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One day before her 24th birthday, promising law student Tara Baker's bright future was violently stolen from her. A deadbolted door, a deliberately set fire, and an apartment in flames created a perfect storm that nearly erased all evidence of what really happened that night in January 2001.

Tara was the embodiment of what makes an exceptional lawyer - brilliant, compassionate, and committed to fighting for the underdogs of society. Her fellow UGA law students remember her as the person who brought people together, ensuring no one felt excluded. She had just finished another late night at the law library, calling a friend at 9:46 PM to make sure they'd arrived home safely. Hours later, firefighters would make the devastating discovery that would haunt Athens, Georgia for more than two decades.

For 23 years, the case remained unsolved despite several promising leads: a boyfriend (quickly cleared), a suspicious classmate, a local criminal spotted nearby, and a former colleague who mysteriously left town after her murder. The crime scene itself presented nearly insurmountable challenges - water from firefighting efforts washed away crucial evidence while the deliberately set fire destroyed other potential clues.

The breakthrough finally came through the power of modern forensic science and a newly established cold case unit named partly in Tara's honor. In May 2024, authorities arrested Edric Lamont Faust, a man with a violent criminal history but, surprisingly, no connection whatsoever to Tara. The DNA evidence collected at the original crime scene, preserved for over two decades, had finally spoken. This wasn't a crime of passion between acquaintances as initially theorized - it appears to have been a random attack, a devastating moment of opportunity that robbed the world of a promising advocate for justice.

Listen as we unravel how this case finally found resolution, the complicated emotions faced by Tara's family, and how her legacy lives on through Georgia's dedicated cold case unit that bears her name. If you have information about this or any unsolved case, consider reaching out to authorities - your tip could be the missing piece that brings a family the answers they've waited decades to hear.

Sources:

Last updated: October 20, 2024
https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/classic-city-crime-1332721/episodes/introducing-classic-city-crime-69782265

https://gbi.georgia.gov/cases/unsolved-homicide/tara-louise-baker


by: Hollie Lewis
Posted: Jun 1, 2022 / 05:45 PM EDT

Updated: Jun 1, 2022 / 05:23 PM EDT
https://www.wsav.com/now/uga-law-students-homicide-cold-case-of-tara-louise-baker/


https://www.onlineathens.com/story/news/state/2017/02/26/still-no-arrest-16-years-after-uga-law-student-s-murder-police-believe-case/15433794007/

By Kim Leoffler and FOX 5 Atlanta Digital TeamUpdated May 10, 2024 5:08pm EDTAthens-Clarke County
https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/athens-man-charged-with-murder-in-2001-murder-of-uga-law-student-tara-louise-baker

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A night out with friends turns deadly when Ashley Brown, a 27-year-old surgical technician, steps outside for a cigarette and vanishes without a trace. Days later, her body is discovered at a Nashville trash disposal site, leaving investigators puzzled and her family devastated.

Ashley had built her career helping others during their most vulnerable moments. As a travel surgical tech who had worked across multiple states, she had a gift for calming patients and anticipating surgeons' needs in high-pressure situations. Just six months after relocating to Nashville, her promising life was brutally cut short. The mystery deepens when we learn Ashley worked at St. Thomas West Hospital, where two other employees were also murdered within a four-year timespan – though investigators believe the cases are unrelated.

What happened during those critical moments after 3:30 AM when Ashley stepped outside, leaving behind her purse, keys, and wallet? How did she end up five miles away at a garbage facility? Detective Matthew Filter continues to pursue leads and physical evidence, but the case remains unsolved years later. For Ashley's parents, the questions of how and why their daughter died haunt them daily. They remember her as intelligent and caring, with a wry sense of humor – someone who quoted Edgar Allan Poe and embraced life's adventures.

Do you know something about what happened to Ashley Brown that December night in 2016? Call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463 or submit an anonymous tip at nashvillecrimestoppers.com. Even the smallest detail could help bring justice for a woman who was, in her mother's words, "tossed like an afterthought" when she was anything but.

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/p/Help-find-Ashley-Brown-100063477456381/

Source Material:

Price, Marika, April 11, 2017, Family Desperate for Answers in Disappearance and Murder of Young Nashville Woman Ashley Brown, https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/family-desperate-answers-disappearance-murder-young-nashville-woman-ashley-brown-n745181

Majica, Adrian, December 4, 2020, Third Nashville nurse working at St. Thomas West found murdered in four years, https://newschannel9.com/news/local/third-nashville-nurse-working-at-st-thomas-west-found-murdered-in-four-years-crime-tennessee

Moor, Julia, March 30, 2023, Man jailed for 25 years Over Roadside Murder of ICU Nurse in Tennessee, https://people.com/crime/man-jailed-25-years-roadside-murder-icu-nurse/

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A popular teenager found hanging from a tree. A sister who dies mysteriously three years later while investigating her brother's death. A small Texas town torn apart by rumors of devil worship and human sacrifice.

Welcome to Childress, Texas, 1988, where the death of 17-year-old Tate Rowland sparked a community-wide descent into fear and paranoia. Tate was known around town as a wild child with a mile-long streak of rebellion – tearing up the main drag in his blue Ford pickup, getting into scraps over his on-again, off-again girlfriend Karen, and occasionally crossing paths with local law enforcement.

When Tate's body was discovered hanging from a horse apple tree on the outskirts of town, the circumstances immediately raised questions. Two rope burns on his neck contradicted typical suicide patterns. The shifting story of the only witness, 15-year-old Chad Johnston, added to the suspicion. Yet authorities quickly ruled it a suicide without performing an autopsy.

What followed was a textbook case of satanic panic consuming a small American town. Strange occurrences at Tate's funeral – a mysterious veiled woman, chanting mourners – gave way to increasingly bizarre rumors. The discovery of what some called an "altar" near the hanging site fueled speculation about cult activity. Halloween night cemetery visits led to terrifying encounters near Tate's grave. Reports spread of strangers attempting to kidnap blonde, blue-eyed children for sacrifice.

When Tate's sister Terry died three years later under questionable circumstances while actively investigating her brother's death, the community's fears reached fever pitch. A suicide note from a local man claiming knowledge of Terry's death only deepened the mystery.

Was Childress truly infiltrated by satanic forces? Or did the power of gossip, fear, and 1980s moral panic transform ordinary tragedies into something far more sinister? Join us as we untangle the threads of this haunting tale where small-town dynamics, teenage angst, and America's obsession with occult conspiracy collide in the Texas panhandle.

Sources:

https://spellcasterghosttours.com/satanic-panic-texas/

Skip Hollandsworth; July 1992

https://www.texasmonthly.com/true-crime/possessed-by-the-devil/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaths_of_Tate_Rowland_and_Terrie_Trosper

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When 19-year-old Morgan Bauer packed her bags and left Aberdeen, South Dakota for Atlanta, Georgia in February 2016, she was chasing big city dreams and independence. With the confidence of youth, she arranged temporary housing through Craigslist and planned to find her footing in a new city far from home. Within days of her arrival, Morgan had vanished without a trace.

The search for Morgan would span years, with her family and friends desperately seeking answers while authorities followed leads that repeatedly went cold. Morgan's last known movements paint a picture of a young woman in survival mode – after her housing arrangement fell through after just one night, she found work as an exotic dancer at a local club. Her final communications included social media posts showing her at a local park, with an unidentified man visible in the background. Then, silence.

Seven years would pass before investigators received the tip that would finally break the case open. In July 2023, authorities searched a property less than a mile from where Morgan was last seen, making the grim discovery of her remains. The subsequent arrests of Jonathan Warren and Katelyn Globe revealed a crime of shocking brutality – Morgan had been strangled, her body dismembered and burned. Warren would later plead guilty to additional charges of necrophilia, receiving a life sentence without possibility of parole.

Through heart-wrenching victim statements, Morgan's family shared the ongoing impact of their loss. Her stepmother's powerful words capture the essence of their grief: "She has now been missing longer than I got to be with her... Everything that was taken from Morgan was taken from us." This episode examines not just the tragic circumstances of Morgan's death, but the painful reality that young women's choices are often scrutinized more harshly than the actions of those who harm them. Join us as we explore Morgan's story and honor her memory beyond the horrific circumstances of her death.

Source Material:

Fox 5 Atlanta Digital Team, jJanuary 10, 2024,Missing Morgan Bauer: Suspects pleads guilty to Porterdale teen’s murder https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/missing-morgan-bauer-suspect-pleads-guilty-to-porterdale-teens-murder

Farberov, Snejana, July 28, 2023, FBI searching Georgia home for remains in 2016 disappearance of 19-year-old Morgan Bauer, https://nypost.com/2023/07/28/fbi-search-home-in-2016-disappearance-of-morgan-bauer/

Jackson, Reeves, October12, 2023, 2 arrested in connection to Atlanta woman’s disappearance, death charged wtih murder: indictments, https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/indictments-suspects-morgan-bauer-case/85-e2b55009-e89b-4662-8965-79f2b96ead24

FBI Atlanta, Public affairs specialist Jenna Sellitto, Jan 11, 2024, Guilty Plea in Murder of Morgan Bauer, https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/atlanta/news/guilty-plea-in-murder-of-morgan-bauer

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The disappearance of Angela Freeman stops you cold—a pregnant teenager vanishes after a late-night argument, leaving behind nothing but her abandoned car, an uncashed paycheck, and a trail of blood near Monet Bridge. Most disturbing wasn't just her disappearance, but how thoroughly local law enforcement botched the investigation from the start.

When Angela's uncle discovered her prized Honda Accord with doors ajar near the bridge she always feared, Perry County officers dismissed what was clearly blood beside the car as "transmission fluid." They refused search dogs, declined help from neighboring agencies, and told her frantic mother this was simply "a case of a girl who lost her car." Only after media involvement did authorities finally take action, revealing Angela's blood-soaked shoes scattered near the bridge and evidence someone had entered the nearby river.

Three decades later, multiple questions remain. Was it her ex-boyfriend Stephen, last seen arguing with her at 1AM? Her mother's racist boyfriend who'd taken out a life insurance policy on Angela weeks earlier? Or someone connected to the complicated love triangle involving her friend's boyfriend? While jurisdictional failures and evidence mishandling have complicated the case, Angela's family continues fighting for justice, particularly her brother Nicholas who keeps her memory alive through music and advocacy.

This case serves as a haunting reminder of how crucial those initial investigative hours are—and what happens when those tasked with finding justice fail their most vulnerable citizens. If you have information about Angela Freeman's disappearance, please contact the authorities. Some secrets can't remain buried forever, even in the shadows of Monet Bridge.

Source Material:

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/cold-case-spotlight/mother-brother-looking-answers-25-years-after-pregnant-mississippi-teen-n912151
NBCUniversal Profile
Sept. 21, 2018, 9:33 PM CDT
By Juliet Muir

By Will Polston
Published: Sep. 11, 2022 at 11:35 PM CDT
https://www.wdam.com/2022/09/12/29-years-later-angela-freeman-case-remains-open/

https://www.wjtv.com/news/in-depth-reports/missing-angela-freeman-last-seen-in-petal-28-years-ago/

https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Angela_Freeman

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Ever wondered what happened to all those vampires that supposedly haunted New Orleans? They're still here—but they're not what you think.

Journey with us as we pull back the curtain on modern vampire communities thriving right under our noses. Maven Lore, the reluctant king of New Orleans' Vampire Court, and Merticus of the Atlanta Vampire Alliance reveal a world where garlic is welcome on pizza, coffins are replaced by comfortable beds, and acceptance is the highest value.

We explore the three fascinating types of modern vampires: sanguinarians who consume small amounts of blood from tested donors, tantric vampires who draw energy from physical touch, and psychic vampires who can absorb energy from something as simple as a stranger's smile. These communities exist worldwide, creating safe spaces where people from all backgrounds can find belonging without judgment.

Forget the Hollywood stereotypes—today's vampires are your neighbors, coworkers, and friends. They hold day jobs as graphic designers, DJs, and antique furniture experts. While they might don fangs for special events, their vampire identity is just one aspect of their multifaceted lives.

The episode takes a serious turn as we discuss real vampire hunters who terrorized the community in the 1990s, including a shocking stabbing incident. We also share information about the Unity Project, a new website connecting vampire communities nationwide. www.unityproject.life

Whether you're vampire-curious or simply fascinated by subcultures that challenge social norms, this episode offers a rare glimpse into a world where being different isn't just accepted—it's celebrated. Listen now to discover the true power of finding your tribe in unexpected places.

Source Material:

Varner, Grant, Oct 2022, Vampires in New Orleans, sink your teeth into this interview, https://www.whereyat.com/vampires-in-new-orleans

Andrew, Scottie, Oct 2022, Inside the world of real-life vampires in New Orleans and Atlanta, https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/29/us/real-vampires-new-orleans-atlanta-cec

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Step into the shadows of New Orleans' French Quarter, where legend and reality blur in the haunting tale of Jacques Saint-Germain. When this mysterious aristocrat arrived in early 1900s New Orleans, he quickly captivated high society with his charm, wealth, and extravagant dinner parties at his Royal Street residence. But something wasn't quite right - he never ate with his guests, preferring instead to sip from an ornate chalice while regaling them with vivid stories of centuries past.

What made Jacques truly fascinating was his claimed connection to the Count of Saint-Germain, an enigmatic 18th-century European nobleman whom Voltaire once described as "a man who knows everything and who never dies." The resemblance between the two men was uncanny, both physically and in their mannerisms, leading some to whisper - what if they weren't merely related, but the same immortal being?

This fascinating mystery took a sinister turn when a terrified woman leaped from Jacques' second-story balcony, hysterically claiming he had bitten her neck. When police arrived to investigate, they found Jacques had vanished overnight, abandoning most possessions. The truly chilling discovery came when authorities found numerous wine bottles in his home, each containing a mixture of wine and human blood.

Had an actual vampire been entertaining the elite of New Orleans? The legend of Jacques Saint-Germain continues to haunt the Crescent City, where sightings of the man were reported throughout the 1900s. His tale serves as a perfect embodiment of New Orleans itself - beautiful, mysterious, seductive, and harboring secrets just beneath its enchanting surface.

Join us as we explore this captivating vampire legend that reminds us why New Orleans has long been considered America's most haunted city. Subscribe now and share with friends who appreciate a good supernatural mystery - your neck will thank you for it!

Source Material:

“1039-1041 Royal St.” The Collins C. Diboll Vieux Carré Survey: Property Info. The Historic New Orleans Collection®. https://www.hnoc.org/vcs/property_info.php?lot=22915.

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. “comte de Saint-Germain.” Encyclopedia Britannica, April 17, 2015. https://www.britannica.com/biography/comte-de-Saint-Germain.

McCann, Erin. “Meet The Count Of Saint Germain, A New Orleans Vampire Who Probably Still Walks Among Us.” Ranker, September 23, 2021. https://www.ranker.com/list/count-saint-germain-vampire-legend/erin-mccann.

Oakley, I. Cooper. The Comte de St. Germain: The Secret of Kings. Milan: Sulli-Rao, 1912. https://books.google.com/books?id=FGH5CRoW1vQC.

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"Miss Hannah is mean to me." These words, spoken by six-year-old Bella Fontenelle, now haunt everyone who knew the vibrant little girl from Harahan, Louisiana. What happens when a child's complaint about an adult caregiver goes beyond typical childhood protest and becomes a desperate cry for help? And what dark impulses drive someone to silence that voice forever?

We dive deep into one of the most disturbing child murder cases from recent Louisiana history. Hannah Landon, a former stripper who had been dating Bella's father for four years, was entrusted with caring for Bella and her older sister when their dad was working late. But beneath the surface of this seemingly normal blended family arrangement lurked a sinister dynamic that would ultimately turn deadly.

The case unfolds through a trail of disturbing evidence: surveillance footage of Landon pulling a wagon containing Bella's body in a chlorine bucket to her mother's lawn, premeditated internet searches for criminal defense attorneys, and the shocking motive that emerged during trial. We examine the warning signs that appeared in Bella's behavior at school, where teachers noted increasing anxiety and sadness, especially following time spent in Landon's care.

Most heartbreaking are the efforts Bella made to speak up. Working with a child psychologist for separation anxiety following her parents' divorce, she finally gathered the courage to tell her father about Landon's treatment. His confrontation with Landon triggered the ultimate betrayal - rather than changing her behavior, Landon chose to eliminate the "problem" permanently.

Though justice was eventually served with Landon's conviction and life sentence, this case leaves us questioning how we respond when children voice concerns about their caregivers. Are we listening closely enough? Join us for this emotional episode that reminds us why protecting vulnerable voices matters more than we can possibly imagine.

Subscribe, share your thoughts, and join us next week for our special vampire-themed episode where we'll explore more Louisiana true crime legends!

Link to article containing Ring.com Video and restraining order:

https://www.wlbt.com/2023/04/27/court-documents-reveal-history-fights-between-fontenelles-mother-accused-murderer/

Source Material:

Purpura, Paula, May 6, 2025, Bunnak ‘Hannah’ Landon gets life plus 80 years for murdering 6-year-old Bella Fontenelle https://www.jpda.us/bunnak-hannah-landon-gets-life-plus-80-years-for-murdering-6-year-old-bella-fontenelle/

Purpura, Paula, May 2, 2025, Jury rejects Bunnak Landon’s insanity defense, convicts her of murdering 6-year-old Bella Fontenelle https://www.jpda.us/jury-rejects-bunnak-landons-insanity-defense-convicts-her-of-murdering-6-year-old-bella-fontenelle/

Photo credit WLBT3, Court documents reveal history of fights between Fontenelle’s mother, accused murderer, https://www.wlbt.com/2023/04/27/court-documents-reveal-history-fights-between-fontenelles-mother-accused-murderer/