Police Now Treating Missing Zahra Clare Baker As A Homicide [Archive]

Dakota Valkyrie

October 11th, 2010, 09:56 AM

The father of a missing disabled child in North Carolina said today that his wife, the child's stepmother, could have been involved in the girl's disappearance.

Zahra Baker of Hickory, N.C., has been missing since Saturday morning. The 10-year-old girl has battled bone cancer since childhood, and it has cost Zahra her hearing and her left leg.
[...]

Adam Baker told "Good Morning America" today he hadn't "really seen" his wife since her arrest.

When asked if he believed his wife was involved in Zahra's disappearance, Baker today said, "I wouldn't like to think so. It's kind of what I've heard so far. It could be possible."

Baker said that because of his work schedule he hadn't seen his daughter since Thursday night. He told "GMA" that his wife was the last person to see Zahra alive when she said the girl was in bed early Saturday morning. Zahra was not reported missing until Saturday afternoon, when Elisa Baker came to Adam in a panic. Zahra was gone with her prosthetic leg, but her hearing aid remained.

"She didn't know very much. She came out crying and panicking. She told me Zahra was gone," Baker told "GMA." Baker said he searched the house and then the block before calling the police.
[...]

"Obviously the longer that we go without knowing where she is, the less of a chance she's going to have to survive," Hickory police officer Cory Smith told "GMA" Sunday. "So we need to do all we can to find her as soon as possible."
[...]
http://abcnews.go.com/US/missing-hickory-girl-zahra-bakers-mom-involved-dad/story?id=11848643

Zahra’s biological mother is an Australian native and has not seen her daughter since she was about 8 months old. She is believed to be in Australia and is not considered a suspect, Whisnant said.http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/10/13/police-deeply-concerned-about-welfare-missing-girl-ar-448453/
http://i0.simplest-image-hosting.net/168bf183b2abe8bc9188aacc163dd507/-dd-1400.jpg

Coyote

October 11th, 2010, 01:31 PM

Former neighbor Kayla Rotenberry, said she and her fiance were good friends with the Bakers when they lived in nearby Sawmills, and saw Zahra often. The couple was skeptical of the girl's stepmother, in part because she claimed to write songs for musician and American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry, and told other far-fetched stories, Rotenberry said.

"We just got to the point where we didn't believe her. We knew they were lies, but she never gave me a reason not to trust her," said Rotenberry, 23.

The stepmother had a short-temper, Rotenberry said.

"She wasn't as nice as she seemed," she said.

Source (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/10/11/national/main6947453.shtml)

The step-mom definitely doesn’t look good in this one.

Chaindrive

October 11th, 2010, 02:39 PM

A fire was reported in the backyard of the Bakers' home about 5 a.m. He said he was in a big panic after the fire, but didn't check on his daughter.

http://www.aolnews.com/crime/article/police-issue-amber-alert-search-for-missing-north-carolina-girl-zahra-clare-baker/19668645

Hmmmm.

AngelFire

October 11th, 2010, 03:01 PM

I am just waiting for the report where they confirm finding this little girl, I have zero hopes that she is alive and I know it was that bitch that did her in.

cubby

October 11th, 2010, 03:24 PM

Soooo....she lies all the time but you don't have any reason not to trust her? Is it just me or did that not make any sense whatsoever? When somebody lies to me about anything I don't trust anythiong about them!

Hellsbells

October 11th, 2010, 04:15 PM

Unclear when missing NC girl was last seen

Investigators are having trouble finding anyone outside a disabled girl's household who saw her alive in the weeks before her parents reported her missing, the police chief said Monday.

"We don't know the last time anyone saw her," he said. "We're having a difficult time establishing a true timeline."

Zahra's father, Adam Baker, said during an earlier TV interview that it was possible his wife could be involved in the disappearance, which was reported hours after a fire in the home's backyard. Elisa Baker was arrested Sunday on about a dozen charges unrelated to the girl's disappearance.

Adkins said a ransom note and other evidence was found at the house but wouldn't elaborate. He said the father was cooperating with police, but Elisa Baker wasn't.

Zahra was described by family friends as shy child who remained upbeat despite her health problems. The stepmother could be short-tempered toward her, two former neighbors said, but the woman also fought tears when a charity fitted her for hearing aids a few months ago.

"I just hope I can get my daughter back. I miss her so much," Zahra's father, Adam Baker, told ABC's "Good Morning America" as he choked up. He was interviewed alongside Adkins.

On Monday, several of Adam Baker's friends stood outside his one-story in Hickory, a city of 40,000 residents about 50 miles northwest of Charlotte. In the yard were a few burned tree limbs and what appeared to be clothing."I just don't have a good feeling about this," said former neighbor Kayla Rotenberry. "She was such a sweet girl. This is just a nightmare."

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/10/11/search-disabled-nc-girl-parents-questioned/

Whisper

October 11th, 2010, 04:20 PM

Police: 'Anything's A Possibility' In Disappearance Of 10-Year-Old

HICKORY, N.C. --
Investigators are interviewing former neighbors and former teachers, and seeking surveillance video as they investigate the disappearance of a 10-year-old girl from her Hickory, North Carolina, home, police said Monday.
Zahra Clare Baker was last seen sleeping in her bedroom about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, according to Hickory police. She was reported missing about 2 p.m. Saturday by her father, Adam Baker, and stepmother, Elisa Baker.
"Although nothing is being ruled out at this point, there have been details that have surfaced in the past 12 hours indicating that a stranger abduction is less likely than once anticipated," Hickory police said in a statement Sunday.

Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins told reporters at a briefing Monday it's unlikely Zahra ran away. The girl is hearing-impaired and needs hearing aids she does not have with her, he said, calling that "a pretty good indication."
However, the girl may have the prosthetic leg she uses, Adkins said. It has not been found
An Amber Alert was issued for Zahra on Saturday and will remain in effect until the girl is located, police said.

The Bakers were interviewed early in the investigation, and investigators are following leads to corroborate statements the two made to authorities, police said.
In addition, Adkins said Monday, authorities are interviewing the family's former neighbors and Zahra's former teachers in an attempt to find out "what Zahra's life looked like prior to her disappearance." The family has moved around, and investigators are trying to interview those who lived near them, he said. In addition, although Zahra was most recently was home-schooled, she previously attended school and investigators want to talk to teachers who had her in their classes, he said.
Authorities also are seeking surveillance video in an attempt to corroborate a timeline, established through interviews, of the time prior to the girl's disappearance, he said.
Asked the last time Zahra was seen by someone outside the family, Adkins said he didn't know.

"Anything's a possibility right now," the chief said.
Elisa Baker was arrested Sunday morning "on outstanding charges not related to this case," the police statement said. "Inconsistencies developed over the course of this investigation have not eliminated her as a person of interest."

CNN affiliate WCNC-TV reported Elisa Baker was arrested on outstanding warrants for writing worthless checks and other misdemeanor charges dating back to 2002. She is in the Catawba County Jail.
Adkins on Monday said Elisa Baker had agreed to an initial interview with police regarding Zahra's disappearance. She is being held on $31,500 bail, he said.
Zahra is described as being about 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 85 pounds. She has brown hair and blue eyes, according to WCNC, and is a cancer survivor.
"Obviously, the longer that we go without knowing where she is, the less of a chance that she is going to have to survive," Hickory police Officer Cory Smith told CNN affiliate WSOC-TV.
Adkins said Sunday that a small fire had been reported at the residence the morning Zahra is thought to have vanished. WCNC reported the blaze was a brush fire in the family's back yard around 5 a.m. It was unclear what connection, if any, the fire might have to the girl's disappearance.
The FBI is assisting Hickory police in the investigation, officials said. Authorities ask anyone with information to contact the Hickory Police Department.
[...]http://www2.wspa.com/news/2010/oct/11/9/amber-alert-issued-missing-10-year-old-ar-943493/

To survive the chemo that took her hearing and survive the bone cancer and beat it at this little age then to have something happen to her is what really makes me wonder if there really is a god
This child has been through more then anyone should have to in a lifetime let alone at age 10 plus whats the story with it being stepmom??
Wheres bio mom?
Has she lost her too to some evil act or are they just divorced?
I really feel for this little girl its just heartbreaking

Chaindrive

October 11th, 2010, 04:21 PM

This is just plain weird.

Hellsbells

October 11th, 2010, 06:51 PM

Police dogs smell remains at missing girl's house

HICKORY, N.C. — Police dogs detected the smell of human remains on two cars at the home of a missing girl who has bone cancer and a prosthetic leg, a search warrant said Monday.

The document filed in a Hickory court didn't indicate that police found any remains in their search, which was conducted Sunday night. The warrant said the dogs detected the smell on a sedan and SUV belonging to the father and stepmother.

http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/nation-world-news/police-dogs-smell-remains-at-missing-girls-house-974222.html

AngelFire

October 11th, 2010, 06:54 PM

Oh Lord, I knew it.

Whisper

October 11th, 2010, 07:14 PM

Missing 10 Year Old Zahra Baker's Stepmother Arrested and Still Considered Person of Interest
YouTube - Missing 10 Year Old Zahra Baker's Stepmother Arrested and Still Considered Person of Interest

Whisper

October 11th, 2010, 07:22 PM

Ransom note found in missing Hickory girl's case

HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - An AMBER alert remains in effect for a 10-year-old Hickory girl who was reported missing Saturday afternoon, and authorities said Monday afternoon they found a ransom note in the car parked in the girl's driveway.

Zahra Claire Baker was last seen on Saturday at 2:30 a.m. sleeping at her home on 21st Avenue Northwest. However, police say the girl was not reported missing until 12 hours later around 2:30 p.m.

Monday afternoon, Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said a search warrant was executed at the girl's address and that a ransom note asking for a million dollars was found. Adkins said they question its validity and that no other demands have been made.

Adkins also made a plea for the public's help in locating the girl.

"We are running out of time folks," Adkins said.

On Sunday, the Hickory Police Department placed Zahra's stepmother, Elisa Baker, under arrest on several outstanding warrants.

Adkins said inconsistencies with Elisa Baker indicate "...she has not been truthful." For now, police have not ruled her out as a suspect.

Elisa Baker is charged with driving with license revoked, larceny by employee, unsafe tires, six counts of worthless checks, and four counts of communicating threats. She is being held at the Catawba County Jail under a $31,500 bond.

"I hope and pray we find her and she'll be okay," said family friend Kayla Rotenberry.

She and her fiance, Bobby Green, used to be next door neighbors to the Bakers. Their girls used to played together.

Rotenberry said Zahra has been through a lot in her 10 years and that she is a tough little girl.

She's a cancer survivor and wears a prosthetic leg. Zahra is also hearing impaired. Police say her hearing aids were found in the house.

"I think the cops know more than they are releasing," said Rotenberry.

Police say the likelihood that Zahra was abducted by a stranger is low.

On Sunday, investigators gathered surveillance video from businesses near the girl's home to establish a better timeline of events leading up to her disappearance. They also spent the day canvassing the area around her home.

Adkins said investigators made a follow-up call to the home after firefighters were dispatched there for a possible brush fire early Saturday morning. Adkins would not say whether the fire had anything to do with the case.

Zahra is about 5'1" tall, weighs about 85 pounds, and has short reddish, blond hair. Zahra was last seen wearing a camouflage army t-shirt and black knee-length tights.

The State Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are all assisting the HPD in the search for the girl.

"We are using every available resource we have at our disposal to find Zahra," Adkins said. "We are not giving up hope that Zahra will return home safe and sound."

Investigators are working several leads and they are especially trying to find out more about the girl's activities late last week.

Family friends said Zahra is currently home-schooled by her stepmother.

Caldwell County Schools spokeswoman Libby Brown said Zahra was not enrolled in their school system this year, but she was enrolled at Granite Falls and Hudson Elementary the previous two school years.

The family moved around a lot and police are trying to track down recent neighbors.

The Department of Social Services will not confirm or deny that social workers were ever called out to the home.
[...]http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=13297637

cubby

October 11th, 2010, 07:35 PM

Obsolete

October 11th, 2010, 07:42 PM

I know this isn't important in the whole horribleness of this situation but isn't 5 foot 1 inch tall for a 10 year old? I'm 5 foot 3 and I don't recall being able to look 10 year olds in the eye. Or am I really shorter than I think?

As to the ransom note, that was written to try and throw the investigation off cause who in the right mind woud think these folks could come up with a million dollars--someone who would think it "smart" to write a note like that, that's who!

I'm 5 ft even and my 14 yr old daughter is still shorter than I am, she's approx 4'11 but that is short compared to her friends. Even so, at 10 yrs old I can't remember any of her friends being as tall as I am.

Whisper

October 11th, 2010, 07:43 PM

well Im 5 foot nothing and everyones always been taller then me so I have no clue

Hellsbells

October 11th, 2010, 09:10 PM

Former neighbors told ABC News that the stepmother was a stern and cold parent, forcing the child the walk long distances on her prosthetic leg and grounding her for lagging behind.

Search warrants for the Bakers' two cars and home contained confounding details, including the discovery of a $1 million ransom note left on one of the Baker's two vehicles. The note, however, was not addressed to Zahra's parents, but to her father's boss, Mark David Coffey.

"Mr. Coffey, you like being in control who is in control now we have your daughter and your pot smoking red head son is next unless you do what is asked 1,000,000 unmarked will be in touch soon [sic]," handwriting on the note read according to the warrant. "No cops" was also written twice on the note.

Coffey reportedly owns the property on which the Bakers live and was present the day Zahra was reported missing.

The ransom note was discovered on the windshield of Baker's car by officers responding to a fire in the Baker's backyard about 5:30 a.m. However, it wasn't until 2 p.m. that Baker called police to report Zahra missing.

The father told police that someone had poured gasoline in his car during the night and left the ransom note, and that he believes his daughter was taken by whoever threatened Coffey.

Adkins said the police are "questioning the validity of that note" and have received no further demands.

The warrant also revealed that a search dog gave a "positive alert for the presence of human remains in or on both vehicles" belonging to Elisa and Adam Baker.

Investigators seized several items from the Baker home, including two gas cans, burn samples from the morning fire and drug paraphernalia, the warrant states. Two samples of "possible blood" were taken from one of the cars, according to a warrant. http://abcnews.go.com/US/zahra-baker-search-ransom-note-lack-witnesses-strain/story?id=11848643

sleepinwithangels

October 11th, 2010, 09:14 PM

This is insane!! Dad and Step-Bitch are mighty might dirty in this one!

Un-fuckin-believable!:dong:

TwiztidAngel

October 11th, 2010, 09:27 PM

I know this isn't important in the whole horribleness of this situation but isn't 5 foot 1 inch tall for a 10 year old? I'm 5 foot 3 and I don't recall being able to look 10 year olds in the eye. Or am I really shorter than I think?

my 10 yr old is 5'1" ....but then again i got a 14 yr old thats 5'6" and my 15 yr old is 6' already....maybe her parents are tall??

Whisper

October 11th, 2010, 10:05 PM

YouTube - Zahra Claire Baker: Issues 10/11/10

Whisper

October 11th, 2010, 11:46 PM

YouTube - Zahra Claire Baker: Nancy 10/11/10 Part 2

Whisper

October 12th, 2010, 12:27 AM

Looking more and more like a Terri Horman case

Father of missing cancer girl says stepmother is possibly involved in disappearance

The stepmother of missing girl Zahra Baker is said to not be co-operating with authorities in the investigation into the little girl's disappearance.
10-year-old Zahra Baker, who has battled bone cancer over the past few years, was last seen in her bedroom at 2.30am on Saturday morning at her home in Hickory, North Carolina.
Police confirmed on Monday afternoon that a 'ransom' note was found at the Baker home but say they do not believe it is legitimate.

Two and a half hours after Zahra was last seen by her stepmother, a fire was reported in the family's back yard.

Her father Adam Baker said he was panicked after the fire, but didn't immediately check on his daughter.
The distraught father said today that he feared his wife could be involved in his daughter vanishing.
When asked if he thought his wife was involved in his daughter's disappearance Adam Baker said today: 'I wouldn't like to think so. It's kind of what I've heard so far. It could be possible'.
Authorities had arrested the girl's stepmother Elisa Baker on Sunday on nine charges unrelated to the case.
The little girl's battle against bone cancer had left her hearing impaired and having to use a prosthetic leg after she lost her left limb.
Zahra usually wore two hearing aids but both were left behind in her bedroom while her leg which she always used was not found.

Choking up at a news conference today Mr Baker said: 'I just hope I can get my daughter back. I miss her so much'.
Police say that no one, including Adam or Elise Baker have been ruled out as suspects but say an abduction by a stranger seems 'less likely' than originally thought.
Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said: 'As the time progresses, we might be able to rule out folks. But right now, every possibility is out there'.
According to neighbours Adam Baker is from Australia and met his current wife Elise on the internet. Zahra's mother apparently lives outside of the U.S.

Because of his work schedule Mr Baker said that he hadn't seen his daughter since Thursday night.He told GMA that his wife was the last person to see Zahra alive when she saw the girl in her bedroom around 2.30am on Saturday morning.

Zahra was not reported missing until 12 hours later when Elisa apparently went to Adam in a panic. Mr Baker explained what happened: 'She didn't know very much. She came out crying and panicking. She told me Zahra was gone'.
He said he then searched the house and the block before calling the police. 'I think just
The FBI have contacted local business to collect the surveillance video from near the family's home and are using sniffer dogs to search the surrounding areas.
A former neighbour of the Bakers Kayla Rotenberry said about the missing girl, 'She had perfect manners. She used to come to my house and play with my girls. She was a great kid'.
Zahra was described as shy, home-schooled child who remained upbeat despite her health problems. The stepmother could be short-tempered toward her, two former neighbors said, but the woman also fought tears when a charity fitted the 10-year-old for hearing aids in May.

Rotenberry said that Elise Baker also had a short temper and that about six months ago, she noticed that Elise's hand was swollen. 'She told me that she was trying to spank Zahra, but hit her on her prosthetic leg,' the neighbour claimed.

'When Adam asked her about the injury, she said she fell and hurt her hand. She didn't want him to know. She knew he would be mad.'
'She came out crying and panicking. She told me Zahra was gone'
Another former neighbor, Brandy Stapleton, 22, of Lenoir, said that Elise Baker told her the same story about how she injured her hand. 'She wasn't the person everyone thought she was.'
Elise has two daughters and a son from a previous marriage. Her son Douglas Proctor said him and his mother don't have much of a relationship, after he stayed with his father when his parents divorced. The daughters went to live with their mother.
Still, the 22-year-old said he had spoken to investigators about his mother and was dismayed over news of the case.
'It's not something that you want to open up a paper and see,' he said, adding he'd met Zahra only once.
According to an Amber Alert issued on Saturday, Zahra was last seen wearing a camouflage Army t-shirt and black knee length tights.
Police Chief Adkins said that they are staying positive the little girl will be found alive and well.
[...]
Elisa Baker has been arrested for making threats, writing bad checks, larceny and driving with a revoked driver's license. she is currently being held on $31,500 bond.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1319625/Father-missing-North-Carolina-girl-says-stepmother-possibly-involved.html?ITO=1490
http://i51.tinypic.com/2vx3m9h.jpg
Worried dad: Adam Baker said at a news conference on Monday morning that he missed his daughter and hope he can get her backhttp://i54.tinypic.com/jkf0n5.jpg
Arrested: Zahra's stepmother Elise Baker was arrested on Sunday and charged with nine unrelated offences including writing bad checks and larceny

Rhoni

October 12th, 2010, 01:01 AM

So at 2 pm the step mother comes out panicked? Out of the house or out of the girls room? Who would wait till 2 pm to check on a child in the first place? I would love to hear the LE interview. If the SM came out of the child's room panicked that would be pretty telling, considering it was 2 pm. The little girl could have been in the bathroom, outside looking for dad, getting a snack. Anyway you get my point..Also there was a ransom note found at 5 am and no one thought to check on the little girl?

FknKraze

October 12th, 2010, 04:28 AM

http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/images/wtvd/cms_exf_2007/_video_wn_images/7717466_448x252.jpg

HICKORY, N.C. -- Investigators cast doubt Monday on accounts given by the father and stepmother of a missing 10-year-old whose battles with bone cancer left her with a prosthetic leg and hearing aids in both ears. A search warrant revealed Monday that police dogs had detected the smell of human remains on cars belonging to the couple. Hours earlier, the police chief said investigators were having trouble finding anyone outside the household who had seen Zahra Clare Baker alive in the last few weeks.
The warrant filed in a Hickory court didn't indicate that police found any remains in their search Sunday. It said the dogs detected the smell on a sedan and SUV.
The couple had told police they discovered the girl was missing on Saturday and that one of them had seen her sleeping in her room hours earlier. Yet Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said investigators were having difficulty with that account. "We don't know the last time anyone saw her," he said an afternoon news conference. "We're having a difficult time establishing a true timeline."
When the search warrant was filed hours later, police declined to comment further but said Adkins would issue a statement Tuesday morning.
Zahra's father, Adam Baker, said during a morning TV interview that it was possible his wife could be involved in the disappearance, which was reported after a fire in the home's yard. Elisa Baker was arrested Sunday on about a dozen charges unrelated to the girl's disappearance.
Adkins said the father was cooperating with police, but Elisa Baker wasn't.
A reporter saw what appeared to be remnants of clothes among burned branches from the fire at the house.
The search warrant said that police responding to the fire early Saturday found what appeared to be a ransom note addressed to Adam Baker's boss on the windshield of Baker's car. Police went to that man's house, and found him and his daughter to be fine.
"Mr. Coffey, you like being in control now who is in control we have your daughter," the warrant quoted the note as saying. It asked for $1 million dollars and said "no cops."
On Saturday afternoon, Adam Baker called to say his daughter was missing.
Zahra was described by family friends as shy but constantly smiling, in spite of her health problems. The stepmother could be short-tempered toward her, two former neighbors said, but the woman also fought tears when a charity fitted her for hearing aids a few months ago.
"I just hope I can get my daughter back. I miss her so much," Zahra's father, Adam Baker, told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Monday.
The girl's stepmother told her husband she last saw Zahra sleeping in her bed at 2:30 a.m. Saturday, about 2 1/2 hours before the fire was reported. Adam Baker said he was panicked after the fire, but didn't immediately check on his daughter.
The police chief said he wouldn't rule out any suspects, including Adam Baker.
Adam Baker was asked if he thought his wife was involved and said, "I wouldn't like to think so. On what I've heard so far, it could be possible."
On Monday, several of Adam Baker's friends stood outside his one-story house in Hickory, a city of 40,000 residents about 50 miles northwest of Charlotte.
"I just don't have a good feeling about this," said former neighbor Kayla Rotenberry. "She was such a sweet girl. This is just a nightmare."
Rotenberry said she and her fiance were good friends with the Bakers when they lived in the nearby town of Sawmills, and saw Zahra often. The couple was skeptical of the girl's stepmother, in part because she claimed to write songs for musician and "American Idol" finalist Chris Daughtry, and told other far-fetched stories, Rotenberry said. Daughtry's manager said he was unaware of any connection between Elisa Baker and the singer.
"We just got to the point where we didn't believe her. We knew they were lies," said Rotenberry, 23.
The stepmother also had a short temper, Rotenberry said.
Rotenberry said about six months ago she noticed that Elisa Baker's hand was swollen. "She told me that she was trying to spank Zahra, but hit her on her prosthetic leg," she said. "When Adam asked her about the injury, she said she fell and hurt her hand. She didn't want him to know. She knew he would be mad."
Another former neighbor, Brandy Stapleton, 22, of Lenoir, said that Elisa Baker told her the same story about how she injured her hand. "She wasn't the person everyone thought she was."
Adam Baker was from Australia, and met his current wife over the Internet, Stapleton said. Zahra's mother lives outside the U.S. Zahra had two hearing aids, which were left at the house, and a prosthetic left leg from the knee down, police said. She was being home-schooled, but had attended public schools in the past.
The child had lost part of her hearing during chemotherapy for two bouts of cancer, her stepmother told the Independent-Tribune of Concord-Kannapolis in May during a charity event where she got free hearing aids.
Family friends said the girl also had the prosthetic leg because of cancer.
Elisa Baker was arrested Sunday on charges including communicating threats, writing worthless checks, larceny and driving with a revoked license. It was unclear whether she has an attorney.
She has two daughters and a son from a previous marriage. The mother and son don't have much of a relationship, the man said, after he stayed with his father when they divorced. The daughters went to live with their mother.
Still, 22-year-old Douglas Proctor said he had spoken to investigators about his mother and was dismayed over news of the case.
"It's not something that you want to open up a paper and see," he said, adding he'd met Zahra only once.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/state&id=7717463

Fuck this is sad, this kid has had one hell of a shitty life

BreakTheSilence

October 12th, 2010, 04:54 AM

This story has already been posted. Here's the link:

http://www.dreamindemon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40592&highlight=Zahra+Clare+Baker

Jerri Blank

October 12th, 2010, 05:18 AM

http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2010/10/11/22/missing1012.ART_G4O1PJOJK.1+missing.embedded.prod_ affiliate.138.jpg
Zahra Baker and her stepmother, Elisa Baker,
attend a hearing-aid giveaway in May

Doubt cast on accounts of missing disabled NC girl

HICKORY, N.C. — Neighbors in a North Carolina city feared the worst in the case of a missing 10-year-old girl with the bright smile who stayed upbeat even as she battled bone cancer that left her with a prosthetic leg and hearing aids.

A search warrant revealed that police dogs detected the smell of human remains on cars belonging to the father and stepmother of Zahra Clare Baker. Hours earlier Monday, the police chief said investigators were having trouble finding anyone outside the household who had seen the girl alive in the last few weeks and cast doubt on what the couple had told them. A police news conference was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday

"There were warning signs along the way, but you never want to think the worst," said former neighbor Kayla Rotenberry, who said Zahra's stepmother, Elisa Baker, had a short temper [...]
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h4rxdEVLLWNY3lLWF2wqDQ34pAEwD9IQ1QS00?docId= D9IQ1QS00

Missing Zahra Baker, 10, not seen by outsiders for weeks
New neighbors never saw Hickory girl. Police dogs indicate possible human remains in family's SUV.

Authorities and residents intensified their search for a 10-year-old Hickory girl reported missing on Saturday, as unsettling details emerged Monday - including the existence of a ransom note and police dogs' detection of possible human remains.

Hickory police were still trying to piece together a timeline of Zahra Baker's disappearance. But they were "questioning the validity" of the ransom note.

Police said no one beyond Baker's immediate family had seen Zahra in weeks.

While police haven't ruled out the possibility of a random kidnapping, they arrested the girl's stepmother, Elisa Baker, on unrelated charges and named her a "person of interest" in the case.

Police said they discovered inconsistencies in Baker's story and that she has been uncooperative.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/11/1756063/missing-girl-not-seen-by-outsiders.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/media/ALeqM5hu9Pku7SDl7HBTWSgAbkBacHfGXQ?docId=9cb923dc-988d-4e5d-a363-a8a8c960140b&size=l
http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2010/10/11/22/zahrabaker600p.embedded.prod_affiliate.138.jpg
Zahra Claire Baker

******

Man. this is bad.
that poor baby :-(

Jerri Blank

October 12th, 2010, 05:35 AM

Shit, I don't mean to double post but I have more...

Police plan to discuss more about what may have happened to Zahra Clare Baker at a news conference Tuesday morning in Hickory in the western part of the state at 10:30am.

A reporter saw what appeared to be remnants of clothes among burned branches from the fire at the house [...]
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MISSING_GIRL_NORTH_CAROLINA?SITE=NCBUR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

I would have taken this child, i'd just love her. She seems so inspirational. what a monster it would take to harm her in any way. this just makes me sick.

FknKraze

October 12th, 2010, 10:04 AM

"We just got to the point where we didn't believe her. We knew they were lies, but she never gave me a reason not to trust her," said Rotenberry, 23.Ummm so the fact that she told constant lies wasn't a good enough reason??

Adam Baker was from Australia, and met his current wife over the Internet, a family friend said. Zahra's mother lives outside the U.S.

This poor kid, seems to me, the cancer wasn't the worst thing she was forced to endure and how the FUCKING world, can a Mother live in a different country, than her baby, who has CANCER?!?!?!?!

Misskittychaos

October 12th, 2010, 10:20 AM

The fact no one besides the "parents" saw her for weeks really makes me doubt she's alive...how sad. This little girl was a fighter and to think she might have died at the hands of someone suppose to love her is heart breaking.

Jerri Blank

October 12th, 2010, 10:56 AM

I looked all over my news at 10:30am EST to see the conference. It wasn't on here :-(

impqueen

October 12th, 2010, 11:07 AM

I might have accidentally'd the bitch's last Myspace (http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=223567998&blogId=495223701) entry. Should anyone else feel the need to comment for great justice, it's totally open.

Looks like E'lesa/Elisa/Elisha did it and Dad knew about it and covered it up. That's just my gut.

Oh, hi DD :) LTNS.

Oh: news conference is now at 11:30 ET.

Reeseshaven

October 12th, 2010, 11:27 AM

impqueen

October 12th, 2010, 11:47 AM

According to Zahra's relatives, she did not sleep in her leg - she took it off when she put on her PJ's. Presumably Elisa realized she'd have to get rid of the leg when she got rid of the child. I doubt seriously she was killed in her bed.

According to WBTV, Zahra's disappearance is now a homicide investigation (http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13297637), and Elisa Baker has admitted writing the ransom note.

Zahra, with prosthesis visible (blatantly stolen from various relatives' wide-open public Myspace accounts):

http://i54.tinypic.com/5yx6ys.jpghttp://i53.tinypic.com/dgtefm.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/2zs9m6r.jpg

and, of course, Daddy and Stepmonster:

http://i52.tinypic.com/b9buza.jpghttp://i56.tinypic.com/2wbueqg.jpg

Jerri Blank

October 12th, 2010, 12:00 PM

my daughter is 12 and 5'7'' her mother is 5'8" and her dad is 5'11".... but she has always been the tall one in the class... the other kids are starting to catch up to her now (she's adopted) our son is 9 and 4'10" (same parents as daughter)

My question which may sound strange.. but would she sleep in her leg? If not wouldn't it be strange to grab her leg and not her hearing aids if someone took her? Not that I think someone did this has inside job all over it but God I pray I'm wrong!

Swear to god that was my first thought to.
Fire at 5:00am, clothes seen in embers.. she was last seen in bed at 2:00am in bed. leg gone but not the aids. so yeah unless she sleeps with her leg on (which I knew a lady with a fake and she always took it off at night) then their story is a load of BS.

Elisa Baker has admitted writing the ransom note

woah just seen post above. guilty :-(

Reeseshaven

October 12th, 2010, 12:04 PM

that's what I thought...
thank you

Whisper

October 12th, 2010, 12:04 PM

My cousin lost his leg to bone cancer when we were 7 and he took it off at night and any chance he got
My aunt and uncle were always screaming for him to put it on b/c he would use 1 good leg and a crutch to play football etc,

Police treating missing NC girl case as homicide

HICKORY — Police say they are shifting to a homicide investigation in the case of a missing 10-year-old North Carolina girl whose bone cancer left her with a prosthetic leg and hearing aids.
Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said at a news conference Tuesday that the girl's stepmother confessed to writing a ransom note found at the house where the girl lived. The woman has also asked for an attorney.
Elisa Baker has been charged with felony obstruction of justice in the disappearance of Zahra Clare Baker.

Adkins did not take any questions and did not explain why the case was now being considered a homicide. He said investigators have determined that no one outside the family has seen the girl for a month.[...]http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20101012/news/101019971&tc=yahoo

Morbid

October 12th, 2010, 12:40 PM

Hickory, NC – Hours after a fire was reported at the home of 10-year-old Zahra Baker on Saturday, her father called police to report her missing. Adam Baker and stepmother, Elisa Baker, told police they last saw Zahra in her bedroom. An Amber Alert was issued and and the FBI were brought in. Elisa Baker [...]

More... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheScreaminDemon/~3/GIDJXKoUgIU/)

myra manes

October 12th, 2010, 01:35 PM

8(

Another set of murdering, lying parents .. :argh:

Poor kid, sounds like she never had a chance ..

Whisper

October 12th, 2010, 01:35 PM

Sorry my thanks arent working agin but TY E1

Investigators and Family Want Justice For Missing Girl Zahra Claire Baker
YouTube - Investigators and Family Want Justice For Missing Girl Zahra Claire Baker

Zahra Claire Baker's Relative Speaks Out About Abuse Zahra Received From Stepmom
YouTube - Zahra Claire Baker's Relative Speaks Out About Abuse Zahra Received From Stepmom

Police Briefing on Missing Girl Zahra Claire Baker Now a Homicide Investigation

YouTube - Police Briefing on Missing Girl Zahra Claire Baker Now a Homicide Investigation

Chaindrive

October 12th, 2010, 01:37 PM

Poor girl.

Whisper

October 12th, 2010, 03:20 PM

MySpace page may reveal details about stepmother in missing girl case

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – While police are trying to gather more clues about the disappearance of a 10-year-old girl from Hickory, information posted on a social networking website may reveal new details about the child's stepmother, who police have with obstruction of justice in the case.

Zahra Claire Baker, 10, was reported missing on Saturday by her father, Adam Baker, some 12 hours after he claimed the child's stepmother, Elisa Baker, last saw the girl. Elisa Baker has called a ‘person of interest' by police.

Zahra is a bone cancer survivor. She wears hearing aids and a prosthetic leg. Police say no one has seen the girl in the last month with the exception of her immediate family.

The Hickory Police Department issued an AMBER alert for Zahra on Sunday, but they canceled it just three days later on Tuesday morning. Police said the case has now turned into a homicide investigation.

Meanwhile, the girl's stepmother is being held at a jail in Catawba County, North Carolina, on a $72,200 bond. Police charged her with various unrelated misdemeanor crimes on Sunday and they called her a ‘person of interest' in the case. She has not been charged with murder or anything else at this time.

It appears Elisa Baker has a social networking site on Myspace in which she calls her herself "gothicfairy6668." The writer of the page goes by "E'lesa" and says she is 42-years-old, the same age as the stepmother.

The writer has not signed on since Friday, October 8, 2010, the day before Zahra was reported missing to police. The "mood" of the page owner that day was listed as "Crazy." There are several pictures featuring Zahra in which she is described as the writer's daughter.

The MySpace page has a black background which is covered with red skulls and crossbones. Among the Several pictures are on the site including one of Zahra holding a certificate. In one picture Zahra is described as "The Dark Child... lol!!!"

For hometown, MySpace page writer lists "Never, neverland." She goes on to list that she is from Queensland, Australia. She also says she is a proud parent and a college graduate.

Under the "General" section, the writer says: "People often judge what they don't understand i [sic] myself prefer to be different. There is no one out there I really envy. I strive to be different in my own way,so if peope [sic] stop and stare i [sic] think to myself god I feel sorry for them they are so scared to step outside the norm that they live in a constant bubble afraid to stand out and stand up for how they really feel.."

A blog posted by the writer on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, says she has four children and a husband who she met on the internet. She says, "We have been together 2yrs [sic] and will be married 1 in July."

She also writes, "He has been by my side during some of the hardest points in my life, even when I wanted to give up. I owe him everything, even though things are tough at the moment he keeps me positive. Even when everyone else treats me like crap."

On Tuesday, June 16, 2009, the writer's blog said: "One thing I have learnt [sic] this week is family doesn't [sic] mean anything. And no matter the good you do ppl [sic] only judge you for the bad. See everyone makes mistakes in this life and I have made my share yet some ppl [sic] think they are perfect, never lie or do anything wrong. And you kids rip your hear out. It's a never-endin [sic] circle. Now I understand what my mom use to tell me about family and friends. I miss her so much."

Commenting on her appearance, the writer blogged on Sunday, February 22, 2009: "I am so sick of people judging me by how I look. I am gothic and proud of it… Maybe if everyone would stop judging people the world might be a better place. Then it's the doctors.. oh my god if you look a little different they think ur [sic] hooked on some sort of drugs when truth is I have enough health problems without that s--t [profanity edited]. I hate it, I cant [sic] see how our world has come to this and I don't [sic] understand why all the people from other countries want to come here… I'm E'lesa by god and that's [sic] who I am til I die."

On Saturday, September 13, 2009, the blogger wrote about her apparent illness. She said, "Health people have no clue how lucky they are. I swear I try not to complain too much but I have this freakin [sic] disease."

She added, "… rare disease I have has no cure, only medication to try and slow the process."

She says her disease prevents her from going outside which she hates because she likes being outdoors: "…the sun causes flare ups which make things really worse. Those of us with this disease hope one day for a cure to be found or at least a medication that really works."

Further down in this blog entry, the writer states "…I was diagnosed with brain cancer first time in 1990, then in 94 and again in 2006 which each time they gave me up for dead and prepared my family for the worst and I am still here but now I have something I can't even begin to control. How fair is that…"
[...]http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13310100
http://i55.tinypic.com/x1irya.jpg
In this photo on stepmoms MYSPACE Zahra is referred to as "The Dark Child"http://i54.tinypic.com/29kru3l.jpg
Elisa Baker (left) and the icon used on the MySpace page -- along with a skull and crossbones used as the background image.

Sorry didnt want to dupe the mugshot but I dont know how to remove that 1/2 of the pic

impqueen

October 12th, 2010, 03:32 PM

Further down in this blog entry, the writer states "…I was diagnosed with brain cancer first time in 1990, then in 94 and again in 2006 which each time they gave me up for dead and prepared my family for the worst and I am still here but now I have something I can't even begin to control. How fair is that…"

Oh, I think it's at least as fair as Zahra getting cancer, hearing impairment from the chemo, a horrid stepmother and a pathetic excuse for a father, and ending up dead.

Narcissistic, borderline, pathological cumguzzling wankstain. I guess it's at least a mercy that nobody thought to lock down her Myspace before the old-school media found it.

Whisper

October 12th, 2010, 03:44 PM

Oh, I think it's at least as fair as Zahra getting cancer, hearing impairment from the chemo, a horrid stepmother and a pathetic excuse for a father, and ending up dead.

Narcissistic, borderline, pathological cumguzzling wankstain. I guess it's at least a mercy that nobody thought to lock down her Myspace before the old-school media found it.
Obviously all the attention being given to Zahra rubbed her the wrong way
Horrible dirty fugly tnuc
That little girl lived through enough hardships for 10 lifetimes

BreakTheSilence

October 12th, 2010, 04:18 PM

God this is so heartbreaking. This little girl fought so bravely against bone cancer not once, but TWICE. This bitch knew this and I believe is either responsible for this little girl disappearing or she knows who did it. I think the worthless sperm donor knows as well and is covering it up to protect the skank he's married to and that's if he's not involved.

Precious Zahra, my thoughts and prayers are with you that you'll be found and put in a home with loving parents. This hope seems to dim the more I read about the case. I pray also for justice.

horsegirl

October 12th, 2010, 06:32 PM

They are searching woodchippings and mulch for this child, this is fucking terrible, that stepmother beats Casey Antony into a cocked hat

Whisper

October 12th, 2010, 06:38 PM

They are searching woodchippings and mulch for this child, this is fucking terrible, that stepmother beats Casey Antony into a cocked hat
Wow ty for the update

Jerri Blank

October 12th, 2010, 08:26 PM

Augh it's true they are :-(

[...] The search for Zahra Baker began Saturday afternoon when her father and stepmother reported her missing. Some people have speculated whether Zahra’s father, Adam Baker, was involved in his daughter’s murder. Baker’s boss, Fred Causby, doesn’t think so.

Causby owns Real Tree Services and operates the company on property at 2830 Hartland Road, about two miles due west of Foothills Regional Airport north of Morganton. He hired Baker as a laborer about six months ago.

“He started in March or April,” Causby said. “He’s just a hard-working individual.”

Causby gave his permission for law enforcement to search his property with a K-9 unit on Saturday. He said they were looking for Zahra’s remains on his industrial wood chipper and a 4-foot-high pile of wood chips.

Causby said the dog alerted on the chipper and the pile, but two days of intense searching by a combined force of Hickory police, Burke County deputies, SBI agents and FBI agents failed to turn up any evidence.

Sources in Hickory said investigators returned to the scene Tuesday night.[...]
http://www2.morganton.com/news/2010/oct/12/homicide-investigation-focuses-morganton-business-ar-453178/

I just want to cry right now

Whisper

October 12th, 2010, 10:34 PM

Zahra Claire Baker: Nancy 10/12/10 Part 4
YouTube - Zahra Claire Baker: Nancy 10/12/10 Part 4

thehesbomb

October 13th, 2010, 12:44 AM

As usual it sounds like some combo of "everyone saw what was going on and did nothing about it" and "CPS failed". Either way it royally sucks.

Kayla Rottenberry, a former neighbor, said child welfare officials visited the Baker home twice. Elisa Baker told Rottenberry that someone "called and complained about black eyes and her keeping [Zahra] locked in her room," Rottenberry said.

"Her eyes had blue underneath -- not all around [her] eyes -- but her stepmom said her eyes got like that because she was sick," Rottenberry said. She said she saw Baker yelling at her stepdaughter as well, but didn't report the behavior "because they were already on her."

"Whenever she wouldn't walk right, she would holler at her," Rottenberry said. "She would fuss at her when she wasn't walking right and would ground her."

And Brittany Bentley, who is married to Elisa Baker's nephew, told HLN that the girl "wasn't in very good living conditions, not at all for a 10-year-old."

"I remember Elisa coming out of the bedroom one day, saying her hands hurt from spanking Zahra so much," she said. "I know she spanked way too hard, what I consider beating. I know about letting her out five minutes, just to eat, and that was it."

North Carolina's social services system is state-supervised but county-administered, meaning reports are handled in the county where they are made, said Lori Walston, spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Human Services. However, she said workers are bound by strict confidentiality laws and would not be able to comment on the case.

Adkins asked for anyone who has seen Zahra in the last month to come forward. Investigators have learned that an inspection may have been scheduled at the home, and are interested in speaking with the inspector, he said.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/10/12/north.carolina.missing.girl/index.html

FknKraze

October 13th, 2010, 01:10 AM

I might have accidentally'd the bitch's last Myspace (http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=223567998&blogId=495223701) entry. Should anyone else feel the need to comment for great justice, it's totally open.

Thanks for that Impqueen,you rock!! I gave her some words of encouragement....here is a copy below

What kind of an evil, fucking cuntbitchwhore, beats on a kid with fucking CANCER, or any kid for that matter!?! I hope to fucking God, we all get to see a day when they slide a fucking needle in to your arm and then it's bye-bye nasty, ugly, fat, baby killing cunt!! If I was the judge, or a law maker, you would never even see the inside of a courtroom, I would have you tied up to some really big horses, that are hopefully, strong enough to drag your fat ass (may need quite a few) to the center of town and then everyone who wanted to join in, would get to have the sheer pleasure, of stoning your ugly mug to death!!!
I bet you will probably get saved in prison or find Jesus or some bullshit like that but save yourself the trouble, no matter what you decide to do, you can never escape ,the very special place in hell, that will be awaiting your demise CUNT!!

impqueen

October 13th, 2010, 08:44 AM

Thanks for that Impqueen,you rock!! I gave her some words of encouragement....here is a copy below

What kind of an evil, fucking cuntbitchwhore, beats on a kid with fucking CANCER, or any kid for that matter!?! I hope to fucking God, we all get to see a day when they slide a fucking needle in to your arm and then it's bye-bye nasty, ugly, fat, baby killing cunt!! If I was the judge, or a law maker, you would never even see the inside of a courtroom, I would have you tied up to some really big horses, that are hopefully, strong enough to drag your fat ass (may need quite a few) to the center of town and then everyone who wanted to join in, would get to have the sheer pleasure, of stoning your ugly mug to death!!!
I bet you will probably get saved in prison or find Jesus or some bullshit like that but save yourself the trouble, no matter what you decide to do, you can never escape ,the very special place in hell, that will be awaiting your demise CUNT!!

So last night my girl Lady Eridan texted me during impkid's birthday Glee recap and ipod huffing to tell me I should, um, "go look at that bitch's Myspace blog page (http://blogs.myspace.com/gothicfairy6668) now." Since linking it here, and since it has gotten some attention in the old-school media, Elisa Baker's blog comments have been raped like a Japanese barely-legal schoolgirl on redtube.

And then Talking Jesus (that's mr. imp for those who don't know) has a look, and he's all, "Um, honeylumps, you are aware that the universe is not your personal army" and I'm all "Yeah, I know." But secretly, I totally smiled. It's not gonna bring Zahra back from wherever she is, but that blog looks a lot better (http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=223567998&blogId=495223701) now.

Dneilz

October 13th, 2010, 09:26 AM

I love the comments on her blog! Perfect! :)

Whisper

October 13th, 2010, 11:18 AM

NC Police Search Property for Remains of Missing 10-Year-Old

NewsCore) - Police in North Carolina worked through the night searching an area of Burke County for the remains of missing Australian 10-year-old Zahra Clara Baker, WCNC-TV reported early Wednesday.

Baker, who has twice survived cancer, was reported missing on Saturday by her stepmother, Elisa Baker, and father, Adam Baker, but tearful police revealed early Tuesday they believed her disappearance was a homicide.

The couple said they last saw Zahra sleeping in her bed in their Hickory, N.C., home about 12 hours earlier.

However, Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said: "We cannot confirm that anyone [outside the household] has seen Zahra in the last month."

Overnight Tuesday about 50 police searched a property off Hartland Rd which belongs to the family of a foreman at the tree trimming company where the girl's father works.

It is an area where mulch, wood chips, and heavy equipment is stored, WCNC reported. Alvin Webb, who lives next door, told NewsChannel 36 a deputy told him a cadaver dog smelled human remains on a mulch pile and on a wood chipper on the property.

The missing girl is hearing-impaired and wears a prosthetic leg, after having her lower left leg amputated as a result of bone cancer. She also survived secondary lung cancer.

Adkins said police have charged her step-mother Elisa Baker, 42, with felony obstruction of justice, in connection with her admission under questioning Monday night that she had written a $1 million ransom note which police had initially investigated.

The police chief said Baker then asked for an attorney and did not answer additional questions.

Zahra was born in Wagga Wagga, Australia, located about 280 miles southwest of Sydney, and moved to Queensland where her grandparents live.
[...]
The girl's grandmother Karen Baker told the Bulletin that Adam and Elisa married just over two years ago, and relocated to North Carolina, living first in a trailer park before moving about six weeks ago into their rented one-story house in Hickory, a city of 40,000 residents about 81km northwest of Charlotte.http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpps/news/nc-police-search-property-for-remains-of-missing-10-year-old-dpgonc-20101013-fc_10090830

Whisper

October 13th, 2010, 11:21 AM

Stepmother Of Missing Girl Appears In Court
Conviction Could Bring 30 Years In Prison

NEWTON, N.C. -- The stepmother of a missing 10-year-old girl presumed dead showed no emotion as she made her first appearance in court on an obstruction of justice charge.

Elisa Baker appeared before Judge Gregory Hayes for about five minutes Wednesday morning. Hayes explained the charge and told Baker she could be sentenced to up to 30 months in prison if she is convicted.

Ten-year-old Zahra Claire Baker was reported missing last weekend in western North Carolina. Elisa Baker is accused of trying to throw off investigators with a fake ransom note.

Hayes says a review of the family's finances show Baker is eligible for a court-appointed attorney and assigned her a lawyer.
[...]http://www.wxii12.com/news/25377373/detail.html
Next court date is Nov 3

Whisper

October 13th, 2010, 11:28 AM

Vigil planned Wednesday evening for missing Hickory girl

HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - As search crews continue their work, the community is expected to gather Wednesday evening to remember a girl that police hint might be dead.

The search teams worked late into the night Tuesday and resumed Wednesday for Zahra Claire Baker, 10. She has been missing to people outside the immediate family for more than a month, according to authorities.

A candlelight vigil service will be held Wednesday at 6:30 pm for Zahra Clare Baker at East Hickory Baptist Church, on 16th Street S.E. It will take place on the church playground and is open to the public.

Although police did not say that Zahra is dead, they have changed the investigation into her disappearance from a missing person's case to a homicide probe.
[...]http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13315331
http://i55.tinypic.com/28rfm2f.jpg
Zahra

Dneilz

October 13th, 2010, 01:24 PM

If I could wish one wish... it would be the ability to know exactly what happened to her and where she is (dead or alive). Of all the terrible things that I have read in the years since I have registered here, this one is at the top of the worst 5 that I have read.

... Just the thoughts of what may have taken place make me so sad for this little girl. The fear she must have faced, the evil that would have to be present in the step mom... it is just horrible to let my mind imagine. :dong:

Silvahalo

October 13th, 2010, 06:16 PM

Outta thanks so thanks, there are lots of really good info/comments here.

I've only been reading not posting 'till now, really was hoping she'd be found and all ending well. I see we have another bitch who likely is best buds with Terri. I mean so familiar that there should be a club for stepmom monsters.

Zahra is such a lovely child, and with all she has gone thru it makes it 10x worse she is now likely dead by the hands of a woman she knew as mom. Personally I think the dad knows what happened. If she's been missing longer as I suspect she has, no one seen her out of the home for a month?!, dear O dad could be be part of it...I really hope not, but do not doubt he knows more as how could he not go to the police during the month time IF that is the case.

I heard they are looking at woodship equipment? the very thought brought a chill down my spine. I think sm flipped out on her over something probably frivolous but I get the feeling she felt this child owed HER for being her mom and she should be so grateful....and damn, I'll bust you up if you're not. I dunno but looking at her face gave me that feeling.

I don't think sweet Zahra is alive it seem rather impossible at this point.
http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/images/wtvd/cms_exf_2007/_video_wn_images/7717466_448x252.jpg

AngelFire

October 13th, 2010, 06:29 PM

This child went through so much just to end up in the hands an evil step parent.

FknKraze

October 13th, 2010, 06:38 PM

It's not gonna bring Zahra back from wherever she is, but that blog looks a lot better (http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=223567998&blogId=495223701) now.

I couldn't agree more, I posted a link to it on my Face book and twitter pages, this morning as well. I kind of want her to get out on bail just long enough to read it, if not, I will print it off and mail it to the cunt, in jail!

Whisper

October 13th, 2010, 06:49 PM

Search warrant reveals items seized from home of missing Hickory girl

HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - A police search warrant, which lists items removed from the home of a 10-year-old Hickory girl who is still missing, sheds new details on the case.

When Zahra Claire Baker was reported missing by her father, Adam Baker, Saturday afternoon, officials activated an AMBER alert. After questioning the child's stepmother, Elise Baker, Monday night, police called off the AMBER alert on Tuesday saying the case was now a homicide investigation.
A search warrant was executed on Sunday, Oct. 10, by the Hickory Police Department at the child's home on 21st Avenue Northwest in Hickory.

According to the warrant, the Hickory Police Department was requested by the Hickory Fire Department to respond to a small grass fire at the home on Saturday, Oct. 9 around 5:20 a.m.

When Officer R. Rollins arrived at the home, he was approached by a Hickory firefighter who said there was a fire on a mulch pile behind the home.

Firemen also told Rollins the passenger side doors of a silver 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe that was parked outside the home were open. A Duke Power envelope with handwriting was inside the vehicle on the front windshield.

Officer Rollins reports in the search warrant that he smelled gasoline emitting from inside the vehicle when he approached.

The Duke Power envelope had the following message: "Mr. Coffey, you like being in control now who is in control we have your daughter and your pot smoking red head son is next unless you do what is asked 1,000,000 unmarked will be in touch soon." The note also had written at the top and bottom, "no cops."

Rollins saw Mark Coffey and his only daughter, Lauren Coffey, at the home around 5:30 a.m. Rollins said she was not harmed in any way. WBTV has learned Adam Baker was renting the home from Mark Coffey, who is also Baker's boss.

Rollins and the firefighters left the home around 6:41 a.m. after investigating the small grass fire. They believed it to be an arson, the warrant stated.

Around 2 p.m., the police department received a call from Adam Baker stating that someone had poured gas into his car and left a note stating that they had his bosses' daughter. Baker told police he thought a kidnapper took his daughter, Zahra Baker.

An officer went to the home and searched the house with assistance from Adam and Elisa Baker.

On Sunday, Maria Claxton with the South Carolina Search and Rescue Dog Association was called to the home at the request of police and the FBI.

Claxton walked the dog around the Bakers' home and their vehicles. The warrant states that around 1 p.m., the canine "gave a positive alert for the presence of human remains in or on both vehicles, the silver in color Chevrolet Tahoe... and the burgundy in color Toyota Camry..."

The vehicles were taken to the Hickory Police Department where agents with the North Carolina SBI and FBI assisted police officers in gathering evidence.

According to the search warrant, the items removed from the Chevrolet Tahoe and Toyota Camry include: Duke Power bill, numerous papers with writings and phone numbers, assorted receipts, (3) passports with paperwork, (2) toothbrushes, hair brush, assorted ink pens, (2) lighters, (2) pillows, sheet, comforter, (3) gas cans, (4) burnt samples from Tahoe and brush pile, pink jacket, plastic bowl with green vegg. matter, assorted drug paraphernalia, Chinese take-out menu, 1990 Burgundy Toyota Camry, latent lift, photos, and Chevy Tahoe.

In addition to taking photographs of both vehicles, three swabs of a substance which police said appeared to be blood were also taken from the Chevrolet Tahoe.

On Sunday, police charged Elisa Baker with various unrelated offenses. She was taken to the Catawba County Jail. On Monday, police charged her with felony obstruction of justice after they say she admitted to writing the ransom note.
[...]http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13317074

Whisper

October 13th, 2010, 06:49 PM

Full Coverage;The Search For Zahra

http://www.wbtv.com/global/category.asp?c=197806

FknKraze

October 13th, 2010, 06:51 PM

Causby gave his permission for law enforcement to search his property with a K-9 unit on Saturday. He said they were looking for Zahra’s remains on his industrial wood chipper and a 4-foot-high pile of wood chips.

Causby said the dog alerted on the chipper and the pile, but two days of intense searching by a combined force of Hickory police, Burke County deputies, SBI agents and FBI agents failed to turn up any evidence

I wonder if after she was dead, they took her leg and put it through the wood chipper:questionmark:

Whisper

October 13th, 2010, 06:59 PM

Search for Zahra moves to small pond

HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - Search crews continued efforts to find a missing 10-year-old girl -- largely focusing on the worksite of her father, who is a landscaper. And, late Wednesday afternoon, crews shifted their focus to a small pond on property in Burke County.

Several sheriff's vehicles and fire trucks sped to the search site just before 6 pm Wednesday. They were planning to drain the pond on the property. However, officials said they did not have a solid lead that prompted the pond search.
[...]
http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13297637

Whisper

October 13th, 2010, 07:02 PM

Its just disgusting to even think of a child being associated with a woodchipper
I remember many yrs ago a guy did that to his wife while they were going through a divorce

Rockin Ma

October 13th, 2010, 07:26 PM

Its just disgusting to even think of a child being associated with a woodchipper
I remember many yrs ago a guy did that to his wife while they were going through a divorce

That happened here. They didn't find anything but a little piece of fingernail. If they didn't search and sift so carefully, they'd never of even found that.

Rockin Ma

October 13th, 2010, 07:27 PM

I'm not buying it's all step mom either. She disappears on a Saturday and the dad hadn't even looked in on his daughter since the Thursday before? Come on.

Rockin Ma

October 13th, 2010, 07:35 PM

Earlier today, ABC News obtained an exclusive photo of Zahra that was reportedly taken on Aug. 9 by a neighbor of the Bakers, Brandy Stapleton. The photo shows the child with what appears to be a bruise under her eye. Stapleton said she took to photo to cheer the little girl up. She also said that Zahra often had bruises, but that Elisa Baker said the girl was clumsy.

Bentley told CBS the alleged abuse was reported to the North Carolina Division of Social Services but she did not know the outcome. Officials with social services have declined to comment on the case.

http://www.aolnews.com/crime/article/zahra-bakers-stepmother-elisa-baker-makes-first-court-appearance/19672889

She's being held on $40,000 bond? Do they take just 10% in NC?

Ladyeridan

October 13th, 2010, 07:48 PM

Oh, Impy, what on earth have you started? Go to my room!

http://www.wbtv.com/global/category.asp?c=195957&clipId=5192715&autostart=true:proud2:

Rockin Ma

October 13th, 2010, 07:54 PM

The video is unavailable.

impqueen

October 13th, 2010, 07:56 PM

Oh, Impy, what on earth have you started? Go to my room!

http://www.wbtv.com/global/category.asp?c=195957&clipId=5192715&autostart=true (http://www.wbtv.com/global/category.asp?c=195957&clipId=5192715&autostart=true:proud2:)

I might have accidentally'd the local news. Oops. Other people helped. FuknKraze sent me the link earlier, I was just, um... reminded of a pizza and panicked. Then I got over it.

I do hope they find Zahra in the pond, if the other alternative is the woodchip pile.

Rockin Ma

October 13th, 2010, 07:58 PM

Oh I got it. Gotta take the : proud 2 : out of the link.

Silvahalo

October 13th, 2010, 08:55 PM

How appropriate her ms.

Skulls and death, her mood is CRAZY....and her play list, "Killing In The Name".

Man I just can't get past the woodchip possibility. That is 100 proof evil.

That video OMG Imp!

Whisper

October 13th, 2010, 09:04 PM

Local, State & Fed Investigators Search Rural Area For Body of Missing Zahra Claire Baker
YouTube - Local, State & Fed Investigators Search Rural Area For Body of Missing Zahra Claire Baker

Whisper

October 13th, 2010, 09:19 PM

Zahra Claire Baker's Body Possibly Buried In Burke County, NC

[...]
The search lasted until about 3 a.m. Wednesday, according to CNN affiliate WSOC, and authorities plan to continue searching the same area after taking a break for a few hours.

Flanked by two attorneys, Elisa Baker, Zahra's stepmother, wore a bright pink jumpsuit and was handcuffed and chained at her wrist and ankles at her court appearance Wednesday. She was informed of the felony charge against her, which carries a penalty of more than two years in prison upon conviction. Asked if she understood, she affirmed in a low voice.

The bond on the obstruction of justice charge is $40,000, in addition to the bond of more than $30,000 she faces on charges unrelated to Zahra's disappearance. Her attorney, Scott Reilly, said he would be filing a motion to get the bond reduced, calling it "excessive." She is next scheduled to have a probable cause hearing on November 3.

Reilly told reporters $10,000 is usually a maximum bond for such a charge. He said his client is scared, emotional, upset and worried about her family. Asked what she has said about Zahra, he said he was not at liberty to discuss the girl.

The case is an emotional one for investigators and a high priority, Catawba County District Attorney Jay Gaither Jr., told the assembled reporters, who came from as far away as Australia.

"The facts are disturbing as we know them at this point," he said. "... We want the best but we fear the worst."

Elisa Baker was charged with obstruction of justice Tuesday after police said she admitted writing a ransom note found at the family's Hickory, North Carolina, home.

During the search overnight, Zahra's emotional father, Adam Baker, was on the scene.

"He seems concerned," Burke County Sheriff John T. McDevitt said. "But I don't know how sincere his concern is."

Zahra was reported missing about 2 p.m. Saturday. Police have said her father and stepmother reported she was last seen sleeping in her bed about 12 hours earlier, at 2:30 a.m.

But Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said Tuesday authorities have been unable to find anyone outside Zahra's immediate family who has reported seeing her in the past month, and investigators are not sure how long she has actually been missing. He told reporters an Amber Alert issued after the girl was reported missing was being canceled, and the investigation has shifted from a possible abduction into a homicide probe.

Investigators were searching where Adam Baker worked north of Hickory, said Nancy Webb, who lives next door to the site, on Tuesday.

Adam Baker would help his employer bring piles of wood and brush to the lot, where it was dumped into a wood chipper and turned into mulch, Webb said.

"They've got a lot of lights out back of the house. It looks like they are doing a search around a brush pile, and that's all that I can see from the house here," Webb told HLN's "Nancy Grace."

Elisa Baker admitted writing the note Monday night during an interview at the jail where she is being held on charges of writing worthless checks, Adkins said. She then requested a lawyer, he said. Police obtained an arrest warrant for her on the obstruction of justice charge.

A search warrant application filed in the case said it began with a call about a burning mulch pile at the family's home about 5:30 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters found a Chevrolet Tahoe with its passenger door open and a power company envelope with handwriting on it on the front windshield, the search warrant said.

Firefighters notified police, who approached the SUV and smelled gasoline coming from inside. The note written on the envelope was addressed to a "Mr. Coffey," identified in the search warrant as Adam Baker's boss, Mark David Coffey.

"Mr. Coffey, you like being in control now who is in control," the note said, according to the search warrant. "We have your daughter and your pot smoking red head son is next unless you do what is asked 1,000,000 unmarked will be in touch soon." In the bottom right, the note said, "no cops," according to the warrant.

Coffey and his only daughter were at the residence at the time of the fire, the warrant said. CNN affiliate News 14 Carolina reported Coffey owns the home.

Adam Baker called police about 2 p.m., saying someone had poured gas in his car and left a note saying they had his boss' daughter, according to the search warrant. Baker told police he believed the person who left the note had kidnapped Zahra.

The Bakers consented to a search of their home, the warrant said. A cadaver dog indicated the possible presence of human remains in or on the Chevrolet Tahoe as well as a burgundy Toyota Camry on the property, it said. Authorities were testing swabs taken from the Tahoe to determine if blood was also present, according to the warrant.

Zahra -- a bone cancer survivor, according to CNN affiliate WCNC -- uses a prosthetic leg and hearing aids. The hearing aids have been found, but not the prosthesis, Adkins said.

Elisa Baker was arrested Sunday morning on four counts of writing worthless checks, said Eric Farr, a spokesman for the Catawba County district attorney's office. Farr said she faces other charges in different counties, including a felony larceny count and other bad-check charges. She was being held on $31,500 bail.

Adkins said Adam Baker faces similar charges, but police have held off serving an arrest warrant while he cooperates with investigators. And police said in a statement they are "working several leads, specifically addressing Zahra's life before she disappeared."
Brittany Bentley, who is married to Elisa Baker's nephew, told HLN that the girl "wasn't in very good living conditions, not at all for a 10-year-old."

"I remember Elisa coming out of the bedroom one day, saying her hands hurt from spanking Zahra so much," she said. "I know she spanked way too hard, what I consider beating." She said the girl was locked in her room and "I know about letting her out five minutes, just to eat and that was it."
http://blackpoliticalbuzz.blogspot.com/2010/10/zahra-claire-bakers-body-possibly.html
http://i55.tinypic.com/2u6fbc8.jpg
Police checking Woodchipperhttp://i51.tinypic.com/6pq3wg.jpg
Skanky Whorein court

Whisper

October 13th, 2010, 09:26 PM

Bizarre Timeline of Exactly When Zahra Claire Baker Disappeared As Homicide Investigation Continues
YouTube - Bizarre Timeline of Exactly When Zahra Claire Baker Disappeared As Homicide Investigation Continues

Whisper

October 14th, 2010, 12:22 AM

What did the stepmother do?

THE missing 10-year-old Zahra Baker recently told a charity worker that she had a prosthetic leg because an alligator had eaten the real one.
In truth, Zahra lost her leg to bone cancer, but such was the character of the child, described by those who know her as plucky and possessing ''an absolutely great personality''.
[...]
Last night, officers and FBI agents were searching through piles of woodchips at the Hickory plant of a tree trimming company that employed Mr Baker.
Zahra was born in Wagga Wagga and moved to North Carolina with her father last year after he met Ms Baker on the internet. The couple married in July.Zahra's mother lives in Australia but is believed not to have had any contact with her daughter since Zahra was a baby. http://bowral.yourguide.com.au/news/world/world/general/what-did-the-stepmother-do/1968612.aspx

Elisa Baker's son speaks out at vigil for missing Zahra
HICKORY, N.C. -- Zahra Baker's stepbrother made his first public statements Tuesday to a crowd of reporters at a candlelight vigil for his missing stepsister.
Douglas Proctor, the 22-year-old son of Elisa Baker, would not answer questions about charges against his mother, the ongoing homicide investigation, or allegations that Elisa Baker abused Zahra. "I can't really comment right now what's going on because I am still learning everything and it's a private matter right now between myself and my family," he said. "To all the people who helped us come out and look the other day, to all the messages that we've received, all the phone calls--it's not gone unnoticed."

He also thanked law enforcement officers investigating the case. "I just want everyone to know that we really appreciate everything and that we're not going to stop looking for Zahra. We'll go as long as it takes."
On Zahra, he said, "I think it would make her happy to see all this, but with that in mind, until anything changes, or we get any more facts, I am not really going to make any more statements."
Proctor personally thanked the pastor of East Hickory Baptist Church where about 300 people gathered on the lawn to pray for Zahra Baker.
[...]http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Elisa-Bakers-son-speaks-out-at-vigil-for-missing-Zahra--104914834.html

Chaindrive

October 14th, 2010, 02:18 AM

For clarification, because I was confused:

Coffey: Owns the house the Bakers live in. That house is 900+ square feet - 3 bedroom, one bath, according to county property records. Also owns a couple of properties on North Center Street in Hickory right around the corner from the house - one of which is Club 127. Again, according the county property records.

Causby: Operates the landscaping service where Baker works, or worked, in Burke County.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/ChaindriveAZ/2830Hartland-1.jpg

Address where Causby's business is located at 2830 Hartland.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/ChaindriveAZ/2830HartlandLarge-1.jpg

Photo panned out - there is a small pond just to the east of the building. There is also a larger pond to the east of the small pond.

Ninja0980

October 14th, 2010, 08:06 AM

I think it's pretty safe to say this poor child is dead via the hands of her stepmother.
And again, we have a factor that we see in many of these cases, and it ticks me off.
Again, we have quotes from neighbors showing they knew or suspected abuse, and what do they do?????
Nothing,absolutely NOTHING.
They don't report their stories to anyone,not the police,social workers etc. She told them a story they suspected to be a lie and they still did NOTHING.
Several neighbors have said they knew she was locked in her room for most of the day and got beaten and STILL nobody called.
It angers me that some of these children can be saved... and they aren't because not one neighbor has the guts to do the right thing.

impqueen

October 14th, 2010, 08:56 AM

I'm hearing reports, as yet unconfirmed, that the family did call CPS to report abuse on at least one occasion, and that Zahra, on questioning, denied a problem, so nothing was done.

Now, even if true, this does not mean that Zahra wasn't being abused. Children who fear retaliation often lie to protect even an abusive stepparent. Zahra may also have feared being removed from her father. Most abusive parents cover this scenario during their tirades, telling kids that nobody will believe them, or if anyone does believe them, their beloved family members will go to jail. Zahra probably felt that the hell she knew was better than the hell she didn't know.

However: that's why multiple calls are necessary. A child may lie once, even twice, out of fear or love or protection. But had Elisa Baker known that CPS would be on her doorstep every single week forever, she might have tempered her abuse. Zahra might have found a way to tell the truth. Maybe a CPS investigator would have found the right questions - often the right question can reveal the right answer.

I can't help wondering, though, if this poor kid is better off dead than living through whatever was happening in that house. Part of me says yeah, she probably is. The rest of me is just pissed that I even ask myself that question.

There is no justice for Zahra, not even if her killer/s are convicted, her body found. The only slim justice is that Elisa and Adam Baker will always have me and people like me to remind them that what they've done will never be forgiven or forgotten. I will make it my personal mission to remind them daily.

Hellsbells

October 14th, 2010, 09:41 AM

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg28/twa0523/ht_zahra_101013_mn.jpg
A new photograph of missing 10-year-old Zahra Baker with a bruise under her eye surfaced today, seen in a dimly lit cell phone image with what Baker family friend Brandy Stapleton called a visible bruise under her right eye. Stapleton said she took the photo, obtained exclusively by ABC News, on Aug. 9 -- the last day she saw the little girl.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/zahra-baker-case-cops-search-wood-chipper-mulch/story?id=11868397

impqueen

October 14th, 2010, 10:02 AM

Looks like more than one bruise. Looks like Zahra had been in a boxing match.

Adam Baker knew. He absolutely knew his child was being beaten, and by whom, and he did not leave with his daughter, he did not call police, he did not protect his child. Instead, he protected his wife - probably by moving the body at least twice, by attempting to destroy evidence or by assisting Elisa to do so. And yet he is not in custody - yet.

Adam Baker needs to tell the truth. His Myspace is locked - however, Elisa's still is not. He needs to feel pressure. He needs to feel the same dread his daughter felt every day in the weeks and months leading to her death. He needs to tell the truth.

impqueen

October 14th, 2010, 10:07 AM

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/14/1758012/missing-girl-now-believed-to-be.html

At the vigil, Lindsey Parker told the crowd that family members had reported suspected abuse of Zahra to the Department of Social Services on three occasions. She said she was speaking on behalf of Brittany Starbuck, one of Elisa Baker's three children from a previous marriage.
"DSS was called three times," Parker said of the family. "They tried. They really tried."

Rawrehz

October 14th, 2010, 10:15 AM

During the search overnight, Zahra's emotional father, Adam Baker, was on the scene.

"He seems concerned," Burke County Sheriff John T. McDevitt said. "But I don't know how sincere his concern is."

Seriously questioning daddy dearest here as well.. I dunno why but everything just doesnt add up on his part either... His pics aren't a great reference to go by either, just saying.

And when BitchCunt SM confessed to writing the ransom note, nothing has been established as her reasoning of doing so. I wonder what her excuse for that was.....
As for the items seized, looks like they kind of planned a little going away trip. Passports and all.... Dearest daddy didn't know where his passport and sheets/comforter/pillows were?

She was SUCH a beautful light in this world. Seriously a gorgeous little girl. I really hope they can find some part of her to lay to rest, truley.

Whisper

October 14th, 2010, 11:11 AM

Zahra Claire Baker: News Reports 10/14/10
YouTube - Zahra Claire Baker: News Reports 10/14/10

TwiztidAngel

October 14th, 2010, 11:33 AM

bitch's myspace is gone now...

impqueen

October 14th, 2010, 11:46 AM

bitch's myspace is gone now...

Heh.

That's awesome. Message received, then, Adam? I'm gonna take that as a yes.

Rockin Ma

October 14th, 2010, 12:47 PM

The father of Zahra Baker, the missing North Carolina girl, is not cooperating with police in the investigation into the 10-year-old's disappearance, ABC News reports.

Zahra Claire Baker, 10, receives a hearing aid at an event Charlotte Motor Speedway in May.
CAPTION
By James Nix, AP
Police say they have now turned their attention on Adam Baker as they try to find out what happened to Zahra, whose battle with bone cancer forced her to lose part of a leg and to use hearing aids.

"He seems concerned. I don't know how sincere his concern is," Burke County, N.C., Sheriff John McDevitt told ABC.

McDevitt was asked if he believed Adam Baker and he responded: "I don't."

Until now, much of the public focus has been on Zahra's stepmother, Elisa Baker, who several former neighbors and a relative said repeatedly abused the girl, according to ABC.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/10/police-father-of-missing-nc-girl-not-cooperative/1

Reeseshaven

October 14th, 2010, 12:58 PM

Ok I hate typing this but here is what I think happened.... Step mom killed her dad knows was scared he'd be in trouble for not doing anything to stop the abuse they take Zahra in the Camry to dad's work where ... Oh God I hate this... they place her in the chipper, they then take and put the mulch in the truck take it home and burn it..... That explains the decomp in both cars as well as the blood in the truck..... and the fire.
What do you think.....
I didn't sleep a wink last night this is all that kept going through my mind!

Aena

October 14th, 2010, 01:09 PM

I think they wrapped her or attempted to freeze her before putting her in the chipper, which would explain why they aren't finding a lot of evidence of death. Just a few drops of blood here and there, or a death scent. No one outside the immediate family has seen her for a month or close to it, there are so many things they could have done in that time. I feel dirty just typing all of this shit.

Reeseshaven

October 14th, 2010, 01:13 PM

I know it's so sad how does someone do that....

Jerri Blank

October 14th, 2010, 01:23 PM

FknKraze

October 14th, 2010, 01:49 PM

I think we would be safe to assume both of your theories are pretty close to accurate, either way, both stepcunt and sperm donor, are definitely guilty but the saving grace, is that they are also, dumb as fuck and will slip up sooner or later. Dirty, fucking, white trash, P.O.S.'s :banghead:

nikk077

October 14th, 2010, 01:51 PM

Whisper

October 14th, 2010, 02:03 PM

Whisper

October 14th, 2010, 02:21 PM

Police: NC girl may have been alive in mid-Sept

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - A missing 10-year-old may have been alive when her family moved to a new home in North Carolina in mid-September, police said Thursday.

Investigators are having trouble finding anyone outside Zahra Clare Baker's household in Hickory who has seen the girl alive in recent months, making it difficult to narrow down places to search.

Police say the girl, who used hearing aids and a prosthetic leg because of bone cancer, has been killed. She was reported missing over the weekend by her father and stepmother, but police do not believe their story about the last time they saw her in her bed.
Deputy Chief Clyde Deal would not elaborate about why authorities think the girl was alive when the family moved from the nearby town of Sawmills.
[...]
Investigators drained a pond and used a dog to sniff through piles of mulch and tree-trimming equipment, but they have not yet found her body.

Elisa Baker showed little emotion Wednesday as she faced a judge over an obstruction charge that could bring her up to 30 months in prison if convicted. Her court-appointed attorney, Scott Reilly, said she was "scared to death" and very emotional about everything.

"She's upset about being held in jail. She's upset about being away from her family," he said.
That portrait of the concerned stepmother contradicts how relatives and former neighbors described Baker. They said in interviews and court documents that she was nasty-tempered and violent and often took her rage out on Zahra.

At a vigil Wednesday night, about 150 people sang religious songs, held hands and implored each other to love their children and report signs of child abuse to authorities. The case has disturbed Hickory, a city of about 40,000, some 50 miles northwest of Charlotte.
David King, a deacon at East Hickory Baptist Church, said everyone is praying for her.

"Kids should be having fun. No one should have to go through what she did," he said. "This is just a tragedy."http://www.fox12idaho.com/Global/story.asp?S=13324348

impqueen

October 14th, 2010, 02:28 PM

Well, I rarely post in the forums but this story has pulled me from lurkdom... What are the family dynamics? Isn't there an older daughter and son of SM? Who actually lived in the home? Was Adam's boss and boss's daughter at the house during the fire? Has Adam and Zahra lived in the US most of her life or just moved here last year when he hooked up with the SM? Sorry for so many questions but I have so many.

The family dynamics are as follows:

Zahra and her biological parents are from Australia. She lived there until about two years ago, roughly. Her father had legal custody, and when he hooked up with Elisa, he moved with Zahra to the US. Adam and Elisa married in 2009, I believe, but reports seem to indicate that they lived together for awhile first.

Zahra was in school in the US for at least part of the 2008-2009 school year and all of the 2009-2010 school year. It was not until late August that Elisa reported that Zahra would not be in school this year. The last pic of Zahra that I am aware of was taken around August 9. Elisa and Adam have lived in the Coffey house since the middle of September and nobody I know of has reported seeing Zahra after that time.

Elisa has three children: her son mentioned above, who is I think 22ish, her daughter Amber Fairchild (and/or Cull) who is somewhat older and is married(maybe) with something like four children (I don't know if they're all hers), and her daughter Brittany Starbuck, who is 21. Amber's husband/bf is Brian Cull; Brittany's husband is James Starbuck and he appears to be military. Brittany Starbuck is not the same Brittany as Brittany Bentley, who has given a lot of interviews. There is also some extended family who is easily located on Facebook and Myspace and none of them seem to be defending Elisa, to their credit.

None of Elisa's children lived in the home with Zahra, at least not for any length of time. I believe they only saw her at family functions or visits - Brittany was in New York for awhile, Amber lives on her own, and the son has reportedly only met Zahra once. The daughters seem closer to their mother and are pictured in a number of photos, like this one from Mother's Day:

http://i52.tinypic.com/29qmscp.jpg

This was taken at Amber's house. Amber is left, then Zahra, then Brittany, then Elisa.

As to the fire, the only people actually at the home when the fire was reported were Adam and Elisa Baker. Nobody has reported seeing Zahra or anyone else there at the time.

My gut is that Elisa did murder Zahra, probably accidentally during an abusefest. At some point afterward she had to tell Adam what she had done; he helped cover it up. Unless of course he was abusing Zahra too, but I don't have evidence of that. I think he or they moved the body at least twice between the SUV and the car, the prosthesis went into the woodchipper, but I don't know that Zahra's body went into the chipper due to the inability to destroy blood and tissue evidence on machinery like that. I suspect she was burned or buried or dumped elsewhere, probably several weeks ago.

cubby

October 14th, 2010, 02:34 PM

Bullies like Elisa Baker are always big and mean and ugly with people that are scared of them, like kids, but with someone that is not scared of them they are meek and mild, confused, and "emotional" (whatever that is supposed to mean, everybody is "emotional") but not the big, mean, ugly, bossy, terrifying monster that they are to the little kids who are depending on them for their life and wellbeing.

impqueen

October 14th, 2010, 02:36 PM

nikk077

October 14th, 2010, 02:40 PM

Thanks for the info imp! I do agree that Adam had to know what was going on. I think LE is only keeping him close at this point hoping for some answers to slip. If Zahra hasn't been seen for a month or so then obviously he had to wonder where she was...he knows. I'm amazed that so many people are coming forward admitting that they knew of abuse (some say they reported it) and making statements of what they saw with no evidence that it was in fact reported. Maybe LE is keeping that information close to the vest right now and more will come out about abuse reports. On another note...in the above picture posted by imp, that doesn't look like a woman that suffered through brain cancer 3 times. She looks plenty healthy to me. She sounds like a needy pathological liar.

cubby

October 14th, 2010, 02:48 PM

I think they might be keeping them apart (the Bakers) to keep them from finetuning their story (as if it's not already a crock of shit) and also to give him enough time to see that he really needs to throw her under that bus! He doesn't know what she's gonna say and she obviousy doesn't know he's already said some things against her. I'm chicken shit enough to have already thrown myself on the mercy of the court and puked up every detail I know. But I know some folks are not as lilly-livered as I am.

impqueen

October 14th, 2010, 02:54 PM

A couple more pics of Zahra. I'm not sure when these were taken, but from the hair it looks like this summer, possibly:

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4641/zahra6.jpghttp://img299.imageshack.us/img299/9482/zahra7.jpg

Whisper

October 14th, 2010, 03:03 PM

[...]
She was always beating her,” former neighbor Karen Yount said Tuesday. “I told her to stop but she wouldn't listen to anyone. That poor girl.”
[..]
Earlier, in nearby Morganton, seven officers and a police dog searched for Zahra on a wooded lot among piles of mulch and a wood chipper. The property has equipment belonging to the tree services company that employs her father, Adam Baker. He has not been charged, but police have said he hasn't been ruled out as a suspect.
[...]
An officer who asked for anonymity because he's not authorized to discuss the case confirmed the site was among several where officers are searching for the girl. The officer said a different dog got a “hit” at the scene a day earlier, but nothing was found then.
[...]
Investigators also drained a pond near the Burke County company where Zahra's father worked, though Hickory Police Deputy Chief Clyde Deal said there was nothing specific they were looking for
[...]
Other neighbors say they feared for the girl's safety. One said he spoke to an investigator from the Department of Social Services who visited the Bakers' house a few months ago to investigate claims Zahra was being beaten.
[...]http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20101014/NEWS01/101014015/1009/news01

Silvahalo

October 14th, 2010, 03:11 PM

I don't think her body was put in the wood chipper as was mentioned. Wouldn't they find trace evidence of a body? blood, tissue? I agree think she was burned, buried dumped elsewhere. Actually talking on this very thing is so disturbing. Can hardly believe someone could be so cruel and heinous over a child...I know, we have seen it before, still...

So I wonder why the father got custody of Zahra and how the bio mother is coping with the thought that her daughter may have been killed by sm.

She's scared. She should be as it does appear her dear hubs is now pointing the finger at her.(first I've read on it). Like I said on my first post, dad knows and to save his own skin will be glad to let her ass fry. He makes me sick too. I imagine he knew of the abuse and didn't do a damn thing to protect his daughter. Now she's dead likely killed by this vile thing.

Her court-appointed attorney, Scott Reilly, said she was "scared to death" and very emotional about everything.
[...]
A hearing-impaired North Carolina girl with a prosthetic leg vanished over the weekend, and her father said Monday it was possible that his wife was involved in the disappearance of 10-year-old Zahra Baker. (http://www.opposingviews.com/i/nc-girl-zahra-baker-missing-dad-thinks-stepmom-did-it)

Amazing how quickly in this case they are "persons of interest".

Silvahalo

October 14th, 2010, 03:18 PM

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) (http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13324177) - Two women who have spoken about the family stability involving a missing girl from Hickory now claim one of them was addicted to drugs – and that contributed to why they never directly called authorities about possible problems at the missing girl's home.

Brittney Bentley, who was married to the nephew of Elisa Baker, told WBT Radio on Wednesday that she was a drug addict and that she was sorry for not contacting the North Carolina Department of Social Services after allegedly observing problems pertaining to Zahra Claire Baker's home life.

[...]
Bentley claimed on WBT's Tara Servatius Show that she told her mother, Kim Drum, about issues that Zahra was subjected to, but Drum says she never contacted DSS either.

"No… I never called DSS," Drum said, adding that she regrets "…it very, very much" as authorities now fear Zahra is dead. Police called off an AMBER Alert Tuesday and now are investigating the case as a homicide.

[...]
Bentley claims she told her mother, Drum, who was supposed to tell DSS about the problems. But, Drum, who said she knew her daughter was hooked on drugs, did not believe her daughter's claims of Zahra's home problems.

The two women claim that, although they never called DSS themselves, they did "make sure" DSS investigated the case. Although they did not actually explain on WBT Radio how they made sure that happened, they claim to have seen DSS agents at the Baker's house.

Drum also said that she kept Zahra on weekends about every six weeks. Drum told WBT Radio that Zahra never complained about Elisa Baker and that all she ever saw wrong with Zahra was a very faint black eye. Drum said that Zahra told her the injury was from running into a doorknob.

"I didn't know what to believe at the time," Drum said, about conflicting information from her daughter and ZahrZahra probably didn't feel she had anyone to confide to. Curious if she had any contact with her bio mother, mentioned anything to her. So sad. This child was pulled from her home for reasons I don't know, around 8 yo, that must have been real hard to begin with. Then the cancer...poor child, what a fighter...a survivor, until now.

Rawrehz

October 14th, 2010, 03:34 PM

OK stupid question here:

If the girl is 5'1(as reported) how did her eye run into a doorknob? Just curious.... I undertsand if she fell awkwardly but doorknobs usually come to mid body lenght. I am barely 5'5 but most doorknobs I come across hit right around my belly button area, slightly under or above, depending on the door. Never is a doorknob eye length right? So if she fell into the doorknob, how? Was she pushed and just didn't want to tell or was she really just hit straight up in the face??
In the reports, the dad had full custody over her so he had every right to move her to US. Doesn't this make you wonder what kind of person her bio mom was? I mean she hadn't seen the girl since she was 8 months old!! Perhaps she was a druggie too or just didn't want the child at all.

Whisper

October 14th, 2010, 03:41 PM

A short summary of Zahra Claire Baker!
YouTube - A short summary of Zahra Claire Baker!

cubby

October 14th, 2010, 03:45 PM

I kinda wondered about the doorknob thing too, at 5-3 I'm not in any danger of walking into a doorknob. I worry about alot of things hitting me in the eye that would be below the eye level of most folks but door knobs don't enter into that.

I've read in several places that her mom had not seen her since she was 8 months old, so it seems that mom either didn't care about her or gave up her parental rights. It would take alot for me to give my baby girl away to anybody even her father.

Rawrehz

October 14th, 2010, 03:51 PM

Since the current 'parents' are being of accused of being druggies and found with drug paraphenialia, I am just going to assume bio mom was a druggy as well or just didnt give a flying damn. I mean the case has been ongoing for a lil bit now and no word on her whatsoever. Usually they track down the bio parents immediatley for comment and clarification on the family status.(Just like they tracked down Sylar Newton's bio parent(s) when news first broke) Nothing on her yet except they don't find her a person of interest.

I understand she's on the other side of the world but hey, its your kid! You gave birth to that baby! Stand up and speak for her!

Whisper

October 14th, 2010, 03:55 PM

Drug use kept relatives from contacting DSS about Zahra

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Two women who have spoken about the family stability involving a missing girl from Hickory now claim one of them was addicted to drugs – and that contributed to why they never directly called authorities about possible problems at the missing girl's home.

Brittney Bentley, who was married to the nephew of Elisa Baker, told WBT Radio on Wednesday that she was a drug addict and that she was sorry for not contacting the North Carolina Department of Social Services after allegedly observing problems pertaining to Zahra Claire Baker's home life.
[...]
Bentley claimed on WBT's Tara Servatius Show that she told her mother, Kim Drum, about issues that Zahra was subjected to, but Drum says she never contacted DSS either.

"No… I never called DSS," Drum said, adding that she regrets "…it very, very much" as authorities now fear Zahra is dead. Police called off an AMBER Alert Tuesday and now are investigating the case as a homicide.

Drum and Bentley surfaced in news accounts earlier this week as the first family members to talk about Zahra's family experiences. Bentley, who says she has been in drug recovery for 3 months, says she is no longer married to Elisa Baker's nephew
Bentley claims she told her mother, Drum, who was supposed to tell DSS about the problems. But, Drum, who said she knew her daughter was hooked on drugs, did not believe her daughter's claims of Zahra's home problems.

The two women claim that, although they never called DSS themselves, they did "make sure" DSS investigated the case. Although they did not actually explain on WBT Radio how they made sure that happened, they claim to have seen DSS agents at the Baker's house.

Drum also said that she kept Zahra on weekends about every six weeks. Drum told WBT Radio that Zahra never complained about Elisa Baker and that all she ever saw wrong with Zahra was a very faint black eye. Drum said that Zahra told her the injury was from running into a doorknob.

"I didn't know what to believe at the time," Drum said, about conflicting information from her daughter and Zahra. "At that time in Brittney's life… she … Brittney was on drugs."http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13324177

Jerri Blank

October 14th, 2010, 05:04 PM

From whisperswing's link above

http://wbtv.images.worldnow.com/images/13324177_BG3.jpg
Brittney Bentley, who says she is recovering from drug addition, talks to WBTV earlier this week.

Hmmm but ironically enough, now, she has cleaned up her act and more than willing to doll up and put her face all over the tv huh?

yeah I was born in the day..but it wasn't YESTERDAY.

Silvahalo

October 14th, 2010, 05:08 PM

BreakTheSilence

October 14th, 2010, 05:40 PM

Those people who couldn't or wouldn't speak up for Zahra when she was alive and suffering at the hands of this beast need to just shut the hell up. I'm sick of people knowing a child has been abused and then when the child turns up murdered by the very people that were abusing him/her, they want their 15 minutes of fame "Oh I knew the mother was beating her, but I didn't call CPS. Or I heard the screams coming from the house but I didn't want to get involved"

HELLO!!!!! Its times like that when people NEED to get involved. These people on camera talking about Zahra make me want to throw up. They knew this precious girl had battled bone cancer and on top of it was being abused and yet did nothing. Its too late now to tell what you knew on tv. The time was before the child died. The only people they should be telling at this point is law enforcement so hopefully they can see that the worthless SM goes to prison and rots there. They can also put the sperm donor in prison as well and let him rot there too. He HAD to know what this sweet child was going through and he let it happen. I firmly believe he either helped murder this sweet girl or he knows where the body is. He's playing stupid and should be beaten until he talks.

FknKraze

October 14th, 2010, 05:50 PM

"She's upset about being held in jail. She's upset about being away from her family," he said.
That portrait of the concerned stepmother contradicts how relatives and former neighbors described Baker. They said in interviews and court documents that she was nasty-tempered and violent and often took her rage out on Zahra.

Oh boo-fucking-hoo you dumb cunt bitch! Imaging how scary LIFE must have been for Zahra, knowing at any minute she could take a beating and even if she didn't give a reason, you would find one!! I hope you are scared cow! REALLY fucking scared!!
We already know from the hearing aid charity, that this bitch can put on quite the show, to make herself look good.

BreakTheSilence

October 14th, 2010, 05:59 PM

Imp,
You mentioned the family moved in mid-September and that nobody has reported seeing Zahra since that time. I guess I'm wondering if law enforcement has gone and checked the previous house this child was known to live in. They very easily could have murdered her there, buried her on the property or in that area and then moved to the present location. I mean what better reason to move than to get away from the scene of the crime? If they aren't finding anyone who has seen Zahra since they moved into the new house, it maybe time to look at their previous address.
Perhaps they murdered her and then buried her. They waited to find a new place, moved and then once settled in figured they had to give a reason for Zahra not being with them. They report her missing while knowing the cops aren't going to find anything in their area.
I don't know, maybe I'm off base, but it seems like something worth investigating. I just know it breaks my heart that this precious child went through so much battling cancer and it appears she won that battle to only die at the hands of the very people who were meant to love, nurture and protect her.

Dakota Valkyrie

October 14th, 2010, 06:29 PM

Though Zahra Clare Baker was battling cancer that forced her to wear hearing aids and a prosthetic leg, friends who knew her in Australia say she was an outgoing, caring, happy girl.

Then her lonely single father moved her halfway around the world to North Carolina so he could live with a woman he met on the Internet. Now the 10-year-old with the freckles and wide smile is missing and presumed dead, and friends and family thousands of miles away are waiting anxiously for word about her fate.

"She was one of the bravest little girls you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting," Kim Wright, 44, a close friend of the family, told The Associated Press in a phone interview from Giru, Australia, where Zahra lived until two years ago. "She was always thinking of others."
[...]

Wright said friends and family in Australia still hope Zahra is alive. She became friends with the little girl four years ago at a cancer fundraising event. She was sitting in a chair waiting for her head to be shaved to raise money when Zahra approached, took her hand and told her not to be scared.

Wright became something of a surrogate mother to the girl, whose biological mother left when she was a baby. Adam Baker raised her after that with help from his parents, Wright said, taking time off from the sugar mill where he worked so he could be with Zahra when she was diagnosed with bone cancer about five years ago.
[...]

Wright says friends in Australia were suspicious of Elisa Baker when Adam Baker met her online in early 2008 and invited her to visit.

Elisa Baker told them she was she was a police officer who was shot in the line of duty. She also said she was a bounty hunter and had met celebritites.

"She told a lot of stories that never quite rang true," Wright said.

They were married that July in a small ceremony in Adam Baker's parents' backyard. In November, they moved to North Carolina. The family was less than thrilled, especially since Zahra's medical treatments were free in Australia.

"Adam was on his own for eight years with Zahra before he met (her) and I think he was lonely and I think that was his biggest downfall, really," Wright said.
[...]
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/10/13/1381227/police-search-wooded-lot-for-nc.html

Dakota Valkyrie

October 14th, 2010, 06:35 PM

A missing 10-year-old may have been alive when her family moved to a new home in North Carolina in mid-September, police said Thursday.

Investigators are having trouble finding anyone outside Zahra Clare Baker's household in Hickory who has seen the girl alive in recent months, making it difficult to narrow down places to search.
[...]

Deputy Chief Clyde Deal would not elaborate about why authorities think the girl was alive when the family moved from the nearby town of Sawmills.
[...]http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39673288/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Whisper

October 14th, 2010, 08:18 PM

Zahra Claire Baker: Issues 10/14/10 Part 1
YouTube - Zahra Claire Baker: Issues 10/14/10 Part 1

Chaindrive

October 14th, 2010, 11:05 PM

From the link upthread that quotes her myspace:

I am gothic and proud of it…

You are so full of shit I can't even believe it. You're a wannabe. You're way too old to be goth. Having a bad black dye job on your hair does not equal goth. Get a fucking clue. You're not 14 anymore.

Jerri Blank

October 15th, 2010, 06:07 AM

Next-door neighbors wonder if Zahra kept in attic
Apartment manager saw her once, never again while living next to the Bakers

When the Baker family first moved into the apartments on Congress Street in July 2009, Shirley Mims had been the manager for only a short time.

It didn’t take her long to become better acquainted with Elisa and Adam Baker, who were in the apartment next door to Shirley and her husband, Darrell.

“They fought verbally and physically with each other. You could hear it through the walls,” Shirley said. “They’d even take it out into the parking lot.”

It was so bad one time that it knocked the pictures off the wall the Mims shared with the Bakers, Shirley said.

She said the couple began fighting about three weeks after they moved into the apartment.

As for the now-missing Zahra Clare Baker, Shirley didn’t even know the couple had a daughter.

“We saw the little girl when they moved in, but we didn’t see her no more after that,” she said.

“When I saw the little girl, I assumed it was a grandchild or a visitor, because I never saw her again.” [...]

[...] The Bakers lived in the apartment on Congress Street until early November 2009, when Shirley asked them to move out because of their fighting.

“In one-and-a-half days, they were gone,” Shirley said. “I got the impression they didn’t want the police here.”

When Shirley and Darrell went into the Bakers’ apartment after they left, they were surprised by what they found. One of the doors to a closet had been removed.

That closet provides access to the attic — an attic where you can’t store anything, it just contains blown insulation for the two-story apartments.

When the Mims were watching the news this week, they recognized their former tenants. They were also surprised to learn they had a daughter.

They’re now wondering if maybe Zahra was in the attic
“We don’t know for sure, but we think they kept her in the attic,” Darrell said.

“There were black shoe sole prints all around the inside (of the door frame). The door to the cubby hole was taken off.”

The Mims still haven’t found the door to the closet, and aren’t sure what the Bakers did with it.

Darrell said for several months — during the time the Bakers lived next door — it sounded as if squirrels were in the attic.

“All the noises I heard in the attic must have been her, but I never heard them again after they left,” Shirley said. “I can’t prove that’s what it was, but in my heart, that’s what I believe.”

When Darrell went up to the attic to look, he saw a section of the firewall that divides the two apartments was pulled down and was on top some of the boards and insulation. It was cracked in a few places.

“It looked as though a child had gone to sleep on it,” Darrell said.[...]

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/14/16/neighbors-wonder-if-zahra-kept-attic-ar-458767/

I dunno if the article is more informative than that because they didn't bother using paragraphs. I just couldn't read any more.

Massive Search For Zahra Comes Up Empty

For the fifth day in a row, police launched a massive search on Thursday at a remote property north of Morganton, but they did not fine any signs of Zahra Baker

Thursday was the most active day of searching since Zahra was reported missing on Saturday. 70 people looked through 60 acres of land just north of Morganton.

To find some closure Thursday night, more than 100 people showed up at First Baptist Church in Hudson for a private candlelight vigil.

Zahra used to attend Hudson Elementary until this year. Dozens of Zahra's former teachers and classmates attended. "To see her leave, its just really hard for all of us," said 10-year-old Alliy Merkwa, fighting back tears.[...]

[...]Channel 9 has been able to confirm from police on Thursday that Zahra, did make the move to Hickory with her family from Sawmills in Caldwell County and have confirmed that she was alive as recently as mid-September.
Police are still working to narrow their timeline since the 10-year-old disabled girl went missing.[...]

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/25389806/detail.html

Kindly One

October 15th, 2010, 06:22 AM

Aena

October 15th, 2010, 06:22 AM

Oh man, this is just getting more horrific by the day. Now she may have been kept in an attic? This breaks my heart, this little girl fought so hard to live, only to be taken away by something worse, her parent.

Rawrehz

October 15th, 2010, 11:18 AM

“There were black shoe sole prints all around the inside (of the door frame). The door to the cubby hole was taken off.”

The Mims still haven’t found the door to the closet, and aren’t sure what the Bakers did with it.

Darrell said for several months — during the time the Bakers lived next door — it sounded as if squirrels were in the attic.

“All the noises I heard in the attic must have been her, but I never heard them again after they left,” Shirley said. “I can’t prove that’s what it was, but in my heart, that’s what I believe.”

When Darrell went up to the attic to look, he saw a section of the firewall that divides the two apartments was pulled down and was on top some of the boards and insulation. It was cracked in a few places.

“It looked as though a child had gone to sleep on it,” Darrell said.[...]

That just made me choke up .. How horrific! This poor girl had gone through so much already. I wonder if her father treated her anything like this BEFORE cuntface came along. He was lonely and all but to have and cherish your sick daughter...then to bring in this bitch and throw her away like a ragdoll? I just don't get it.

I cannot imagine her pussy was that good to do something like that to a child. I still think he has partial involvement here too. He is defintiley not getting my vote for the pity party mode. Asshole.

Whisper

October 15th, 2010, 01:53 PM

Zahra Claire Baker Updated information
YouTube - Zahra Claire Baker Updated information

impqueen

October 15th, 2010, 02:32 PM

Imp,
You mentioned the family moved in mid-September and that nobody has reported seeing Zahra since that time. I guess I'm wondering if law enforcement has gone and checked the previous house this child was known to live in.

Yes, they did search the trailer in Sawmills. I believe that was done Wednesday or yesterday. And the apartment before that has been photographed, at the very least.

I'm getting the feeling that Zahra will not be easily found. It's reminiscent of the Caylee case to me. I hope I'm wrong.

Whisper

October 15th, 2010, 03:17 PM

Zahra Claire Baker: News Reports 10/15/10
YouTube - Zahra Claire Baker: News Reports 10/15/10

rebel450

October 15th, 2010, 03:31 PM

[QUOTE=whisperswing;460379]Zahra Claire Baker Updated information
YouTube - Zahra Claire Baker Updated information[/QUOTE

Why???????????? With everything this Lil' Gal has endured already in this life time. So many people have failed her, so many. You overlook a little slap on the butt, but you do not overlook everything that we have seen so far in this case. None of these people are normal in any respect.

My neighbor on the back street, was sitting on her front porch, drinking beer one afternoon, her little 4 year old son, started crawling up our back fence to see the pond and the koi in it. I went over and asked him to get down very nicely before he fell and hurt himself, his mother came running over ready to jump my fence and punch me, because I I asked her son, to get down, so he would not get hurt. She asked me what I said to him and I told her. Of course she said it was not my place, I told her obviously it was, as you were to damn busy drinking and watching him do it. These are things that people with feelings and a brain do. For some you have to be an advocate.

I hope they can all live with themselves. I feel they are just as guilty as the parents, the SM or whoever chose to ignore this.

Rockin Ma

October 15th, 2010, 05:37 PM

Investigators looking into the case of a missing Hickory girl who is presumed to be dead returned to the 10-year-old's home Friday morning and removed some items from the house.

Police were at the Hickory home for about two hours Friday morning and they brought a cadaver dog to the house.

The dog was led into the house, but officials have not said if the dog detected anything unusual inside the home.

Police also brought Zahra Claire Baker's father, Adam, to the home.

Officers removed mattresses, box springs and bed rails from the house. Those items will be taken to the state lab in Raleigh to be analyzed for blood or any other forms of DNA. Baker left the house around 12:30 p.m.

Police also searched another home Friday afternoon in which the Bakers previously lived in near Hudson, NC.

Earlier this morning, we spoke with a woman who claims she saw Zahra Baker 14 days before the girl was reported missing. Reporter Kay Johnson will have more on this story, Friday, on WBTV News 3 at 6 p.m.

Thursday evening, the search of 60 acres of land in the Hartland Road Community of Burke County ended with no trace of the girl who was reported missing last Saturday.

The girl's father works for a landscaping company that uses a portion of the land to store equipment and dispose of brush.

Full Coverage: The Search for Zahra

"The dad had access to equipment and the property, so we needed to search it," said Burke County Sheriff John McDevitt.

The father has not been charged with anything related to the case.

The stepmother, Elisa Baker, was arrested Sunday on charges unrelated to the disappearance of Zahra, but she was served with a warrant on Tuesday accusing her of an obstruction of justice in connection with a ransom note that was found.

Hickory Police say the stepmother admitted she wrote the note. Police believe the note was written to hinder the investigation into the missing girl.

The Hartland Road site is one of several that have been searched in recent days, though more attention was given to it.

Cadaver dogs have gone over the entire property and a pond was drained Wednesday night in hopes of finding some evidence. None was found.

McDevitt said, "we gave a valiant effort to find something, but could not."

The sheriff does not expect searchers to return to the site unless some other evidence comes up to point them that way.

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=13297637

Rockin Ma

October 15th, 2010, 05:40 PM

As the search continued Friday for 10-year-old Zahra Baker, about 100 people assembled at Hudson’s First Baptist Church to hold a candlelight vigil and pray for the missing Hickory girl, the Charlotte Observer reported.

Six days have now passed with no sign of Zahra. The investigation into her disappearance is classified as a homicide. The girl’s mother was still in jail Friday under allegations that she faked a ransom note to throw investigators off-track. And police have refused to comment on whether the girl’s father, Adam Baker, is suspected of wrongdoing, the Observer reported.

Police on Friday brought a new team of search dogs to the parent’s home in Hickory, trying to rule out the area in their search.

Following is an excerpt from the Observer’s report that details the search for clues in a case that has captivated North Carolina.

“The dogs and their handlers searched inside the house and were seen in the back yard. Searchers looked under piles of brush and along the fence line, with the missing girl’s father, Adam Baker, inside the home while the search took place.

Baker told reporters he still believes Zahra is alive and said he is actively looking for the girl, whose disappearance has been classified by Hickory police as a homicide investigation.

“I’m not concerned about myself,” Baker said. ‘I’m concerned about Zahra.’”

http://yellowtape.blogs.starnewsonline.com/11545/crowd-gathers-to-remember-missing-hickory-girl/

Jerri Blank

October 15th, 2010, 05:56 PM

Police also brought Zahra Claire Baker's father, Adam, to the home.

Officers removed mattresses, box springs and bed rails from the house. Those items will be taken to the state lab in Raleigh to be analyzed for blood or any other forms of DNA. Baker left the house around 12:30 p.m.

I wonder are they testing it as a crime scene or to see if she was actually there. I can't believe we have another case this crazy again. it's so heart breaking :-(

kinerbeaner

October 15th, 2010, 07:01 PM

you'd think that if she cracked so quickly on admitting writing the ransom note, she'd crack quickly on admitting what she did to Zahra.....

FknKraze

October 15th, 2010, 07:27 PM

I thought the stepcunt reminded me of someone....and then it came to me!!

http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/cruella-de-vil-b-web.jpg

http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2010/10/12/22/missing1013%20sidebar.ART_GAV1PMIOK.1+Elisa_Baker. JPG.embedded.prod_affiliate.138.jpg

All she needs is the white streak!!

Whisper

October 15th, 2010, 07:51 PM

Cadaver Dog Taken Inside Home of Missing Girl Zahra Claire Baker TyneR0seMedia
YouTube - Cadaver Dog Taken Inside Home of Missing Girl Zahra Claire Baker

FknKraze

October 15th, 2010, 09:39 PM

Jerri Blank

October 15th, 2010, 10:49 PM

Oh god. They made her sleep up there? How in the hell do you get to the point that you think that's okay? How fucked up and nasty and malicious and evil do you have to be to hoist a child up into a space like that?
For some reason, maybe the drywall, that article made me think of Tiffany Wright, who starved to death in an apartment over a pub in Sheffield. She was three, and had peeled and eaten tiny flecks of wallpaper off the walls, trying to stay alive. Anyway.
Stupid, evil, ugly people, the both of them, if that's true.

Oh God, why did I look, here is the link to that story, very distrurbing

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jun/27/ukcrime.childprotection

I meant to comment on Tiffany. her story is one of the most heart breaking stories I've ever read. She truly touched my heart.
https://sites.google.com/site/chilrenstempletepages/God-Bless-Our-Lost-Angels/3-year-old-tiffany-wright-hirst

She had un-opened presents in the closet because her bitch mother didn't want to clean. her mother didn't want to launder clothes so her and brother were nude most of the time..it's just unbelievable the list of crap these people did to this baby.

Whisper

October 15th, 2010, 11:17 PM

Father of missing NC girl says he's cooperating

HICKORY, N.C. -- The father of a missing 10-year-old said Friday he is cooperating with police searching for his daughter and unsure whether his wife is involved in the case.

"I want to find her and take her home," Adam Baker told The Associated Press by phone, adding that he will return Zahra Clare Baker to the family's native Australia if she wants to go.

Baker and his wife, the girl's stepmother, reported Zahra missing on Oct. 9. They said they had last seen the girl -- who used hearing aids and a prosthetic leg because of bone cancer -- in her bed at their home in Hickory, about 50 miles northwest of Charlotte.
But police say they don't believe the couple and suspect the girl has been killed. Investigators said Thursday that Zahra may have been alive when the family moved to a new home in North Carolina in mid-September, but they've had trouble finding anyone else who has seen her in recent months.

Baker said Friday he not spoken with his wife, 42-year-old Elisa Baker, and remains unsure if she had anything to do with his daughter's disappearance.
"Maybe," Baker told AP. "I'm still trying to figure it all out."
Elisa Baker has been jailed, charged with obstruction of justice after police say she tried to throw them off with a fake ransom note. She also faces charged unrelated to the case.
[...]
Also Friday, Burke County investigators said they were satisfied the girl's body is not on a wooded lot where tree service equipment including a wood chipper was being kept. http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/state&id=7727090

To little to late for me
Sorry I may be jumping the gun but I personally feel dad knows more then hes letting on

Whisper

October 16th, 2010, 11:43 AM

Furniture store employees remember seeing Zahra Baker 14 days before disappearance

HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - Employees at a Hickory furniture store say they remember seeing Zahra Baker and her stepmother in the store 14 days before she was reported missing.
Linda Austin says she noticed the little girl had a prosthetic leg and heard her stepmother call her by her name. "And I thought that was a strange name, which it is it's different, pretty but different," Austin said.
"She was standing in the aisle way and as I walked past, I put my hand on her shoulder and said excuse me sweetheart and she looked at me and smiled," Pat Adams added.
That smile, Adams says was the same one she found staring back at her from photos she found online.

Employees called police and a statement was taken. The store has surveillance video but it was not turned on at the time.
Before this information, police had not found anyone who'd seen Zahra in the last month.
Investigators looking into the case of a missing Hickory girl who is presumed to be dead returned to the 10-year-old's home Friday morning and removed some items from the house.
Police were at the Hickory home for about two hours Friday morning and they brought a cadaver dog to the house.

The dog was led into the house, but officials have not said if the dog detected anything unusual inside the home.

Police also brought Zahra Claire Baker's father, Adam, to the home.
Officers removed mattresses, box springs and bed rails from the house. Those items will be taken to the state lab in Raleigh to be analyzed for blood or any other forms of DNA. Baker left the house around 12:30 p.m.
Police also searched another home Friday afternoon in which the Bakers previously lived in near Hudson, NC.
Managers of the Congress Street apartment complex believe Zahra was kept in the attic.
They say the Bakers lived there between July and November of last year.

Shirley and Darrell Mims said they went to investigate a smell in the home and when they went upstairs they found the closet door missing and footprints on the closet walls.
On closer inspection, Darrell Mims found sheet rock in the attic torn door, "like someone was laying on it," he said. The Mims also say they never saw Zahra except once when the family was moving in.

"We use to hear noise in the middle of the night. I don't know if it was the little girl staying up here or what but we've heard no more noises since they've been gone," Darrell Mims said.
A K-9 searched the area around the home but it's unclear if anything was found here.

Thursday evening, the search of 60 acres of land in the Hartland Road Community of Burke County ended with no trace of the girl who was reported missing last Saturday.
The girl's father works for a landscaping company that uses a portion of the land to store equipment and dispose of brush.
[...]http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=13297637

Zahra Claire Baker Where is She?
YouTube - Zahra Claire Baker Where is She?

Chaindrive

October 16th, 2010, 11:57 AM

TwiztidAngel

October 16th, 2010, 12:17 PM

totallytoddler

October 16th, 2010, 12:19 PM

This is what bothers me...the dad said he hadn't seen Zahra since Thursday because of his work schedule. He worked for a tree service and last I checked, they don't work at night. So why didn't he see her?

I don't work at all and sometimes I don't see my son for a couple days. My son is much older and is super busy with work, school, band, etc......so that makes sense....I'm gonna have to say that if he was 10...I would at least check on the kid....sheesh....I guess some parents are just not that interested.

Didn't they say that was his former job? Or am I just making shit up? I notice HLN sometimes reports bullshit...depending on the reporter...they just misspeak...like ALOT. So who knows.

Chaindrive

October 16th, 2010, 12:30 PM

I've seen "works" and "worked". I'm not sure if he still works there or not.

Whisper

October 16th, 2010, 02:31 PM

Police Widen SearchOf Missing N.C. Girl

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Police investigators are working several leads in the case of missing North Carolina girl, 10-year-old Zahra Clare Baker, specifically addressing her life before she disappeared.

Investigators will be interviewing her former teachers at schools in Caldwell Co., NC. The family also lived at several different addresses recently, and investigators will be interviewing those neighbors who may have known the family and Zahra.
[..]
Investigators are having trouble finding anyone outside Zahra Clare Baker’s household in Hickory who has seen the girl alive in recent months, making it difficult to narrow down places to search.

Police say the girl, who used hearing aids and a prosthetic leg because of bone cancer, has been killed. She was reported missing over the weekend by her father and stepmother, but police do not believe their story about the last time they saw her in her bed.

Deputy Chief Clyde Deal would not elaborate about why authorities think the girl was alive when the family moved from the nearby town of Sawmills.

Zahra’s stepmother, Elisa Baker, is jailed, accused of trying to throw off investigators with a fake ransom note. She also faces charged unrelated to the case.http://toppoli.com/2010/10/16/police-widen-searchof-missing-n-c-girl/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Whisper

October 16th, 2010, 04:14 PM

Authorities narrow timeline of when North Carolina girl was last seen

(CNN) -- Investigators have narrowed down the date of the last time someone other than a family member saw a missing 10-year-old North Carolina girl to September 25, police said Saturday.

[...]
the rest is at the link instead of repeating alot whats already postedhttp://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/10/16/north.carolina.missing.girl/index.html

Silvahalo

October 16th, 2010, 05:48 PM

Now I probably missed this, but why didn't the bio-mom have custody of Zahra?

Her claims make me want to LOL and slap her! officer shot in the line of duty, bounty hunter.. Talk about an attention whore.
And as I read on the attic...uugh, I hate attics.

Next-door neighbors wonder if Zahra kept in attic
Apartment manager saw her once, never again while living next to the Bakers.
Cruel, despicable fucks. I hope this poor child is found soon...please. I hate open, missing/murder cases.
These two should never see the light of day again....fry in hell's light. Is that Goth enough for stupid bitch.

Rockin Ma

October 17th, 2010, 11:51 AM

A statement released by the Hickory, N.C., Police Department only said that Zahra, who was reported missing on Oct. 9, was seen in public on Sept. 25, but a furniture store manager told reporters that the girl was there with her stepmother.

The Hickory Record newspaper reported that police there have gotten more than 100 leads from the public and are relying on those tips as well as systematic searches of properties frequented by those who were close to the little girl.

Dogs have been deployed not only in Catawba County, where Hickory is located, but also in nearby Caldwell and Burke counties, the Record reported.

Police have also combed through woods, fields and poured through the family's computers and phone records.

Dogs have found the "presence of human remains" in both of the Bakers' cars, police have said, and "possible blood" was found in one.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/authorities-expand-search-zahra-baker-missing-north-carolina/story?id=11901744&page=3

Chaindrive

October 17th, 2010, 11:55 AM

I wonder where the father is living now?

totallytoddler

October 17th, 2010, 12:08 PM

I hate this family. I cannot STAND those girls coming on TV,,I cant remember who they are...relatives of some kind...saying how the SM beat Zahra EVERY day for really no reason at all...it infuriates me to no end. So why didn't you stop it?? Even if they reported it...big fucking deal...obviously they allowed her to live in the home......and when she went for sleepovers and screamed and cried and didnt want to come home....HELLLOOOOOO!!!!!! Warning Warning....pay fucking attention to kids!!!!!!!!

Shit I dont care who that SM bitch is I would have kicked her ass sideways if I saw that abuse....you bet your ass I would have not only said something...but had her ass arrested. Don't call DCFS...call the police....have these abusers arrested!!!!!

UGH!!!!!!!!!

Whisper

October 17th, 2010, 04:56 PM

Case of missing Zahra Baker highlights DSS issues
Search for Hickory girl renews questions about child protection system.

Friends and family worried that 10-year-old Zahra Baker was in danger.
They saw bruises and a black eye. They questioned her parents. And they reported suspected abuse to the Department of Social Services.
Now, police believe the missing Hickory girl whose story has captured worldwide attention is dead. They are investigating her disappearance as a homicide and last week jailed her stepmother, who they say admitted writing a phony ransom note.
As the search for the girl entered its second week Saturday, people are left asking: Why didn't someone protect Zahra?
And the case raises fresh questions about North Carolina's long-troubled child protection system.
DSS officials in Caldwell and Catawba counties, where the Bakers most recently lived, say state law prohibits them from talking about any involvement they might have had with Zahra or her family. It's not clear how any abuse allegations might have been handled.
But the state's own reviews show it's not uncommon for children to die in North Carolina under suspicious circumstances while their families are under DSS supervision or had recent contact with social workers.

At least 137 children died during a recent five-year period in cases where abuse or neglect were suspected to have contributed - even though DSS had contact with their families within 12 months before they died, the Observer found. That's up from 119 deaths during the prior five years. And it comes at a time when child deaths overall in the state are at a record low.
Most of the 137 died from illnesses or accidents, but at least 26 became victims of homicide, usually committed by relatives or caregivers.
More than a decade ago, state officials began to pass reforms that were supposed to prevent such cases. They hired more social workers, lowered recommended caseloads and adopted a less confrontational approach with most families, which is designed to build cooperation.
The head of the N.C. Division of Social Services, Sherry Bradsher, said the changes have vastly improved the child protection system.
Instances of abuse recurring within six months in families under supervision has eclined from about 7 percent in 2004 to about 5 percent in 2009.

"We have implemented so many reforms that are working," Bradsher said. "Workers feel better. Feedback from parents is better than it's ever been."
But state reports and interviews show long-standing problems persist.
Expert reviews of the child deaths found mistakes had been made by social workers and were often linked to inexperience and heavy caseloads. In more than half of the 137 deaths, social workers weren't thorough in evaluating a family or didn't follow state guidelines, the Observer found. In one child death in Rowan County, a state report shows, the case was given to a social work intern.
And case workers often have difficulty getting child protective service records for families who have lived outside their county. In cases such as Zahra's, whose family moved between counties, social workers may have limited information to assess a child's safety.

Tom Vitaglione said Zahra's disappearance should sound alarms about child protection in the state. He co-chairs the N.C. Child Fatality Taskforce, which recommends child safety improvements to the General Assembly.
"I am not comfortable with where things are," Vitaglione said. "I don't think DSS is comfortable either."

Troubling signs
Zahra's wide smile and story of overcoming adversity have drawn attention to her disappearance, reported Oct. 9. Family and acquaintances describe her as a polite child, courageous while coping with bone cancer, and memorable for her Australian accent.
At age 5, she lost her left leg below the knee to bone cancer, a condition that also left her hearing-impaired.
She moved to the United States last year with her father, Adam Baker, after he started an online romance with his wife-to-be, Elisa Baker of North Carolina.
Trouble soon began.
At a vigil for Zahra last week, family friend Lindsay Parker told the crowd that family members had reported suspected abuse of Zahra to the Department of Social Services on three occasions.
"They tried," Parker said of the family members. "They really tried."
Libby Brown, a spokeswoman for the Caldwell County Schools, told the Observer that staff had visited the girl's home and sought help for Zahra from an "outside partner" because staff was concerned. But she wouldn't elaborate, citing confidentiality laws.
Zahra attended the district's Granite Falls Elementary and Hudson Elementary, where she completed fourth grade in the spring.
Bobby Green said he lived next door to the Bakers for about a year in the Caldwell County town of Hudson, about 70 miles northwest of Charlotte.
Green, 27, who has two 8-year-old daughters, said Zahra often came over to play. He and his fiancée, Kayla Rotenberry, 23, said Elisa Baker would leave Zahra locked alone in the house for hours.I
n the spring, Zahra came over for an Easter egg hunt. The girls searched the yard looking for red, yellow, and white eggs.
Rotenberry and Green said they noticed bruises on Zahra. But when they asked the girl about it she wouldn't say anything. When they asked her parents what happened, Green said: "It was always, Zahra fell down. Zahra fell out of bed. It was always, Zahra had done something."
Elisa Baker's attorney, Scott Reilly, wouldn't discuss specific allegations but said generally some people have "embellished, exaggerated or made up" stories of abuse.
He confirmed that DSS had received and investigated reports of child abuse against his client, but said social workers found the accusations "unsubstantiated."
Hasty investigations
Whenever a child dies in North Carolina and abuse or neglect is suspected to have played a role, the state convenes a review team to figure out what went wrong.
The team of DSS officials, police and other professionals review case files and recommend improvements in a public report that aims to prevent future deaths.
The Observer analyzed reports of the 137 child deaths between 2003 and 2008, which included asphyxiation, illnesses, drowning, shootings, car accidents and physical abuse.
Social workers were most often cited for errors, but so were law enforcement and others. Here are some findings from the newspaper's study:
In 71 deaths, reviewers said social workers were not thorough in their investigation of abuse or neglect allegations, or in resolving them. Sometimes they looked too narrowly at a single problem instead of all issues surrounding the child's welfare. In the 2007 death of a Mecklenburg baby, who accidentally suffocated while sleeping with someone on a couch, social workers were criticized for failing to assess risk, properly review prior child protective records and maintain sufficient contact with the family.
In at least 51 deaths - more than one-third - social workers weren't told about additional incidents of suspected abuse in those families. State law requires any resident who suspects child abuse or neglect to report it to DSS. Among those who did not, one report found, were Winston-Salem police, who didn't notify DSS about numerous domestic violence calls to the home where a 5-year-old died of an Oxycodone overdose.

Forty reports said social workers or others had trouble getting previous child welfare records, usually from outside their counties or states. A Richmond County case involving a child who died of physical abuse suggested that county social workers got limited information from the state's central registry of child services cases, but not enough detail and background. And social workers didn't follow up with the family's previous county DSS to learn more.
Twenty-seven reports found DSS was too thinly staffed and that caseworkers carried loads far beyond what the state recommended - which meant they didn't have enough time to spend with each family. In a 2006 Stanly County death, the social worker was new and carrying 25 cases; the state standard was 12.
In Caldwell and Catawba counties, where the Bakers lived, some social workers were carrying twice as many cases in recent years as the state recommended. The problem was highlighted in reviews of child deaths that occurred in those counties in 2006 and 2007. Current caseloads weren't available last week as DSS officials declined requests for interviews.
'In the Stone Age'
DSS leaders say reform efforts during the last decade have made kids safer.
They've bolstered training for social workers and adopted a holistic approach that aims to get more cooperation from families under scrutiny for abuse or neglect.
When children are not in imminent danger, the family-friendly initiative pushes social workers to offer services to help parents overcome problems such as substance abuse, unemployment and a lack of parenting skills.
Bradsher, the state DSS director, said the approach has helped protect children and kept families intact.
But child advocates counter that social workers continue to struggle with high caseloads and low budgets.
They note that North Carolina spends about $43 per capita on child protection, less than all but eight states, according a 2009 study by Every Child Matters, a Washington-based advocacy group.
Brett Loftis, who heads Charlotte's Council for Children's Rights, said children lack a strong constituency in politics.
[...]
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/17/1767517/missing-girls-case-highlights.html

thehesbomb

October 17th, 2010, 09:37 PM

Tom Vitaglione said Zahra's disappearance should sound alarms about child protection in the state. He co-chairs the N.C. Child Fatality Taskforce, which recommends child safety improvements to the General Assembly.

"I am not comfortable with where things are," Vitaglione said. "I don't think DSS is comfortable either."

Well la-di-fucking-da for Mr. Vitaglione and DSS! I know who is LEAST comfortable with "where things are"...Zahra Baker, you numb fucks!

Silvahalo

October 18th, 2010, 12:02 AM

Didn't see this posted here, apologize if its already posted..

Zahra Baker Exclusive: Photo Shows Girl's Black Eye, Friend Says (http://abcnews.go.com/US/zahra-baker-case-cops-search-wood-chipper-mulch/story?id=11868397&page=3)

http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s341/silvahalo68/Fallen%20angels/Lost%20Children/4b190aaf.jpg

Relatives, Neighbors Claim Abuse

Brittany Bentley, a relative of Zahra's, said Tuesday the girl "was beat almost every time I was over there for just the smallest things" by her stepmother.

"Elisa would get mad, she would take it out on Zahra, things the kid didn't deserve," Bentley said on CBS' "Early Show." "She just had a horrible home life."

Bentley, who is married to Elisa Baker's nephew, said Zahra was locked in her room most of the day and only allowed out for five minutes to eat.

[...]
"I just think this was something for a long time that we knew was going to happen, everybody that was close to the family," Bentley said, apparently referring to Zahra's disappearance.

Former neighbors in nearby Sawmills, N.C., also described Elisa Baker to ABC News as a stern and cold parent to Zahra.

"Just the way she yelled and screamed at her, and I did see her hit the child a couple of times," one former neighbor, Renee Bobbitt, told ABC News. Bobbitt also claimed Zahra was once sent to school with black eyes.

"I should have called and said something then," Bobbitt added. "I wish I had've a million times, because no child deserves anything like this. And it's really got the whole neighborhood upset because we all loved the child.

"We all loved the child".
NO. No one cared for Zhara enough to do something, anything.
They might have liked her but no way they loved her.
The school failed too, everyone and their POS claims that they cared and loved her
can just shut the fuck up. This infuriates me so much I can hardly type.
Zahra was failed, failed, failed completely.

That pictures just breaks my heart.

Whisper

October 18th, 2010, 01:12 PM

Zahra Claire Baker News Report 101810.wmv
YouTube - Zahra Claire Baker News Report 101810.wmv

Whisper

October 18th, 2010, 09:42 PM

Police investigating "fund" for Zahra Baker

HICKORY, N.C. – Police thank the public for their help in the search for 10-year-old Zahra Baker, but caution people about a group that claims to support search efforts.

Hickory police released a statement Monday afternoon, expressing appreciation for the people and organizations who have volunteered their services in the search for Zahra. Local restaurants have donated food for investigators, so that they don’t have to stop to eat, and instead can continue working on the case. Canine teams from across North Carolina, as well as a team from outside of the state, have helped in the search.

However, police say that they’ve heard of an organization soliciting funds for Zahra Baker and that they have not had any contact with the group. According to their website, the group’s goal is to “support the efforts of law enforcement to investigate and prosecute the case surrounding the abduction/homicide of Zahra Claire Baker.”

Police say they are working with “Team Adam” from the National center for Missing and Exploited Children. Team Adam is comprised of retired law-enforcement professionals with years of investigative experience on a variety of levels. Two Team Adam consultants are currently in Hickory, assisting with the case.
[...]http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Hickory-police-105198269.htmlhttp://i52.tinypic.com/za6me.jpg

Whisper

October 18th, 2010, 09:51 PM

Attorney denies abuse claims against missing girl's stepmother

CNN) -- The stepmother of a 10-year-old North Carolina girl reported missing more than a week ago never abused the girl despite allegations from relatives and friends of the family, the woman's attorney said Monday.
Attorney Scott Reilly said that "whatever investigation was done there was never anything substantiated regarding child abuse by Elisa Baker."

"The lady saying they were keeping Zahra in the attic, and they thought it was squirrels, that lady has squirrels in her head," Reilly said. "She had no business saying things that were untrue. Someone else says she was kept in a locked room and only allowed to come out five minutes a day to eat. Those people [reporting that information] should have their media credentials revoked."
Earlier, a relative said that the alleged abuse was reported to the state Department of Social Services but the relative did not know the outcome. The state office said such a report would have been handled by a county office but that the agency is barred from commenting because of strict confidentiality laws.
Burke County Sheriff John McDevitt has said she is believed to be dead. Her disappearance is being investigated as a homicide.

Deputy Sheriff Clyde Deal said the allegations of abuse would eventually be investigated.
Those are things that would have to be looked into down the road," he said. "This family didn't move in our jurisdiction until mid-July, so many of the allegations happened in other jurisdictions."
[...]
Deal said authorities have been in contact with Zahra's mother, who lives in Australia, where the girl was born.
"We're speaking to her on a regular basis," Deal said. "She's very concerned, and she's very appreciative of everything being done to solve this case."
The deputy said authorities are not clear on the circumstances of the split between the mother and father.
[...]
Elisa Baker remains jailed on charges. Her bail has been set at a combined $70,000, an amount her lawyer called excessive. Police said the girl's father, Adam Baker, also faces bad-check charges, but is not being arrested while he assists police.
Reilly said he filed a motion to reduce Elisa Baker's bond, and a hearing has been set for Wednesday.
Authorities have spent days combing an area about 20 miles north of Zahra's home in Hickory, North Carolina. Last week, as many as 70 searchers were backed by dogs and a backhoe that was used to clear piles of wood and mulch, McDevitt said.

Zahra reportedly suffered from bone cancer and used a prosthetic leg and hearing aids. The hearing aids have been found, but not the prosthesis, Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins has said.

[...]http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/10/18/north.carolina.missing.girl/index.html

Rockin Ma

October 19th, 2010, 07:05 PM

Hickory Police late Tuesday released the emergency call Zahra Baker's father made 10 days ago to report his 10-year-old daughter missing.

Adam Baker sounded calm and was polite when he called 911 about 2 p.m. on Oct. 9. In a nearly five-minute phone call, Baker recounted that police and firefighters had been to his house about 5 a.m. that morning because of a fire in the backyard.

Baker told the operator about the ransom note police had found suggesting that kidnappers had taken his boss's daughter and demanding $1 million. Police learned the girl was fine. But Baker told the dispatcher he thought the kidnappers had taken his daughter instead.

Operator: How long has she been missing?

Baker: We checked in (her bedroom) last night about 2:30 and she was there. And all this happened last night about 5 o'clock.. So I don't know if they set a fire in the yard to distract us to go out and they snuck in the door. I don't know.

Operator: I'm not familiar with what happened last night. What happened last night?

Baker: Last night my dog woke me up and I had a fire in the backyard. And somebody had poured gas in my company vehicle that I drive for work. They left a ransom note on the company vehicle to my boss saying they had his daughter and his son was next. And his daughter is fine... It appears they may have taken my daughter instead of his daughter.

Operator: Do you know who this was? Who may have taken her?

Baker: I don't know who it was?

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/19/1773427/police-release-911-tape-reporting.html#ixzz12qgyR0tl

Rockin Ma

October 19th, 2010, 07:09 PM

Baker: We checked in (her bedroom) last night about 2:30 and she was there. And all this happened last night about 5 o'clock.. So I don't know if they set a fire in the yard to distract us to go out and they snuck in the door. I don't know.

Operator: I'm not familiar with what happened last night. What happened last night?

Baker: Last night my dog woke me up and I had a fire in the backyard. And somebody had poured gas in my company vehicle that I drive for work. They left a ransom note on the company vehicle to my boss saying they had his daughter and his son was next. And his daughter is fine... It appears they may have taken my daughter instead of his daughter.

Sooooooo, did the police know of the ransom note BEFORE this call?
or
Did he find this note the night before, checked with his boss, his daughter was fine and never thought to check on his own?:questionmark::questionmark::questionmark:

Rockin Ma

October 19th, 2010, 07:12 PM

Missing girl's medical records sought – North Carolina authorities have been in contact with Zahra Baker's biological mother in Australia and have asked for the medical records of the missing 10-year-old girl. Officials did not specify what kind of medical records they were seeking. Dental records are sometimes used to identify a body.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/

Rockin Ma

October 19th, 2010, 07:16 PM

Hickory Police released the emergency 911 call reporting 10-year-old Zahra Baker missing. Here's a transcript of the five-minute call Zahra's father, Adam Baker, made on Oct. 9 at 1:58 p.m.

Operator: Hickory police, where is your emergency?

Adam Baker: Yeah, my daughter is missing.

Operator: I'm sorry? Your daughter is missing?

Adam Baker: Yeah, my daughter is missing.

Operator: What is your address?

Adam Baker: - - 21st Avenue NW. The police were out here last night over a fire and ransom note for my boss's daughter. I got up a little while ago and it appears they took my daughter instead of my boss's daughter.

Operator: Okay, how old is your daughter?

Adam Baker: She's 10. She's handicapped. She has a prosthetic leg.

Operator: How long has she been missing?

Adam Baker: We checked in there (her bedroom) last night about 2:30 (a.m. Saturday, Oct. 9) and she was there. And all this happened last night about 5 o'clock.

Adam Baker: I don't know if they set a fire in the yard to distract us to go out and they snuck in the door. I don't know.

Operator: I'm not familiar with what happened last night. What happened last night?

Adam Baker: Last night my dog woke me up and I had a fire in the backyard. And somebody had poured gas in my company vehicle that I drive for work.

Adam Baker: They left a ransom note on the company vehicle to my boss saying they had his daughter and his son was next. And his daughter is fine. His daughter came with him. He, last night, was called.

Adam Baker: It appears they may have taken my daughter instead of his daughter.

Operator: Okay, do you know who this was? Who may have taken her?

Adam Baker: I don't know who it was.

Operator: Do you have any idea why they were threatening to take his daughter?

Adam Baker: I don't know.

Operator: What's your name?

Adam Baker: My name is Adam Baker.

Operator: And your phone?

Adam Baker: xxx-xxxx.

Operator: So no one has seen your daughter since 2:30 this morning?

Adam Baker: No, like I said, we had all that drama last night. And me and my wife went back to bed. And my daughter is, I think, coming into puberty. So she's hitting that brooding stage (chuckles). So we only see her when she wants something. That's about it.

Operator: And did you say she was handicapped?

Adam Baker: Yes, ma'am. She has an above-the-knee amputation.

Operator: She has one leg that is partially amputated?

Adam Baker: Yeah. She has a prosthetic leg that apparently they've taken with her.

Operator: Okay, and you don't have any idea at all?

Adam Baker: No, like I said, it was all addressed to him. And apparently it was all taken out on him. I guess they thought he lives in this house.

Operator: Did you talk to your boss about it?

Adam Baker: I just spoke to him, and he told me that he was going to be here shortly.

Operator: Do you think that he knows?

Adam Baker: We had an officer here last night. And he ran through who he thought it might be, like an ex-employee.

Operator: - -21st Avenue NW? (Clarifying address)

Operator: Okay, hold on just a second.

Adam Baker: Thank you.

Operator: Yeah, I see it now.

Adam Baker: There was an Officer Rollins.

Operator: Okay, we're getting the police on the way out there.

Operator: If you find out anything at all in the meantime, before we get the officer out there, call me back. That would help us toward finding your daughter.

Adam Baker: Thank you ma'am.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/19/1773525/zahra-bakers-father-reports-her.html#ixzz12qjG0B2A

cubby

October 19th, 2010, 08:49 PM

He's a great, big, fat, lying sack of shit and the cops know it. they're just giving him enough rope to hang himself high.

Chaindrive

October 19th, 2010, 10:18 PM

I dunno know about the furniture store employees...no proof (surveillance cameras).

Whisper

October 20th, 2010, 12:12 AM

I havent seen it posted yet but will post when I do
On Nightline a few minutes ago they said that Stepmonster busted her hand awhile ago while beating her when she missed and hit the fake leg instead breaking her hand!!
People knew this and didnt do anything

Whisper

October 20th, 2010, 12:52 PM

Authorities searching landfill in case of missing N.C. girl

Hickory, North Carolina (CNN) -- Police were searching a North Carolina landfill Wednesday for "a piece of evidence" in the case of a missing 10-year-old girl, authorities said in a statement.

A team from Hickory police and agents from the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation and the FBI were participating in the search at the Foothills Environmental Landfill in Lenoir, North Carolina, Hickory police said in a statement. A news conference was scheduled for later Wednesday.
[...]

Elisa Baker remains jailed on those charges. A hearing was held Wednesday on a motion by her attorney, Scott Reilly, to reduce the bond on the obstruction of justice charge, which he said was excessive. But rather than decrease the bond, District Court Judge Robert Mullinax Jr. increased it, from $40,000 to $65,000 -- less than the $100,000 requested by prosecutors. Mullinax cited the "disturbing and unsettling allegations around the charge."
[...]
The disappearance of Zahra -- a freckle-faced youngster who wears a prosthetic leg and hearing aids -- has made international news. The girl lost her leg to bone cancer, according to CNN affiliate WCNC. Police have said her prosthetic leg is also missing, but her hearing aids are not.
Police on Monday said they had been in contact with Zahra's biological mother in Australia and had asked for the girl's medical records.
Clyde Deal, deputy Hickory police chief, told HLN on Tuesday that authorities are particularly interested in records pertaining to Zahra's prosthetic leg, such as its model, composite material and serial number.

Asked about dental records -- which can be used to identify remains -- Deal said, "I would rather have too much information than not enough. When you're talking about two different countries, it takes longer to do things."
[...]
Elisa Baker appeared at the hearing via closed-circuit television, wearing pink jail scrubs over a white long-sleeved shirt. Her daughter, Amber Fairchild, testified that her mother has never been employed that she can recall and has never had a stable residence. After Zahra was reported missing, Fairchild testified, Elisa Baker told her she wished she could leave the state.
Fairchild said if her mother were released, she would fear for her safety and that of her family. "I would have to leave the state," she said.
Fairchild also said her mother has been in touch with a man in London, England, and picked up money from him just before her arrest. She estimated the man has given her mother $10,000 over the last year.
Police said the girl's father, Adam Baker, also faces bad-check charges, but has not been arrested. He is assisting police in their search.
Deal on Tuesday would not comment on whether Elisa Baker and Adam Baker were given polygraph tests.
[...]
Asked about the abuse allegations, Deal said Tuesday, "Obviously, we're going to look into everything."

On whether Zahra slept with her leg on at night, he said, "I think I have the answer to that, but I don't want to speculate."
He said Monday that Zahra's biological mother is "very concerned, and she's very appreciative of everything being done to solve this case." Authorities are not clear on the circumstances of the split between the girl's parents, he said.
Deal said Tuesday authorities are still looking into whether Adam Baker knew his wife had written the ransom note.http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/10/20/north.carolina.missing.girl/index.html?section=cnn_latest

Whisper

October 20th, 2010, 12:55 PM

Zahra Claire Baker: News Report 10/20/10
YouTube - Zahra Claire Baker: News Report 10/20/10 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ5nM6z5J-4)

Chaindrive

October 20th, 2010, 01:14 PM

You beat me to it, whisp.

I wonder who the man in London is.

Whisper

October 20th, 2010, 01:24 PM

I have no clue but Id love to know where they meet these men that offer to send them thoudsands of dollars

Chaindrive

October 20th, 2010, 04:35 PM

She's probably lying about that too.

Whisper

October 20th, 2010, 08:31 PM

Looks like maybe her own daughters words about the man sending her money may have raised her bond lol

Bond raised for NC stepmom of missing 10-year-old disabled girl

NEWTON, N.C. — Dozens of investigators searched a North Carolina landfill Wednesday for evidence in the disappearance of a disabled 10-year-old girl, but said they didn't expect to find the girl's body there.
As Hickory police and FBI agents checked mounds of trash in Caldwell County, a judge at a nearby courthouse increased bond for the girl's stepmother, Elisa Baker, from $45,000 to $65,000 after prosecutors convinced him she was a flight risk.
Catawba County District Judge Robert Mullinax Jr. said there were "disturbing and unsettling allegations" in the case as he dismissed a request by Baker's lawyers to reduce her bond on a charge of obstructing justice to $10,000.
[...]
At a news conference, Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said investigators were searching the landfill for a piece of evidence that's critical to establishing a timeline for Zahra's disappearance. Adkins said they didn't expect to find her body in the mounds of trash but wouldn't elaborate on what they were looking for.
Investigators said the day before they were seeking a serial number and other details about the artificial leg the girl used since surviving bone cancer.
The girl was last seen in public Sept. 25, but investigators want to know if anyone else outside the family had seen her more recently to fill in gaps in the case's timeline, Adkins said. While investigators believe Zahra is dead, they haven't ruled out the possibility she'll be found alive.
"We're continuing to have hope, but we're still calling it a homicide investigation," Adkins said.
Baker appeared at her bond hearing Wednesday by video camera, while three of her children were in the courtroom.
One adult daughter, Amber Fairchild, testified that they frequently moved when she was growing up and she was afraid of her mother.
Fairchild also said her mother her mother has been talking to a man from England on the Internet over the last year, and he sent her $10,000. Zahra's father, Adam Baker, met Elisa Baker online and moved from Australia to live with her several years ago.
Fairchild said Baker told her she wanted to leave North Carolina the day before she was arrested.
Prosecutor Eric Bellas said Baker has routinely missed court appearances over the last 20 years on previous charges ranging from traffic offenses to communicating threats.
[...]
However, her defense attorney, Scott Reilly, argued that Baker's bond was already excessive before the judge raised it. Reilly said legal guidelines call for a bond of $10,000 in obstruction cases, and he blamed media attention for causing the judge to exceed that.http://www.goupstate.com/article/20101020/articles/101029975

cubby

October 20th, 2010, 08:44 PM

That's really telling when your own children are scared of you and are instrumental in getting your bond raised.

Jerri Blank

October 21st, 2010, 12:02 AM

That's really telling when your own children are scared of you and are instrumental in getting your bond raised.

Fairchild said if her mother were released, she would fear for her safety and that of her family. "I would have to leave the state," she said. yeah, so scared she would have to leave the state!!

Wow I have lived around some crazy people that scared me to the point I wouldn't walk to my car at night but I still didn't feel the need to pack my bags and flee the state. that step mom must be one real crazy bitch!

I really hope all this info about her wanting to leave and receiving money from some man over seas is all news to her hubby. nothing like revenge to make his lips loose.

----

They played the 911 tapes on Nancey Grace tonight (what I caught) and gee-wiz, was it blah-zay!! theres no way Dad doesn't know what happened. sickening!

badfish76

October 21st, 2010, 12:24 AM

her mother has been in touch with a man in London, England, and picked up money from him just before her arrest. She estimated the man has given her mother $10,000 over the last year.

I have a nasty suspicion that there could have been child exploitation materials involved for the money exchange.

I have a Child Exploitation and Pornography investigation class this semester and this is also not an unheard of scenario.

It is also interesting to note that when that Landslide porn site was busted (biggest child porn bust ever) the 2nd biggest purchaser of these materials were from the UK. I believe US was #1. (Reading an extra book for that class which talks about this bust)

Whisper

October 21st, 2010, 12:36 AM

if shes got men sending her 10,000 for all we know she couldve sold her to someone
They havent found ANYTHING
And with all her lies and bullshit I dont find her smart enough to carry this out and cover it all up

Aena

October 21st, 2010, 01:29 AM

I have no clue but Id love to know where they meet these men that offer to send them thoudsands of dollars

I know one!

Aena

October 21st, 2010, 01:36 AM

I have a nasty suspicion that there could have been child exploitation materials involved for the money exchange.

I have a Child Exploitation and Pornography investigation class this semester and this is also not an unheard of scenario.

It is also interesting to note that when that Landslide porn site was busted (biggest child porn bust ever) the 2nd biggest purchaser of these materials were from the UK. I believe US was #1. (Reading an extra book for that class which talks about this bust)

Never thought about that angle, that is just bringing all kind of scenarios into my head. Scenarios I wish I could never imagine, but sadly happen too frequently to innocent kids.

I can't see how anyone can think dad is not involved in this whole thing.

Rockin Ma

October 21st, 2010, 06:25 PM

In a Catawba County courtroom Wednesday, Amber Fairchild, 25, described her mother, Elisa Baker, as a potentially violent and unstable woman who has severed ties with her N.C. family and begun an online relationship with a man in London.

Fairchild didn't specify why she was afraid, but a Catawba County prosecutor noted that Elisa Baker has had several allegations of communicating threats filed against her this year.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/10/21/102395/dont-free-my-mother-says-zahra.html

cubby

October 21st, 2010, 08:32 PM

OMG,. I never thought of pedos. I just can't write what I wanted to say it's just too sickening to think about!

Rockin Ma

October 21st, 2010, 08:36 PM

I'm gonna repost what I put on a discussion board:

When all this happened, wouldn't the police put the scenario in their head that this person walked onto a property, poured gas and lit a fire and left a kidnapping note, thinking it was the boss's house? I can't see that not happening. I have to believe they did at that time and no one mentioned or asked if there was a child in that house. I want to know if her bedroom was intact after they reported her missing. Was her bed and toys there? If so, did the cops see that when they responded to the fire and the ransom note? It's driving me crazy! Until I read the 911 call, I thought the police found the note after she was reported missing and that the fire was a brush fire, that didn't warrant the police asking any important questions. Like an accidental brush fire that they put out and went away.

carolinablue

October 22nd, 2010, 06:47 AM

I just saw a CNN video of the landfill search; they found and hauled off 2 mattresses. Took them to a tent set up nearby and supposedly cut the cover off of one and took it away. I hope we're one step closer to finding Zahra's remains and one step closer to arresting that stepmonster for murder. And maybe her father too, he had to know what was going on. Hell, arrest everyone who knew of the abuse and sat on their asses and let it happen.

Dakota Valkyrie

October 23rd, 2010, 06:33 AM

Posted: Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010
Investigators stopped searching a Lenoir landfill Friday, saying they failed to find a mattress - and possible DNA evidence - that could help explain the disappearance of Zahra Baker.

Police said the 10-year-old Hickory girl's parents disposed of her mattress just days before reporting her missing Oct. 9.

Authorities had searched the Foothills Environmental Landfill since Wednesday, when they said they were looking for evidence critical to establishing an accurate timeline of Zahra's disappearance. They revealed for the first time Friday they were seeking the mattress to corroborate information from witnesses and possibly obtain DNA evidence, which they did not describe.

Also Friday, Crime Stoppers from four counties announced they are offering a $4,000 reward for information in the case.
[...]
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/23/1781026/landfill-search-produces-no-clues.html

carolinablue

October 23rd, 2010, 08:26 AM

Aw shit! I was so hoping they had found crucial evidence that would make the stepmonster break. Shit. And it was on Nancy Grace too, I got my hopes up for nada.

Chaindrive

October 23rd, 2010, 11:21 AM

Okay, I'm confused. carolina said she saw a video of them hauling off mattresses and now DV posted that they failed to find a mattress.

Rockin Ma

October 23rd, 2010, 11:28 AM

I think they failed to find THE mattress. There's probably lots of mattresses in the landfill.

But if they were at a furniture store two weeks before were they there to buy new mattresses?

When the new mattresses were delivered, did they take the old away? I didn't hear anything about them searching an area of the landfill that they specifically cornered from the house garbage pickup route.

carolinablue

October 23rd, 2010, 12:54 PM

yeah, that's what happened. I should have posted the link, but it was to the CNN website and I didn't think it was permitted. If you want to check it out, just go to the "justice" site on the CNN.com news blog or whatever it is. They hauled off 2 mattresses and removed the cover from one, but it must not have been the one they hoped to find. Shit.

Silvahalo

October 23rd, 2010, 11:03 PM

The missing mattress, which belonged to Zahra, was thrown out by her parents in early October, days before she was reported missing, police say.So IF there is a pedo connection, why get rid of the mattress? I'm thinking if she was sold, (I'm not convinced, this bitch has a disturbing, violent streak in her, likely she killed Zhara), there might have been evidence of abuse on the mattress thinking they'd better get rid of it.

The pedo thing is very possible based on the London connection but that doesn't make me feel better. Alive but what horror's is she living with? I just want the truth and the bitch and her pet to pay dearly for it.

Rockin Ma

October 24th, 2010, 09:23 AM

Zahra Baker’s stepmother has been in the Catawba County jail since Oct. 10, and she’s had frequent visits from three people: her attorney Scott Reilly, attorney Lisa Dubs and private investigator Steve Elhers.

Lisa Dubs confirmed Friday that she has been assigned to Baker’s case as provisional counsel. According to court records, Dubs’ role is to “Conduct a preliminary investigation, determine if the defendant is indigent and needs appointed counsel, and protect the defendant’s rights pending appointment of trial counsel.”

North Carolina’s Indigent Defense Services Director and Capital Defender Robert M. Hurley assigned Dubs to Baker’s case Monday.

Dubs is well-known for defending high-profile murder suspects, and her website describes her specialties as “capital murder cases and serious felonies.”

Dubs is one of about 10 Catawba County attorneys permitted to defend clients facing the death penalty. Even though Baker has not been charged with Zahra’s murder, the case has gained nationwide attention and Hurley has decided that it is appropriate to appoint Dubs because of the likelihood that Baker will eventually be charged with the crime, Dubs explained.

Reilly was appointed to defend Baker on her assortment of charges unrelated to the Zahra Baker homicide investigation and the obstruction of justice charge that followed Baker’s Oct. 12 confession to police that she’d written a fake ransom note demanding $1 million.

Reilly will continue to represent her on those charges, and if Baker is charged with murder and the state pursues the death penalty, it’s possible he and Dubs will defend Baker jointly.
“Scott and I have tried capital cases together before,” Dubs said. “Scott already knows a lot about the case, and we’re going to do whatever’s best for the client.”

On the affidavit of indigence that accompanied her request for a court-appointed attorney, Baker listed her monthly household income as $600 from her husband Adam Baker’s job at Real Tree Services, and $200 from additional income such as food stamps or child support.

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/23/dubs-defend-elisa-baker-ar-478734/

misssmartypants

October 24th, 2010, 04:36 PM

Like, most everyone else, I dont think they will find her alive. And that just breaks my heart. Didnt the step mom admit to writing the ransome note? What if she sold the girl, and like every piece of shit that does that, had to come up with some kind of story and just embellished it more than the average bear? I think that the detectives should look for a polariod camera, cause digital and computers leave evidence.

Rockin Ma

October 24th, 2010, 09:08 PM

I just don't get not telling after you sold a kid. She's sitting in jail, they've already announced that they believe she's dead. If the kid is alive, give up what you know. It's not like the $10K will be used by her while she's serving years and years in prison on a murder charge, but it may still be there after serving a couple for selling the kid. Better come out with the truth and get the child back to her family (but for the record, I don't think she sold her) than gamble on murder charges.

Rockin Ma

October 24th, 2010, 10:02 PM

This report says they DID find her mattress.

NORTH Carolina authorities searching a landfill for clues in the disappearance of Australian girl Zahra Baker discovered on Friday a mattress they hoped would provide crucial evidence in the case.

The mattress belonged to the missing 10-year-old and was disposed of by Zahra's parents days before they reported her missing on October 9.

Investigators were hoping to use the mattress to corroborate information given by people associated with the case, and to glean possible DNA evidence that could offer more clues, a statement from the Hickory, North Carolina, police department said.

The headline at the link says they found her actual mattress.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/north-carolina-police-find-mattress-of-missing-australian-girl-zahra-baker/story-e6frf7jx-1225943061871

Silvahalo

October 24th, 2010, 11:14 PM

This report says they DID find her mattress.
The headline at the link says they found her actual mattress.

...Investigators were hoping to use the mattress to corroborate information given by people associated with the case, and to glean possible DNA evidence that could offer more clues, a statement from the Hickory, North Carolina, police department said.]
So i guess they didn't find anything suspicious. Well that blows. All that means she wasn't killed there or is alive.
Wtf did these fuckers do to her?

Aslan

October 25th, 2010, 01:55 AM

That woman didn't sell her.
Unfortunately it seems the only person in this story who has a fantastic redemption value is dead.
I don't know how much you folks know about bone cancer. One of my co-workers was a caregiver for her mom who had it. Essentially your bones become so fragile that even turning a doorknob could break your wrist.
It's a very painful and horrid disease. Even though she beat the cancer part, it's hard to believe her bones came back up to par in order to tolerate this woman's beatings.
Hit her so hard her hand swelled because she hit the fake leg?
Damnation

Dogs picking up scents of 'human remains' with the cars and the wood chipper?
Wow man, I need to go listen to some gospel music or something. This is just insane.

RIP sweetheart girl. Fly run and skip through heaven

Morbid

October 25th, 2010, 12:10 PM

Charlotte, NC – Most knew it was coming eventually, but Zahra Baker’s father has been arrested for charges not*related*to his*daughter’s*disappearance. Adam Baker is in jail on $7,000 bond, charged with five counts of worthless checks, two counts of communicating threats, one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of failure to return [...]

More... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheDreaminDemon/~3/diTVfmUoFFE/)

misssmartypants

October 25th, 2010, 12:23 PM

I cannot imagine her pussy was that good to do something like that to a child. I still think he has partial involvement here too. He is defintiley not getting my vote for the pity party mode. Asshole.

Sugar, I think it was magic pussy...My ex had a real ugly new gf and I told him she either had a magic pussy or sucked a mean dick. He almost ran me over. He later married her. So, I must have been right.:lollypop:

rebel450

October 25th, 2010, 12:31 PM

Zahra Baker's father arrested on unrelated charges

by NewsChannel 36 Staff

WCNC.com

Posted on October 25, 2010 at 10:29 AM

Updated today at 10:50 AM
Related:

* Archive: Zahra Baker coverage

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Hickory police have arrested the father of a missing 10-year-old girl on charges unrelated to her disappearance.

Adam Baker was arrested Monday morning on five counts of writing worthless checks, two counts of communicating threats, assault with a deadly weapon and failure to return rental property.

Baker was being held on $7,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 18.

Baker's daughter, Zahra, was reported missing on Oct. 9 and is presumed dead. Baker's wife, Elisa, is being held in jail on charges of obstruction of justice. Police say Elisa Baker wrote a fake ransom note and has not cooperated with investigators.

Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said at the beginning of the investigation that Adam Baker had outstanding warrants for worthless checks.

Adkins said officers would execute those warrants when the time was appropriate. Baker wasn't arrested earlier because he was cooperating with investigators in the search for Zahra.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/zahra-baker

misssmartypants

October 25th, 2010, 01:11 PM

So, dad will be in the pokey, while they figure this out. He obviously didnt have anything to lead them in the right direction, or was just fucking around w/ detectives. Seems his life took a big dump since he married this bitch... I am surprised the consulate hasnt intervened. Or does someone have info how that works? But you know, that filthy cunt has lied lied lied all her life to everyone. He had to have known this and still married her. That sweet baby didnt even have a chance cause her dickhead dad made the wrong decisions in the face of " somethings really wrong with this lady", over " my little girl deserves the best". Ahhhgggg.

Angelinfl

October 25th, 2010, 01:23 PM

Have you folks seen this.

http://socialexploitation.blogspot.com/2010/10/zahra-baker-fund-is-scam.html
http://socialexploitation.blogspot.com/2010/10/zahra-baker-fund-is-scam.html
http://socialexploitation.blogspot.com/2010/10/please-report-spiritual-counseling.html#more

To give you highlights www.zarahbaker.com is run by a religious group who have 34.00 Universal Life paper diplomas and no familial affiliation and are rattling the change jars claiming non-profit status but there is no 501(3)(c). They were taking credit card numbers directly and now have a Google check out.

This makes me sick. Please stand tall for zarah and stand up against these frauds. Contact local media... etc. Read the articles..... Someone took a lot of time writing them.

rebel450

October 25th, 2010, 05:08 PM

Zahra Baker’s Stepmother Brought To New Search Site

Posted: 10:33 am EDT October 25, 2010Updated: 4:25 pm EDT October 25, 2010
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Zahra Baker’s stepmother, Elisa Baker, was taken out of jail and brought to the newest search site in the investigation into the disappearance of the 10-year-old girl, officers confirmed to Channel 9.

Police said on Monday morning that they are following up on a “promising lead” in the search for Zahra, who was reported missing on Oct. 9.

VIDEO: Police Following ‘Promising Lead’ In Search For Zahra

They began searching the area around Dudley Shoals Road in Caldwell County before daylight on Monday. The area is less than a mile from where Elisa Baker lived three years ago.

Elisa Baker has been in jail over the course of the investigation. She was charged with obstruction of justice on Oct. 12, after admitting to writing a phony ransom note. Last week, a judge raised her bond from $40,000 to $65,000.

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/25501224/detail.html

http://www.wsoctv.com/video/25502773/index.html

Rockin Ma

October 25th, 2010, 05:29 PM

Right now police have closed off roads near Dudley Shoals Road in Granite Falls to search the area.

Zahra Baker’s stepmother, Elisa Baker, used to live near that area.

Elisa Baker was arrested on Oct. 10; the day after Zahra was reported missing, on charges unrelated to the 10-year-old’s disappearance. However, Elisa was later charged with obstruction of justice in connection with the case. Police say she wrote a fake ransom note and has not cooperated with the investigation.

Police haven’t identified exactly what they’re searching for in Granite Falls. Last week crews searched a Caldwell County landfill, looking for mattress that Zahra’s father and stepmother had disposed of in early October. Their search came up empty.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/25/1786411/crews-searching-caldwell-co-in.html#ixzz13PNsgzpg

impqueen

October 25th, 2010, 10:54 PM

Here's my latest theory.

LE has something, possibly in the mystery mattress arena, that offers some evidence. Might be a slim little piece, but it's enough to start dealing. My gut is that even something like Adam or Elisa's DNA on a sheet (or mattress cover) that also has Zahra's blood on it, no matter how it got there, would be more than enough to start the deal ball rolling. Zahra's blood alone, unless it was postmortem or there was a lot of it, wouldn't be enough to move. But they have something.

So LE says "yeah we have the mattress, no wait no we don't, well, maybe we do" because at that point, they're putting a little heat on Daddy. Because up to the mattress search, they've had precious little help from either scumbag, but they've been very nice to give Adam time to crack. He hasn't.

LE says, fine, bring his ass in on the check charges, and by the way, he has a problem showing up for court, so we can hold him on that for a little while. They pick him up, then let Elisa know he's been arrested. My guess is that Elisa denied all involvement. She is now probably saying Adam was molesting Zahra and she wrote the ransom note only to cover for whatever he told her he did. Adam is saying he has no clue, but whatever it was, Elisa probably did it alone while he was out earning $600 a month as a lawn guy.

LE pulls out the evidence they have. They tell both parties in separate interviews that they have enough, that any jury will find them both guilty, and they'll get LWOP or the DP. Suddenly Elisa feels like helping search a little bit, because she's been given enough to know she has to eventually deal. And Adam will probably continue trying to cover his own ass for a little while, depending on his level of guilt.

Zahra probably won't be found right away, but I think she will be found. I do think she's dead, and I do think it's possible that she was abused by both parental figures one way or another.

This case is oddly reminiscent of the Danielle Van Dam case, for me. I'm not sure we'll ever get the full story.

nurseronda

October 26th, 2010, 03:30 AM

Here's my latest theory.

LE has something, possibly in the mystery mattress arena, that offers some evidence. Might be a slim little piece, but it's enough to start dealing. My gut is that even something like Adam or Elisa's DNA on a sheet (or mattress cover) that also has Zahra's blood on it, no matter how it got there, would be more than enough to start the deal ball rolling. Zahra's blood alone, unless it was postmortem and there was a lot of it, wouldn't be enough to move. But they have something.

So LE says "yeah we have the mattress, no wait no we don't, well, maybe we do" because at that point, they're putting a little heat on Daddy. Because up to the mattress search, they've had precious little help from either scumbag, but they've been very nice to give Adam time to crack. He hasn't.

LE says, fine, bring his ass in on the check charges, and by the way, he has a problem showing up for court, so we can hold him on that for a little while. They pick him up, then let Elisa know he's been arrested. My guess is that Elisa denied all involvement. She is now probably saying Adam was molesting Zahra and she wrote the ransom note only to cover for whatever he told her he did. Adam is saying he has no clue, but whatever it was, Elisa probably did it alone while he was out earning $600 a month as a lawn guy.

LE pulls out the evidence they have. They tell both parties in separate interviews that they have enough, that any jury will find them both guilty, and they'll get LWOP or the DP. Suddenly Elisa feels like helping search a little bit, because she's been given enough to know she has to eventually deal. And Adam will probably continue trying to cover his own ass for a little while, depending on his level of guilt.

Zahra probably won't be found right away, but I think she will be found. I do think she's dead, and I do think it's possible that she was abused by both parental figures one way or another.

This case is oddly reminiscent of the Danielle Van Dam case, for me. I'm not sure we'll ever get the full story.

I thought that they already had stepbitch in jail for writing bad checks too. If that is the case, maybe they thought if the kid come up missing that they could collect money from strangers who would donate and all that money would help them pay for and pick up all the bad checks.

I wonder, what kind of life insurrance policies they took out on the kid. Bet they were taken out with bad checks. :lollypop:

impqueen

October 26th, 2010, 07:34 AM

I thought that they already had stepbitch in jail for writing bad checks too. If that is the case, maybe they thought if the kid come up missing that they could collect money from strangers who would donate and all that money would help them pay for and pick up all the bad checks.

I wonder, what kind of life insurrance policies they took out on the kid. Bet they were taken out with bad checks. :lollypop:

Elisa was arrested the day after Zahra was reported missing, so yeah, she's been sitting in jail all this time. Yesterday was the first time she was taken out with LE to search, and she had not cooperated with the investigation since admitting she wrote the ransom note. Basically she shut her mouth after that and didn't open it again until Adam was arrested.

I don't think there was life insurance on Zahra. I don't think they could afford a policy - the kid didn't even get hearing aids until someone else paid for it. And some of those check charges go back awhile. But I do think they were hoping for an influx of cash and TV appearances by posing as the grieving parents. It was a win-win: make Zahra disappear, pull a Ramsey ransom note, cry on TV, get paid. Money + no kid = win, right? I don't think they expected to get called out on the ransom note so fast, if at all.

Sick fucks.

carolinablue

October 26th, 2010, 08:41 AM

I think LE is doing it right. Put both beasts in jail, tell them we know you killed her, but whoever cooperates will get a deal...then wait for one of them to roll over. DP vs LWOP or life with the possibility of parole. I'm betting the pussy-ass, limpdick, knuckle-dragging scrotum scab will roll and bark like a chihuahua.

badfish76

October 26th, 2010, 11:09 AM

The only time I have heard of LE taking someone out of jail for any searches is when a statement/confession has been made. I am thinking once they got Adam in jail they were able to bring her in and tell her they had him in custody and that he was spilling the beans (whether he was or not). At that point in time she might have cracked and they are taking her out there to show them where the body is OR where there is significant evidence.

On the child exploitation theory, I would like to point out that it would have been very easy for them to both be involved in that because a lot of that kind of material involved children pictured in sexual activities with adults. Also the more graphic it is, the more the seller can get for it. It is also disturbing how much of those materials contain violence and BDSM with children. Again, it drives the price up. I hope that the authorities here have contacted the authorities there to contact that man. I could be TOTALLY wrong about this angle and they could have just been exploiting the man's kindness because the child had been sick in the past, but the mattress search REALLY makes me wonder.

misssmartypants

October 26th, 2010, 02:21 PM

Badfish, is it possible that because of the stepmothers mental state, she could have recently been exploiting the child,( hence upping the tyranny she also inflicted) and this is the source of the supposed money from the U.K. And maybe somthing went wrong? When you mentioned the bsmd and violent nature of photographs of children, I know its out there and it gave me the willies. And this lady is internet savy. What is your take on the percentage of women that participate in this type of crime against children?

impqueen

October 26th, 2010, 03:55 PM

I'm hearing unconfirmed reports that Zahra's body may have been found, possibly stuffed inside the mattress (http://www.wsoctv.com/news/25516624/detail.html). I don't know yet if it's bullshit, but thought I'd pass it along in case anyone local has heard anything on this one way or the other.

If it's confirmed, I'm sure we'll all find out soon enough. If not, well, trolls happen (http://www.topix.com/forum/city/lenoir-nc/TDPIKOKODJRSG8LQU/p74).

4:02 my time: Hickory PD says it's misinformation (http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/26/zahra-search-continues-ar-484961/), Zahra's body is not in the mattress. Also, reports have gone from "yeah it's the right mattress" to "we'll process the evidence", which is investigator-speak for "yeah, we're pretty sure it's the mattress and we're building a case."

Things are starting to move, though, at least. Maybe she will be located soon.

Angelinfl

October 26th, 2010, 04:07 PM

Angelinfl

October 26th, 2010, 07:04 PM

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/26/zahra-search-continues-ar-484961/

Zahra Search Continues

HUDSON --
Misinformation is circulating that Zahra Baker’s remains were found stuffed in a mattress during today’s search on Christie Road in Hudson.

Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said there is no truth to the rumor. He said investigators have not found Baker’s remains.

A matress was found today at the Caldwell County landfill where investigators have spent several days searching. The mattress contains "This mattress possessed DNA evidence that will be tested in the future to confirm if it is involved with this investigation," according to a Hickory police press release.

Adkins confirmed that Baker’s stepmother Elisa Baker has been cooperating with police and providing them with information through her attorneys, Lisa Dubs and Scott Reilly.

For more on this story, check back for continuing updates.

Angelinfl

October 26th, 2010, 07:21 PM

http://www.wsoctv.com/video/25526790/index.html

Video

nurseronda

October 26th, 2010, 08:31 PM

Sick fucks.
I have to agree with you on this one after all I have read. Lets see: Dogs hit on wood chipper and wood pile, then the vehicles and later a small stream area with a waterfall. The police then go after the mattress.

To me it would seem as though they both had a hand in this childs murder.

First they beat her to death, maybe not meaning to kill her, and while her dead body lay on the mattress the dad decides to put her body in the wood chipper, which makes a big mess so they wear gloves and pick up all the body and wood chips then put them in garbage bags, which they place in both vehicles to take to the stream and waterfall area.

They then let the contents of the bags wash downstream. They return home only to notice that they didn't get everything cleaned up as well as they would have liked to so they come up with the idea of a kidnapping. The stepbitch writes a ransom note and while she does that, the spermbastard tries to burn all of the other evidence.

If only, the same thing would happen to these
Sick fucks.as stated by Imp.

Chaindrive

October 27th, 2010, 12:48 AM

What was the fire for, then? Any ideas? I can't think of a reason to start a fire in your own backyard unless you were getting rid of evidence?

nurseronda

October 27th, 2010, 12:57 AM

What was the fire for, then? Any ideas? I can't think of a reason to start a fire in your own backyard unless you were getting rid of evidence?

That was the exact reason why they started the fire.

misssmartypants

October 27th, 2010, 01:13 AM

That was the exact reason why they started the fire.

But where is the woodchipper? wouldnt that be chock full of blood evidence?

nurseronda

October 27th, 2010, 09:41 AM

But where is the woodchipper? wouldnt that be chock full of blood evidence?

Several former neighbors, along with one relative, have claimed Zahra's stepmother, Elisa Baker, repeatedly physically abused the girl. http://abcnews.go.com/US/zahra-baker-case-cops-search-wood-chipper-mulch/story?id=11868397

Alvin Webb, a 30-year veteran of the Morganton Police Department. "I just sat there and watched [and] ... the [cadaver] dog hit on a pile of mulch and the wood chipper."http://www.aolnews.com/crime/article/police-search-wood-chipper-for-clues-in-zahra-baker-case/19672352

Yesterday morning authorities in Caldwell County, North Carolina were searching for little Zahra in a heavily wooded area near some waterfalls. They appeared to be extremely interested in the stream located at the foot of the falls near the road. http://www.bloggernews.net/125440

The warrant also revealed that a search dog gave a "positive alert for the presence of human remains in or on both vehicles" belonging to Elisa and Adam Baker. http://abcnews.go.com/US/zahra-baker-case-police-investigate-alleged-abuse-missing/story?id=11856868&page=2

Elisa Baker, who is already in custody on unrelated charges, admitted to police that she wrote a ransom note that was left on one of the Baker's cars Saturday, the day Zhara was reported missing.http://abcnews.go.com/US/zahra-baker-case-police-investigate-alleged-abuse-missing/story?id=11856868

Investigators seized several items from the Baker home, including two gas cans, burn samples from the morning fire and drug paraphernalia, the warrant states. Two samples of "possible blood" were taken from one of the cars, according to a warrant.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/zahra-baker-search-ransom-note-lack-witnesses-strain/story?id=11848643

These articles are how I came up with my theory.

Woodchipper story is there too.

Rockin Ma

October 27th, 2010, 03:42 PM

Police found a mattress that reportedly matches the description of the one were looking for in the connection with 10-year-old Zahra Baker’s disappearance, police told Channel 9 News in Caldwell County, N.C.

According to Caylee Daily, investigators went through a landfill in Caldwell County in hopes of finding the mattress that belonged to Zahra that her parents got rid of sometime earlier in the month. On Tuesday police caught a break and found the mattress they were looking for, which will be tested for DNA evidence, according to reports.

Police also blocked off Christie Road in Caldwell County so they can begin their search for the missing girl there.

Elisa Baker has been arrested and charged with obstruction of justice after police said she admitted to writing a fake ransom letter. A judge raised her bond from $40,000 to $50,000.

The young girl’s father, Adam, is also in police custody after being arrested early Monday morning on multiple charges unrelated to the disappearance of his daughter. He’s facing five counts of worthless checks, two counts of communicating threats, one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of failure to return rental property. He’s currently being held at the Catawba County Detention Center on a $7,000 bond.

http://www.indyposted.com/120708/mattress-matching-zahra-bakers-description-found/

Rockin Ma

October 27th, 2010, 03:43 PM

This popped up in a search under latest news, it's someone's twitter, I'll try to confirm there really is a presser today

Live press conference at 4:30 EST reguarding the Zahra Baker case. My guess is that they found her body.

Rockin Ma

October 27th, 2010, 03:48 PM

Investigators have returned to the Hickory home where 10-year-old Zahra Baker was reported missing two weeks ago.

NewsChannel 36 reporter Rad Berky said police were searching and digging in the backyard.

Hickory police have scheduled a formal media briefing today at 4:30 p.m.

Yesterday, Hickory police confirmed that they had seized a mattress found at the Caldwell County landfill that fits the description of one they were looking for in connection with Zahra's disappearance. Police say employees at the landfill discovered the mattress in the area that was searched by officials last week.

Police say they also found DNA evidence on the mattress and will be testing the DNA to see if the mattress is involved with the Zahra Baker investigation.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/27/1790670/searchers-digging-in-zahra-bakers.html#ixzz13aebIaw9

HICKORY, N.C. (CBS/AP/WBTV) Crews dug with a tractor and rummaged through mulch piles at missing girl Zahra Baker's house today, just a day after police announced that they had located a mattress in a landfill that matched the description of Zahra Baker's mattress.

Authorities have also called for a press conference for this afternoon, reports CBS affiliate WBTV.

In addition to announcing that they had located Zahra's mattress, police also said Tuesday that Zahra's stepmother was now cooperating in the investigation.

Elisa Baker began talking with investigators after her lawyer approached police offering her assistance, said Maj. Clyde Deal. She had been charged with obstruction of justice after police say she admitted to writing a bogus ransom note which was found at the scene of a fire in the backyard on the day Zahra was reported missing.

Deal said Tuesday that Elisa Baker, 42, was taken to her home earlier this week; however, he declined to elaborate on the purpose of the visit.

Police believe the young girl who was reported missing Oct. 9 is no longer alive.

The mattress was found in a landfill that was searched for 4 days last week. DNA was found on the mattress, police said.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20020895-504083.html

cubby

October 27th, 2010, 03:55 PM

I'm guessing Adam Baker's gonna wish he talked first, cause in Elisa's version I'm sure he is gonna turn out to be the main bad guy who did everything and she just went along with it and helped to clean it all up, denying everything except what she absolutely has to 'fess up to.

Rockin Ma

October 27th, 2010, 04:04 PM

For anyone wanting to listen live:

4:30 pm. WBTV.com plans to carry the press conference LIVE on the web.

Dneilz

October 27th, 2010, 04:31 PM

Hey Rockin, I went to that site and I can't find the live news feed :(

Hellsbells

October 27th, 2010, 04:48 PM

Police find prosthetic leg believed to be missing girl's leg

HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - Hickory police say they have found a prosthetic leg at home that they believe is the prosthetic leg of missing ten-year-old Zahra Baker.

Investigators made the announcement during a press conference Wednesday afternoon in Hickory. They say the investigation brought them to a home along Christie Lane where they found the prosthetic leg.

Various crews were back at the Adam and Elisa Baker house on Wednesday afternoon -- digging with a tractor and rummaging through mulch piles -- a day after a mattress was found in the missing girl case.

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13297637

Angelinfl

October 27th, 2010, 05:18 PM

http://www.wcnc.com/news/Hickory-police--105899483.html
Hickory police: Search crews found prosthetic leg

Hickory police: Search crews found prosthetic leg

by NewsChannel 36 Staff
WCNC.com
Posted on October 27, 2010 at 4:49 PM

HICKORY, N.C. -- Hickory police say they found a prosthetic leg at a search site off of Christie Road.

They’re working to confirm the serial number of the leg to see if it is a match to Zahra Baker.

Investigators scoured that search site near Christie Road and Pine Mountain Road on Tuesday and Wednesday before moving their search to the backyard of the Hickory home that crews first searched when the cancer survivor was reported missing.

Police say the leg was found on Tuesday and that they found additional evidence at the Hickory house on Wednesday.

Yesterday, Hickory police confirmed that they had seized a mattress found at the Caldwell County landfill that fits the description of one they were looking for in connection with Zahra's disappearance. Police say employees at the landfill discovered the mattress in the area that was searched by officials last week.

Police say they also found DNA evidence on the mattress and will be testing the DNA to see if the mattress is involved with the Zahra Baker investigation.

Baker was reported missing on Oct. 9. Investigators believe the girl is dead.

Watch NewsChannel 36 and check back on WCNC.com for the latest on this developing story.

CountryMomma

October 27th, 2010, 05:46 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/10/27/north.carolina.missing.girl/

(CNN) -- A prosthetic leg thought to be that of missing 10-year-old Zahra Baker has been found in a brushy area off a North Carolina road, Chief Tom Adkins of the Hickory, North Carolina, police said Wednesday.

Police launched a search for Zahra on October 9, but no one other than a family member has reported seeing her since September 25, when a woman saw her at a furniture store. The girl's disappearance is now being probed as a homicide.

Adkins said that the prosthetic leg is "consistent with" that of Zahra, a freckle-faced youngster who lost her leg to bone cancer. It was found late Tuesday afternoon off Christie Road in Caldwell County, he said, and authorities are using its serial number to confirm it belonged to the young girl. Zahra got the leg in Australia, where both her birth parents are from.

Prodded by what Adkins described as "new information," investigators returned Wednesday to the residence that Zahra Baker lived in with her father, Adam Troy Baker, and her stepmother, Elisa Baker.

"We're looking for any piece of evidence that can help in that investigation," said Adkins, noting several such pieces had been found Wednesday.

A day earlier, employees at Foothills Environmental Landfill in Lenoir, North Carolina, found a mattress that investigators believe belonged to Zahra and was thrown out by her parents in early October -- just days before she was reported missing.

The disappearance of Zahra, who had persevered through numerous health battles and wore hearing aids, has made international news.

Police said the missing girl's stepmother, Elisa Baker, admitted last week that she planted a fake ransom note the day after the girl's disappearance was reported.

Initially arrested on October 10 on several charges unrelated to Zahra's disappearance, including writing worthless checks, Elisa Baker was additionally charged with obstruction of justice for leaving the note. That charge is a felony.

She is now cooperating with investigators, Hickory police said in a statement issued Tuesday. The previous day, she had joined police as they searched for evidence at a site near a home she lived in three years ago.

Zahra's father was arrested just after 3 a.m. Monday in nearby Catawba County on eight charges, including five counts of submitting worthless checks and three counts of failing to appear in court.

Police earlier acknowledged that Adam Baker faced bad-check charges, which are unrelated to the disappearance of his daughter. But they did not initially arrest him, as he had been helping authorities in their search.

Adam Baker was at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport picking up a family member Sunday before he voluntarily went to the Police Department in Hickory, about 60 miles northwest of Charlotte, to talk to authorities.

Family members and neighbors have told reporters that Zahra's stepmother abused her. Her attorney has denied the allegation.

Police have said they had been in contact with Zahra's biological mother in Australia and asked for the girl's medical records.

Video on link.

horsegirl

October 27th, 2010, 05:57 PM

Adam Baker is now out on bail as of today.
I feel like shooting myself, this is doing my head in:crazy:

Alf

October 27th, 2010, 09:04 PM

(CNN) -- A prosthetic leg thought to be that of missing 10-year-old Zahra Baker has been found in a brushy area off a North Carolina road, Chief Tom Adkins of the Hickory, North Carolina, police said Wednesday.

Shitshitshit.

--Al

totallytoddler

October 27th, 2010, 09:37 PM

Wonder if there is any damage to the leg. Like they were dumb enough to TRY to put it through the chipper....and when that didn't work....cuz its not WOOD....then they discarded it where it was recently found. That could explain why there was no blood or anything on the chipper....I dunno...maybe someone said this before...I havent caught up for a few days.

misssmartypants

October 28th, 2010, 05:05 AM

I forgot that "dad" had access to a woodchipper. Sorry.. But damn, this is so wrong on so many levels. That bitch had her fakey ass tears when Zahra got those hearing aids, and it was only because of the attention. And from what I read, that sweet girl had a sunny disposition, despite her body trying to do her in, despite the creepy stepmom, and no mom.....why would you kill a girl like that? There was nothing to gain from it. Ive said this before,.. my heart feels like its filled with broken birds about these terrifying acts against children. Hope it does for you too and makes you just as angry.

Jerri Blank

October 28th, 2010, 10:18 AM

Adam Baker is now out on bail as of today.
I feel like shooting myself, this is doing my head in:crazy:

Yep, he's waltz around again..

Missing 10-year-old NC girl's father out of jail

NEWTON, N.C. -- The father of a missing North Carolina girl is free after posting bond on charges unrelated to his daughter's disappearance.

Adam Baker, 33, arranged for a bondsman to post his $7,000 bail, Catawba County Sheriff Chief Deputy Coy Reid said Thursday. Baker was arrested Monday on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, failure to return rental property, writing worthless checks and other charges.

Hours before Baker's release Wednesday evening, police announced that searchers found a prosthetic leg they think could be the one worn by 10-year-old cancer survivor Zahra Baker. She was fitted with an artificial leg after losing hers to bone cancer. Authorities say the one they found is consistent with hers.

Zahra's father reported her missing Oct. 9. Authorities think she is dead.

Searchers found the leg at a home where Zahra's stepmother once lived, Hickory Police Maj. Clyde Deal said.

The prosthetic leg was discovered Tuesday afternoon near some brush in Caldwell County near the home. Deal said the family lived at several locations in the county and that he wasn't sure how long ago they occupied that house. Authorities on Tuesday took Elisa Baker to a home where she once lived and Deal said she was cooperating after being jailed since the weekend her stepdaughter was reported missing.

Deal also said a mattress found by workers at a Caldwell County landfill would be tested for DNA evidence. [...]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/28/AR2010102802249.html

Angelinfl

October 28th, 2010, 12:56 PM

http://socialexploitation.blogspot.com

http://www.wbtv.com/global/category.asp?c=195957&clipId=5208550&topVideoCatNo=128873&autoStart=true

Don't you hate money mongers making money on the bones and prosthetic leg of a dead child? I sure as heck do....

Check this out and stand tall against FRAUDS.

There are many blogs there of interest.

nurseronda

October 28th, 2010, 07:26 PM

Adam Baker is now out on bail as of today.
I feel like shooting myself, this is doing my head in:crazy:

Nah, don't shoot yourself....Just pick this spermbastard up and toss him in the nearest wood chipper.

nurseronda

October 29th, 2010, 02:20 AM

HICKORY, N.C. -- Investigators returned for a second day of digging and sifting in the backyard of the home Hickory where 10-year old Zahra Baker lived until she disappeared nearly three weeks ago.

Investigators again used a backhoe to turn over piles of dirt, mulch and wood chips before painstakingly using rakes and sometimes just their hands to look for clues.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39900437

Seems as though they may have put her body in the wood chipper after all.

Hellsbells

October 29th, 2010, 09:19 AM

Townsville soldiers go bush with brave kids - September 22nd, 2008

THEY don't make them much tougher than little Zahra Baker. The eight-year-old Giru girl has overcome more challenges than most people would in a lifetime, but nothing could wipe the smile off the bubbly youngster's face yesterday.

Zahra joined about 30 other North Queensland kids and their companions to embark on the Camp Quality experience of a lifetime.

Soldiers from B Squadron, 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment gave up their weekend to escort the special children to camp near Innisfail on board Army Bush Master Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMVs).

http://i54.tinypic.com/e7jrx3.jpg

TOUGH ... Trooper Cory Holland and Zahra Baker, 8, of Giru. Bone cancer patient Zahra joined about 30 other unwell North Queensland children at the weekend for a Camp Quality experience of a lifetime at a special army camp with Townsville-based soldiers

Zahra was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer leading to the amputation of her lower left leg when she was just five-years-old.

Last year, Zahra was diagnosed with secondary lung cancer, but her family recently got the good news that she is in remission.

Her grandmother Karen said Zahra's eyes lit up when she saw the soldiers waiting to take them to camp.

"Her eyes couldn't have been any bigger. She loves the whole army business," Ms Baker said.

"The picture tells the whole story, she handles everything with a smile. She has been on camp a couple of years ago, but she hadn't been well enough to go again until this year.

"The Camp Quality people are just wonderful."

Officer Commanding B Squadron, 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment Major Gerry McGowan said troops were honoured to help make the camp a memorable experience for the kidshttp://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2008/09/22/16341_newsphoto.html

Hellsbells

October 29th, 2010, 09:40 AM

Zahra as a baby
http://i55.tinypic.com/19087s.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/34ybibo.jpg

Heartfelt plea to find Zahra

Mackay mother of three Nikki Hay, whose youngest child Gabby was a good friend and fellow cancer sufferer with Zahra at Camp Quality, yesterday told the Townsville Bulletin that after a harrowing week of not knowing what was happening with her daughter's fellow cancer survivor, she felt she just had to get in touch with the Hickory police in North Carolina to find out how their investigations had progressed.

Mrs Hay, a teacher's aide at a Mackay school, said she had come to know Zahra well through several cancer charity camps, and was full of admiration for the love, time and effort that Zahra's grandmother Karen Baker had given the little girl, who lost her hearing and her lower left leg to bone cancer when she was five years old.

Mrs Hay said her daughter Gabby, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at eight months, and who at age nine is now in full remission, had become very close to Zahra, and she was upset when they lost contact when Zahra left North Queensland suddenly at the end of 2008.

Mrs Hay said her daughter had been trying to send letters to her camp buddy but had not been able to get in touch, and that she had rung Mrs Baker to find out the best way for the two young girls to stay in touch, only to find out that Mrs Baker had also been given very little access to Zahra since she left Australia.

"Zahra was the most beautiful little girl, with a heart of gold," Mrs Hay said.

Mrs Hay said she had sent emails and photographs to Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins, urging his police department to find the missing 10-year-old, and to thank them so far for their search efforts.

She said she was touched and pleased that Police Chief Adkins had taken the time and trouble to respond to her emails, though she was still in dread of what they might find.

The following in an edited version of Mrs Hay's email:"Hello Tom, my name is Nikki Hay.

"I live in Mackay in North Queensland, Australia.

"We met Zahra quite a few years ago through a Australian organisation called Camp Quality.

" ... it takes children who have either had or have cancer or leukemia on camps, and packs the camp time with fun and fantastic experiences.

"My daughter Gabby is nine and had ovarian cancer at the age of eight months.

"Gab started going to Camp Quality functions when she was a toddler.

"I remember going to Airlie Beach (in the Whitsundays, on the Great Barrier Reef) and seeing this little girl (Zahra) scoot around on her crutches like nothing was wrong.

"Gabby and our family enjoyed many camps with Zahra. Nothing held her back.

"She had a smile that would light up the room and every person who met her was just amazed by her fantastic outlook on life.

"Precious, precious, little princess.

"I remember she had two Camp Quality companions, both beautiful ladies.

"After one camp, I printed out some photos Gabby had and wanted to send them to Zahra.

"I rang ... Zahra's grandmother and asked how Zahra was.

"She was so upset. She explained to me that her son had remarried and they had taken off overseas quite abruptly and she didn't have any idea exactly where they were.

"Over the last two years we have asked the Camp Quality organisers if they had heard where Zahra was, but she seemed to just drop out of all our lives.

"I have watched and read all the information that I could find about Zahra's situation.

"I want to thank you and your police department for all the fantastic efforts that your team is doing to find answers.

"I hope that you find Zahra so her grandmother can have closure."

Police Chief Adkins replied:"Nikki, thank you for your kind words and your compassion for Zahra.

"It is nice to hear about her experiences at the camp with your daughter and how she played and acted like a little girl

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2010/10/19/178101_news.html