2: be able to say I haven't forgotten, because I felt 605 00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:55,440 Speaker 2: like for so long she felt that people had forgotten, 606 00:33:56,440 --> 00:33:58,720 Speaker 2: and that was the one thing that she didn't want 607 00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:03,120 Speaker 2: to happen. I don't want people to forget. And my goodness, Cheryl, 608 00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:05,360 Speaker 2: they're not going to forget now, that's for sure. 609 00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:07,880 Speaker 1: No, sir, and let me tell you something. Now that 610 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:11,480 Speaker 1: you know you've got this accolade in this star in 611 00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:14,920 Speaker 1: your crown, don't stop calling me now that you're famous. 612 00:34:16,360 --> 00:34:20,319 Speaker 2: Well, infamous might be the better term, but no, you 613 00:34:20,360 --> 00:34:22,719 Speaker 2: will always be in my zone, my friend. I mean, 614 00:34:22,840 --> 00:34:25,400 Speaker 2: you know, so many people when I first started this 615 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:27,000 Speaker 2: said you are just bonkers. 616 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:27,840 Speaker 1: What are you doing? 617 00:34:27,960 --> 00:34:30,680 Speaker 2: You know? But when I called you, you said, keep 618 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:33,960 Speaker 2: it up, keep going, keep shaking the trees, keep asking 619 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:38,319 Speaker 2: tough questions, keep letting people talk. And you know, I 620 00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:41,279 Speaker 2: can't thank you enough for being encouraging to me. You 621 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:43,319 Speaker 2: mentioned that I was in school when all this was 622 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:46,799 Speaker 2: going on. I went back to school to get a 623 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:50,200 Speaker 2: criminology degree. I graduated two weeks ago. That was all 624 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:53,080 Speaker 2: because Miss Baker encouraged me to do that I love it, 625 00:34:53,120 --> 00:34:55,879 Speaker 2: and I went back. I found my passion. So when 626 00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:59,360 Speaker 2: I graduated, literally two days after, an arrest was made 627 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:03,120 Speaker 2: by the way, as I walked that stage, I thought, 628 00:35:03,120 --> 00:35:06,719 Speaker 2: in my mind, this is for Terra, this is for 629 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:09,960 Speaker 2: Miss Virginia, this is for the Baker family. Because if 630 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:13,279 Speaker 2: it were not for them joining forces with me and 631 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:16,560 Speaker 2: being with me through this, I don't know if I 632 00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:20,520 Speaker 2: would have discovered my passion. And my passion is victim advocacy. 633 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:23,560 Speaker 2: It is you know, when you find that the laws 634 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:25,440 Speaker 2: don't work, you either work to change them or work 635 00:35:25,520 --> 00:35:26,520 Speaker 2: to create new ones. 636 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:30,640 Speaker 1: Honey, those graduation pictures were so fantastic too. You look 637 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:33,960 Speaker 1: so happy, so happy, thank you, And I felt like 638 00:35:34,080 --> 00:35:36,920 Speaker 1: watching those pictures, I thought, you know what, he has 639 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:40,880 Speaker 1: graduated in more than one way. You have started a 640 00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:43,200 Speaker 1: new life in more than one way. You are healthy, 641 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:46,440 Speaker 1: you've got a salve under your belt which is tremendous, 642 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:50,040 Speaker 1: You've got a law that you helped create, and now 643 00:35:50,080 --> 00:35:52,319 Speaker 1: you've got this degree. I mean, there ain't no stopping you. 644 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:56,240 Speaker 1: I told you to shake some trees, honey, you cut 645 00:35:56,280 --> 00:35:57,440 Speaker 1: them mothers down. 646 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:01,080 Speaker 2: Well, let me tell you I am of faith, Cheryl, 647 00:36:01,800 --> 00:36:04,399 Speaker 2: and one thing that I learned from a very young age. 648 00:36:04,440 --> 00:36:06,719 Speaker 2: It's my favorite quote. It hangs on my wall at 649 00:36:06,719 --> 00:36:09,800 Speaker 2: my office at my big boy job, as I call it. 650 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:12,719 Speaker 2: It hangs in the office at my home, and it 651 00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:16,000 Speaker 2: says this, do all the good you can, in all 652 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:18,680 Speaker 2: the ways you can, and all the places you can, 653 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:21,480 Speaker 2: to all the people you can, at all the times 654 00:36:21,520 --> 00:36:24,760 Speaker 2: you can, as long as ever you can. 655 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:25,640 Speaker 1: Amen. 656 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:28,320 Speaker 2: And I feel that I have a lot of good 657 00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:31,120 Speaker 2: to keep doing, and I feel that people listening to 658 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:33,880 Speaker 2: this have a lot of good to keep doing. People 659 00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:36,120 Speaker 2: in our community have a lot of good to keep doing. 660 00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:39,280 Speaker 2: So my big takeaway from all of this is, let's 661 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:42,080 Speaker 2: just all keep doing the most good because if we 662 00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:45,320 Speaker 2: seek to do good, I believe the reward is exactly 663 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:48,319 Speaker 2: what we saw. It is justice, It has answers, is 664 00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:51,880 Speaker 2: the truth. So I'm going to keep pursuing justice, not 665 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:54,759 Speaker 2: just for Terra and her family, but there are, as 666 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:58,280 Speaker 2: I mentioned now, thirty nine other unsold homicides in Athens 667 00:36:58,320 --> 00:37:01,520 Speaker 2: Clark County dating back to nineteen sixty nine. We know 668 00:37:01,600 --> 00:37:04,200 Speaker 2: that there are hundreds across the state of Georgia, and 669 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:06,960 Speaker 2: as a result of the Coleman Baker Act, in addition 670 00:37:07,080 --> 00:37:10,359 Speaker 2: to funding the Cold Case Unit at the GBI. What 671 00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:13,120 Speaker 2: it also did, which I think is really great, is 672 00:37:13,160 --> 00:37:16,880 Speaker 2: it created a reporting requirement and a data colection requirement 673 00:37:17,239 --> 00:37:20,160 Speaker 2: for us to learn how many UNSAW homicides to eat 674 00:37:20,239 --> 00:37:23,960 Speaker 2: this each agency have record off across the state. Because 675 00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:26,719 Speaker 2: here's what I believe. I believe when we get that 676 00:37:26,840 --> 00:37:30,279 Speaker 2: data and finalize it, we're going to see, hey, this 677 00:37:30,360 --> 00:37:32,400 Speaker 2: might be a bigger problem than we thought it was. 678 00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:35,200 Speaker 2: And once we have that data and information, what are 679 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:39,439 Speaker 2: we able to do allocating more time, more resources, more 680 00:37:39,480 --> 00:37:43,160 Speaker 2: funding to get things done. So I'm really looking forward 681 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:45,040 Speaker 2: to seeing that come to fruition. 682 00:37:44,760 --> 00:37:47,799 Speaker 1: Too, y'all. I'm going to end Zone seven the way 683 00:37:47,840 --> 00:37:52,160 Speaker 1: I always do with a quote. I am Tara's mother, 684 00:37:53,040 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 1: I always will be Tara's mother, Virginia Baker. I'm Cheryl McCollum, 685 00:38:00,520 --> 00:38:01,600 Speaker 1: and this is Own seven