Zahra Baker MISSING
UPDATE: Investigators confirm they have found Zahra Baker’s remains in North Carolina. Authorities found the bones earlier this week in an isolated location, dug beneath the earth in a large grave. A “no fly” zone was erected above the area where investigators were searching, that zone would not allow news choppers above.
Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said earlier today at a press conference, “I’ve been dreading this moment [since] early on in this investigation. As investigators we are trained to follow leads, but never give up the hope the evidence may take us in the wrong direction and the outcome may be different. We have recovered enough physical evidence to believe we have found Zahra.” Chief Adkins continued to say that he and his staff are devastated.
Zahra’s mother has arrived in the United States from Australia. Stay tuned for updates on this case…
BACKGROUND – 11/2/10: It is confirmed, the prosthetic leg belonging to Zahra Baker was found down a country road in North Carolina. This location is about 20 minutes from where the child used to live, and is near a home where her step-mother used to stay. Authorities confirmed they found a leg last week, and they were recently able to match the serial number to Zahra’s Austrilian medical records. Authorities continue to conduct searches at the family home and track leads, but so far, Zahra has not been found. Investigators do not believe she is alive.
Zahra’s father Adam Baker, was bonded out last week. He was arrested initially for writing bad checks. At this time, he is not considered a suspect in this case.
This story has captured national attention for a number of reasons. The Amber Alert is initially what drew the nation into this case, but Zahra’s medical conditions made many hearts break. Zahra is a bone cancer survivor, uses hearing aids and has a prosthetic leg to walk. This child has endured enough in her lifetime and to think that she may have been killed is a lot for her family, community and folks who have never met her to understand.
Zahra’s stepmother, Elisa Baker, is currently behind bars; not for Zahra’s disappearance, but for obstruction of justice in this case. Baker was indicted today for one count of felony obstruction of justice. She is being held on a $92,200 bond, and $65,000 stems from the obstruction of justice charge. Authorities say Baker admitted to writing a ransom note found inside the family home after Zahra was reported missing on October 9. Burke County Sheriff John McDevitt and his team are working to figure out exactly how long Zahra has been missing, but they have not confirmed an actual date yet. One woman who runs a furniture store in town came forward to say she saw Zahra on September 25. She may have been the only person, besides her father and step-mother to have seen her last.
Two 9-1-1 calls were released early on from the Baker residence. The first was from Elisa who reported a mulch fire in her backyard, and the second was a short time later from Zahra’s father Adam. In a calm, mild manner Adam gave information to authorities. Many have questioned the tone in his voice and a point in the tape when he chuckles about Zahra hitting puberty. He has not been arrested, nor is he considered a suspect at this time.
As this case evolves, keep checking in for updates.
