The Heinous Murder of Tara Baker is Solved with Cameron Jay of the Classic City Crime Podcast

Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum

On January 19, 2001, Athens-Clarke County firefighters found Tara Baker's body responding to a fire at her Athens apartment. The investigation determined that the fire was intentionally set, and investigators spent over two decades seeking answers in the case.

Guest Bio and Links:

Cameron Jay is a true crime junkie whose fascination with the subject comes from the heart- crime is personal. Having a second cousin who was murdered and a best friend killed at the hands of a distracted driver, Cameron believes in advocating for justice and seeking answers for all. Cameron obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of West Georgia in May of 2024. Cameron is the host of Classic City Crime Podcast

Listeners can learn more about Cameron Jay at his website, and on IG @classiccitycrime

In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, discusses the resolution of a 23-year-old cold case involving law student Tara Baker from Athens, Georgia. Joined by Cameron Jay, the host of the Classic City Crime Podcast, they dive into the investigation, the advocacy efforts, and the legislative impact of House Bill 88. Cameron also shares the perseverance of Tara's family, the power of community, and the technological advancements that led to solving this case.

Show Notes:

• (0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum
• (0:15) Sheryl gives a brief background of the case of Tara Baker
• (3:00) Sheryl introduces guest, Cameron Jay and his role in advocating for Tara's case
• (6:00) Cameron Jay's connection to true crime and his motivation to start podcasting
• (8:00) House Bill 88
• (11:30) Cold Case Accountability Act
• (17:15) “You know, justice might be delayed sometimes, my friend, but it's still going to be right on time when it comes knocking.”
• (20:00) Sheryl and Cameron discuss the possibilities behind how Tara’s case was solved
• (27:00) A gift of gratitude
• (36:10) “I am Tara's mother. I always will be Tara's mother.” -Virginia Baker.
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Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnLine, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook., Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. Sheryl is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a collaboration between universities and colleges that brings researchers, practitioners, students and the criminal justice community together to advance techniques in solving cold cases and assist families and law enforcement with solvability factors for unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases.

Social Links:

• Email: [e-mail]
• Twitter: @ColdCaseTips
• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

• Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

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