Friday, the governor of Georgia signed a bill creating a closed case unit within the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The legislation allocates $5,4 million for the unit’s establishment. It also requires law enforcement agencies throughout the state to provide an accurate tally of unsolved homicide cases to the bureau and provide families with death certificates promptly.
The Coleman-Baker Act was named after law student Tara Baker, who was murdered in her Athens residence in January 2001, and 18-year-old Rhonda Sue Coleman, who was murdered in her hometown of Hazelhurst. Both murders are still unresolved.
The Athens Banner-Herald reported that Gov. Brian Kemp and his wife Marty signed the bill inside the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse. At the signing ceremony were also families whose loved ones’ murders have become closed cases.
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According to the newspaper, Kemp told the families that he understands that no law can “mend your broken heart,” but that he believes the new law will help them find justice.
“This is her legacy,” said Baker’s sister, Meredith Baker Schroeder. This will accomplish exactly what she desired, which is to assist people.
Baker’s mother stated that the law represents optimism, but acknowledges that her daughter’s murder may not receive immediate justice.
“This bill is not for us,” stated Virginia Baker. “This is for the benefit of other families. We don’t want others to be in the same situation as us 22 years later.”
