Scared Monkeys Discussion Forum

Thanks NUT!

Now I can go back to washing dishes  ::MonkeyHaHa::

(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o100/klaasen3/Sub9%20June%202010/washing-dishes.gif)

kkkkk I am hitting the couch.

thats what you meant by soft mod mode ::MonkeyHaHa::

Beautiful angel I am praying for your safe return ::MonkeyAngel::
Regarding the stepmother, I think she was the person that started the fire to distract the father or incriminate him with the burned evidence. He looks scared that he didnt stop the abouse.  ::MonkeyEek::
But if the police found her leg in the house, how she will leave?

I don't believe it but interesting comment none the less:

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

Guest
It has been said that the stepmother was having a relationship with a man from England via internet and that he supposedly sent the SM 10,000.00 I wonder if LE has checked this guy out to see if he has come to the US. Maybe the wicked SM sold Zarah to him???

He rpassport was found and taken with the search warrant so he wouldn't be able to get her out of the country.

CW....there are a lot of unpopulated areas that people can dump illegally, and some do. We have recyling centers in our communities, that you can dispose of just about anything. I live outside of town limits so have to take my garbage to the recyling center. You can take appliances and anything but large brush. Large brush has to be taken to the landfill  and I think it cost about $10 for a pickup load. Construction waste is also taken there. But just a normal load of kitchen garbage has to go to the recyling center. Which is then taken to the landfill.  Hope that helps answer some questions.

So essentially, these 2 rocket scientists disappeared Zarah, her prosthesis and her mattress.
It's time for LE to kick some Adam Baker azz, put that bruja in gen. pop. and let the inmates have at her.
If they don't do something this is going to turn into another case without answers.
Each case gets sicker than the one before.

Mattress Found in Landfill Could Be Key Evidence in Case of Missing North Carolina Girl

Published October 22, 2010
| FoxNews.com


North Carolina police hope DNA from a mattress found in a landfill will help crack the case of a 10-year-old girl who has been missing at least two weeks.

The mattress belonging to the missing girl, Zahra Clare Baker, had been thrown out by her parents days before her father reported her missing Oct. 9, police said. Police didn't expect to find her body in the landfill.

"Investigators hoped to use the mattress to confirm interviews with persons associated with this investigation and to reinforce the timeline," Hickory, N.C., police said in a written statement announcing the conclusion of their landfill search. "We also hoped it could provide some DNA evidence related to this case."

The discovery comes on the heels of a judge deeming Zahra's stepmother a flight risk after the woman's grown daughter testified that she's carrying on an online relationship with a man in England who was sending her thousands of dollars.

Catawba County District Judge Robert Mullinax Jr. said there were "disturbing and unsettling allegations" in the case as he increased Elisa Baker's bond from $40,000 to $65,000. Defense attorneys had asked him to lower bond to $10,000, which they said fits legal guidelines for her charge of obstructing justice.



Investigators said Baker wrote a bogus ransom note found Oct. 9, the day she and her husband reported Zahra missing. Police have said they think someone killed the girl who used hearing aids and a prosthetic leg because of bone cancer, but have not found her body and haven't charged anyone with killing her.

Investigators said earlier this week that 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.

 ::MonkeyShocked::

This is incredible!  When I consider the tons of garbage in that landfill ...

I apologize if this article has already been posted.

Janet

+++++

Mattress Found in Landfill Could Be Key Evidence in Case of Missing North Carolina Girl
Published October 22, 2010

North Carolina police hope DNA from a mattress found in a landfill will help crack the case of a 10-year-old girl who has been missing at least two weeks.

The mattress belonging to the missing girl, Zahra Clare Baker, had been thrown out by her parents days before her father reported her missing Oct. 9, police said. Police didn't expect to find her body in the landfill.

"Investigators hoped to use the mattress to confirm interviews with persons associated with this investigation and to reinforce the timeline," Hickory, N.C., police said in a written statement announcing the conclusion of their landfill search. "We also hoped it could provide some DNA evidence related to this case."

The discovery comes on the heels of a judge deeming Zahra's stepmother a flight risk after the woman's grown daughter testified that she's carrying on an online relationship with a man in England who was sending her thousands of dollars.

Catawba County District Judge Robert Mullinax Jr. said there were "disturbing and unsettling allegations" in the case as he increased Elisa Baker's bond from $40,000 to $65,000. Defense attorneys had asked him to lower bond to $10,000, which they said fits legal guidelines for her charge of obstructing justice.

Investigators said Baker wrote a bogus ransom note found Oct. 9, the day she and her husband reported Zahra missing. Police have said they think someone killed the girl who used hearing aids and a prosthetic leg because of bone cancer, but have not found her body and haven't charged anyone with killing her.

Investigators said earlier this week that 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.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/10/22/mattress-landfill-key-evidence-case-missing-north-carolina-girl/

I thought I read that the mattress had not been found?
Which is it? I hope that it is her mattress and that they found the evidence that's needed to keep the step  monster locked up, and put the cretin father away.

I'm not sure.  We know they found a couple mattresses.  I would be surprised if they got DNA tests back that quick.  So, how can they say for sure that they didn't find THE mattress?

Good point.

But it was reported that police said they did not find her mattress.

Hickory Police say they were looking for a mattress belonging to Zahra that had been disposed of by her parents sometime during early October.

Police say they never recovered that mattress. 
http://www.wcnc.com/news/zahra-baker/Investigators-in-Zahra-case-continue-sifting-through-trash-105532123.html

---

According to a press release, Hickory investigators are hoping the mattress will confirm interviews and reinforce the timeline that is being established. They also hoped it would provide DNA evidence.

The mattress was not located at the landfill, according to an official with the Hickory Police Department.
http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/22/police-hope-mattress-will-provide-dna-evidence-ar-477657/

I've never rented furniture but perhaps the company has some type of identifying markings on their mattresses.

I'm sure they do, 4 Donks.

When I saw them doing the search, they said there were tents there, mini labs. They could tell in 5 seconds if there was human blood and then do a blood type to match. Guess they didn't find the match.
..
There are areas here where persons dump their used crapola they don't want without a permit or anything like that. In the bush, stop the vehicle and toss or drag into bush. I wonder how they knew the mattress was discarded ? I have more than a feeling that the daughter who spoke to Elisa the most and the various persons they were in contact with are gladly providing any info they have to the SBI.
..
These two are not smart or organized, they just had a terrific head start. LE has her computer and every keystroke she made is being looked at.

The only way I can figure they would know it was not THE mattress is if they have a photo of THE mattress.... I hate to say that.

Landfill search produces no clues in Zahra case
No mattress or DNA evidence found; Crime Stoppers in 4 counties offer $4,000 reward


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.

A state lawmaker said he will push state officials to look into how the Department of Social Services handled alleged reports of child abuse against Zahra's stepmother, Elisa Baker.

"People are horrified by this and sickened by it," said Sen. Austin Allran, a Republican who represents Catawba and Iredell counties.

"Something went wrong in this case," said Allran, who also serves on a child death advisory panel.

The comments come after an ******* analysis published Sunday found at least 137 N.C. children died during a recent five-year period in cases in which abuse or neglect were suspected to have contributed - even though the DSS had contact with their families within 12 months before they died.

Police say they believe Zahra is now dead and are investigating the case as a homicide. The girl, who has used a prosthetic leg since she was diagnosed with cancer, has not been seen alive in public since Sept. 25, authorities said.

Zahra's stepmother was jailed after police say she admitted writing a fake ransom note. Earlier this week, a judge raised Elisa Baker's bond from $40,000 to $65,000, saying she posed a "significant flight risk" and that allegations against her were "disturbing and unsettling."

Since Zahra's disappearance, questions have swirled about what should have been done to protect her.

Friends and family say they saw her with bruises and a black eye. At a recent vigil, a family friend said the family reported suspected abuse of Zahra on three occasions.

Allran said he discussed the case this week with members of the N.C. Child Fatality Taskforce, which recommends child safety improvements to the General Assembly.

He said he wants the state to review how well DSS protected Zahra with "an eye toward remedial legislation."

"The hard part is figuring out what went wrong and how to fix it," Allran said.

DSS officials in Catawba and Caldwell counties, where the Bakers most recently lived, have said privacy laws prevent them from discussing any involvement they might have had with Zahra.

Elisa Baker's attorney, Scott Reilly, has confirmed the DSS investigated reports of abuse against Elisa Baker but said social workers found they were "unsubstantiated."


http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/23/1781026/landfill-search-produces-no-clues.html

i rented 2 beds about 4/5yr ago, for guests for 4 days, the rental place/co.
asked if i wanted the old bed removed, free of charge, i didnt have a old
bed thats why i rented the beds
so would the rental co. dump at the landfill,or their dumpster to be picked up

Maybe that should be mentioned to the police, in case they haven't thought of that....

whoops forgot, does anyone have a link to that vid, with the neighbors
talking about not seeing Zahra, a mr bosst, and ed mitchell, the ed that
NC mike was talking about
IIRC,ed said he had not seen Zahra, but if he had he would of talked to her

bananas ill give them a call, though they prob checked that already
the same thing happened with the rented wash,dry too, i let them take
them, and rented for about 3mo, till the leasing co. paid for the old set
maybe thats a standard practice

Just in case they didn't know or think about it.  With so much on their plate, they might miss something as simple as that.

 

Neighbors never saw missing girl

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010 ... ar-453363/

By Larry Clark
Published: October 13, 2010

HICKORY --
Zahra Clare Baker is the little girl who never was to neighbors on 21st Avenue, NW.
“I’ve never seen her,” said Eddie Mitchell, who lives across from the Baker house.

“Nobody ever saw her,” said Elisabeth Goderstad, whose house is nearby on 22nd Street.
In fact, Mitchell says he saw Zahra’s stepmother, Elisa Baker, once.

If Zahra was attacked on her mattress and there was ANY evidence on that mattress,  I seriously doubt Cruella would have kept that mattress anywhere near her home, much less have it available for the rental company employees who were replacing the bed. 

Now, I wonder if the dogs were alerting to the mattress if it was transported in her vehicle and disposed of.  I also wonder if Zahra's room was recently painted. 

So many things to wonder about.  I hope we will soon have some answers.... but this case like so many others will grow cold if they don't start finding evidence AND Zahra.

I totally agree with everything you said.

They need to put more pressure on Adam, I think he would break easily, and possible tell what happened.

I said the same thing last night to my son who is currently visiting...every case gets worse than the last...

On the burning issue...where I live, you are allowed to burn in your yard, but there is a number you have to call to report that you are burning...something...such as leaves, brush.

If it gets out of control and you haven't made that call, you can get fined. Don't know how much as the one time I did burn some brush, it didn't get out of control.

Another monkey explained the trash disposal...taking to recycling center...etc. That is what is done here where I live also, but I have seen dumping of matresses, old couches, etc. dumped on 'back' unpopulated roads. I have seen that happen everywhere...dunno why. Guess some are to lazy to do it the right way.

Thanks to all Monkeys for the updates.

Wow to that article NorthernRose posted where it talked about DSS!  They are talking about privacy laws.  They should call them CYA laws, because that's what DSS is trying to do!  JMO

Good Observation Monkey King
the dogs did hit on the car
the police would not comment on if the dogs hit on anything in the home
its obvious they transported her somewhere and the Old mattress is key evidence.Im thinking the plastic on it was because it was new.maybe it was the base that had the plastic on it?

I also wonder if they took care of her by taking her to the Dr and getting her tested for her cancer to see if it was still in remission, because when you have a child with bone cancer you have to take them monthly for the 1st yr after then every two months and so on...maybe they are trying to hide the fact she was not being cared for properly.I wonder if her cancer came back.

StarMonkey that is an excellent thought, I'm going to bet that Zahra wasn't getting proper medical care and her cancer sure could have came back.  ::MonkeyNoNo::

Mods, please help by deleting.  This post should have been made to JSM's Begging for Banned thread.
I apologize.

Crap, I missed it...I love to delete :cool:

 ::MonkeyCool::

No evidence found in landfill

(http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/mgmedia/image/294/0/112989/landfill-search-6/)

LENOIR --
A three-day search failed to turn up the mattress investigators from the Hickory Police and assisting agencies sought in the Foothills Environmental landfill as they continue to search for Zahra Baker.


They’d spent those days using GPS equipment to focus on specific areas of the landfill then using heavy equipment to sift through the mounds of garbage. The search was intense and exhaustive, but unproductive, according to Hickory police.


The search concluded at about 3 p.m. Friday. Investigators had focused on finding a mattress belonging to Zahra Baker that had been disposed of by Zahra’s parents sometime during early October, days before Zahra was reported missing.


Investigators hoped that the mattress could help them narrow their timeline, corroborate interviews and provide DNA evidence in what police are calling a homicide investigation.
“Anytime you search a landfill like this, it’s going to be difficult,” said Caldwell County Sheriff Alan Jones whose deputies secured the landfill as Hickory, SBI and FBI investigators searched for the mattress. “You always want to remain hopeful.”


Asked if there was anything people could do as investigators continue to search for the missing 10-year-old, Jones said, “Continue to pray. That’s about it.”

The Hickory Police Department is continuing to ask for the public’s help in the case. Anyone with information about Zahra’s disappearance is asked to call the Hickory Police Department at 328-5551.


Four Crime Stoppers organizations have joined together to offer a reward of up to $4,000 in cash for information about the disappearance and whereabouts of Zahra Baker. Anyone with information about Zahra’s location is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 758-8300.

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/23/no-evidence-found-landfill-ar-478736/

Dubs to defend Elisa Baker

HICKORY --
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/

$600 a month.  How much work did he do to earn that piddling amount in a month?  I don't see how it is possible to live on that amount of money even with $200 worth of food stamps.  No way to take care of Zahra with that amount of money a month.

$600.00? 

SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS?

This man works from SUN UP TIL SUNDOWN and makes $600.00 per MONTH?

Yeah, ok. 

This must include their rental payment, which has to be deducted from his paycheck and Elisa IS NOT reporting as a credit.

Can someone find out what the rent in that area is?

REMEMBER: According to her family Elisa is a pathological liar.

And what is missing, did they have medical insurance? I will bet no way they did, and that poor child went without proper care. I have no idea how one lives on that amount of money, but since I have no idea about the cost of living there, maybe it is possible.

Investigators hoped that the mattress could help them narrow their timeline, corroborate interviews and provide DNA evidence in what police are calling a homicide investigation.   ::MonkeyNoNo::  Zahra's DNA would be on the mattress, must be looking for blood and other bodily fluids  ::MonkeyNoNo::

What about the $10,000.00 she got from the Englishman and anyone else she scammed plus all the free goods and services she received by writing bad checks.

Who knows? And how much was spent on drugs / made from selling drugs?  I think Zahra's last two years were like living in hell and it just burns me up.  How could a father put a child through this?

Child support?
From whom?
For whom?
Maybe it is Food Stamps since it says OR
but come on.............really?
What column does the $$ from England fall in?
the same as drug income?
ARGGGGG

Some folks convicted of dealing drugs wind up having issues with IRS as unclaimed income.

The fire deparment will be at the jail soon to put EvilE pants out soon...Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!!! ::MonkeyMad::

 ::MonkeyHaHa::

my post did not make much sense...

She is a big fat liar...and I am sure she is digging  ::MonkeyShovel:: herself deeper.

Oh yes it did!  Someone should have told her:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/lostcontrol926/FIREMAN.jpg)

Made perfect senset to me.... she is a liar..... and the biggest lie of all is what happened to Zahra.  I am so tired of people just getting away with these kinds of crimes these days.  Our laws aren't tough enough.  We don't really enforce them.  It is like that commercial where the drill sergeant is a therapist.  We need to go back to the days where we could put pressure on these scumbags and make them crack instead of mambiepambie land.

Like that commercial, they should throw the book at her.

Did you notice that they already have a private investigator. I bet they will Kronk every person that came forward with information.
Just makes me sick. ::MonkeyMad::

Nope, who hired the investigator?

Dubs to defend Elisa Baker

HICKORY --
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.

Snipped from the artcle on Dubs.

(http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo242/Brandi-Monkey/ZahraClareBaker/liar.gif)

Love it Brandi  ::MonkeyHaHa:: ::MonkeyHaHa:: ::MonkeyHaHa::

 ::rhino::
Good job Brandi!

 ::MonkeyHaHa:: ::MonkeyDevil:: ::MonkeyHaHa:: ::MonkeyDevil::

Amen and Amen...poor people live under bridges  ::MonkeyNoNo::.....people that murder have 3 hots and a cot...meds....and media attention.  ::MonkeyMad::

 ::MonkeyHaHa:: ::MonkeyHaHa::
I needed that laugh.

 ::MonkeyDevil::

Where is Mr. No Balls Baker these days?  I have been thinking it would not surprise me if he did not " attempt"  a George Anthony...is that not the next chapter to the evil novel?

(http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q43/maija642/bad%20kitty/153932358v4_240x240_Front.jpg)

Favorite saying of EB:

(http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh310/ninjablog/as/spinelessminnions.jpg)

I bet she did wear the Hot Pants in that family... ::piggy::

Good one, Monkey King!

 ::MonkeyDance:: ::MonkeyDevil:: ::MonkeyDance:: ::MonkeyDevil::

Does anyone remember the charater Chet from "Weird Science"?
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f102/erader24/chet.jpg)

 ::MonkeyDevil:: ::MonkeyHaHa:: ::MonkeyDevil::



I bet we monkeys are going to get in trouble....sorry mods...we needed a little ::MonkeyDevil::

We certainly do need some humor!  It's been an ugly week.

I wonder what they are going to do next now that the mattresses weren't the ones they were looking for.

her attorney Scott Reilly, attorney Lisa Dubs and private investigator Steve Elhers.

Ehlers and Reilly have worked together before on a murder trial.  This is smelling like they know Elesa is guilty IMO.


Newly discovered evidence pushes murder trial back


(http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/mgmedia/image/294/0/56243/newly-discovered-evidence-pushes-murder-trial-back/)

Defendant Ricky Prestwood (center), confers with Steve Ehlers, investigator for the defense (left), and defense attorney Scott Riley during court Wednesday.

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/feb/11/newly-discovered-evidence-pushes-murder-trial-back-ar-95312/

Rents don't seem very high there.  Didn't she bounce a check for around $550 to the trailer park before this last move?

I think it was $595.00, no?

Confidential Associates - Detective Agencies in NC | Hickory NC 28602-2839
Confidential Associates
 
231 4th St SW
Hickory, NC 28602-2839
Telephone: 828-324-XXXX
Web Site:
Contact: Steve Ehlers - Male

http://gbiz.org/NC-Yellow-Pages/Hickory/Catawba-County/Confidential-Associates/8283242922/index.htm

Department of Social Services spotlighted in Zahra Baker’s disappearance

Authorities investigating the disappearance of Zahra Baker had been searching a Lenoir landfill for a mattress that may contain possible DNA evidence and help them piece together a timeline of the 10-year-old girl’s disappearance, according to The Charlotte *******.

But the search was called off Friday after it failed to yield any clues.

It was the latest development in a case that has captured international headlines since Zahra went missing on Oct. 9.  The case has unfolded in Hickory, where Zahra lived with her father and stepmother but was last seen alive on Sept. 25, according to multiple news outlets. She is presumed dead and authorities are investigating the case as a homicide.

Recently, the Department of Social Services has been spotlighted over allegations that it failed to properly investigate alleged reports of child abuse against Zahra’s stepmother, Elisa Baker.  The stepmother is currently jailed on charges that she faked a ransom note to throw investigators off track in their search of Zahra.

The Charlotte ******* reported that Crime Stoppers in four counties announced Friday they are offering a $4,000 reward for information pertaining to Zahra’s case.


http://yellowtape.blogs.starnewsonline.com/11726/department-of-social-services-spotlighted-in-zahra-bakers-disappearance/

Yep, knew it was somewhere around that figure.  Still IF he was only bringing home $600 a month, even with all utilites included, just no way....could they have made it without "supplementing".........

I would guess that if the $600 is correct plus all the hours he worked that his boss is going to be investigated by wage per hour.

I am willing to bet that the rent is taken out - along with a usage of the truck (didn't he have a company truck?) - no way that wage and hour would not be on the bosses butt if he did not get paid minimum - which would have come to light when they applied for food stamps. I know we have to send in reports on a quarterly schedule of the girls that work part time for us and get food stamps.

From the Zahra Baker Fund FB Group that Greeson and his church have started.  I hope a lot of people hit the report page link and get them off FB.


Samantha Miller
This is pathetic. Why are you trying to exploit this little girl? Surely someone knows something about this group. Please contact me and help in my investigation.
17 hours ago ·

Zahra Baker Fund ‎
@Samantha - our group is totally legal. All of our legal paperwork can be found on the website. Why not put your effort into finding Zahra instead of chasing something that isn't there?
3 hours ago ·

Mary Lyn Lee
I went to your website and saw the information for your raffle. When will the drawing be held?

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Zahra-Baker-Fund/166816933330909

 ::MonkeyHaHa::

Sure would be interesting to know how AB & Z came into the States -- Visitors Visa/Work Visa, etc...You would think with Homeland Security being so tight that applying for food stamps and the like, they would have to show proof of status here?

What do you suppose they bought with the $5.00 left out of Adam's paycheck?

Lottery tickets ::MonkeyHaHa::

A couple of gallons of gas for they're backyard burns?

I was thinking either some "Ripple" or some M/D 2020 (Mad Dog 2020)!

$5 crack rock?!?!?

mk nice can i make it a bumper stik for my car
 ::MonkeyHaHa::

whoops forgot
6oo$ a month at min, if min is 7.25$ works out to 82.75hr
sounds part time,full time 40hr wk,4wks= 1160$ b4 taxes

 I bet Baker was being paid in cash and that it was a lot more than he is claiming.
 Just think of all the money that was spent on gothwomans hair dye.

I don't recall who it was in this thread who was talking about the movie "The Lovely Bones" but I just watched it and this movie just tore me up.  All I can think about is this horrible evil man in this movie is just like the people who keep disappearing all these beautiful children.... I sobbed after the movie was over and my husband cried as well.  This is a REAL horror movie and I am afraid I will be thinking of it for a long time to come.  God, please protect our children from these evil monsters.....  ::MonkeyTears:: ::MonkeyTears:: ::MonkeyTears::

Deenie was talking about that movie a while back, maybe Sebastian too? 

Zahra Baker Fund
Give, and you will receive. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken
down, and running over will be put into your pocket. The standards you
use for others will be applied to you. Luke 6:38 (God's Word Translation) As you worship today, pray for Zahra that she will be found and will be at peace. We are looking for 1000 people to stand up for Zahra today and donate $10 (or more) each.
29 minutes ago ·

Zahra Baker Fund
You can give securely online at www.zahrabaker.com or by calling the Zahra Baker Line (1-828-XXX-XXXX) Between 2pm and 11pm. All donations are managed by Spiritual Counseling Network, a registered Non-profit corporation in North Carolina.
27 minutes ago ·

Zahra Baker Fund
If you would like to verify our non-profit status, call in with your gift on one our staff can walk you through verifying our Non-profit status with the State of North Secretary of State prior to making your donation. Help us reach our $10,000.00 Goal today! It's all for Zahra and her Legacy!
25 minutes ago ·

 ::MonkeyNoNo:: ::MonkeyEek::   ::MonkeyNoNo::

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Zahra-Baker-Fund/166816933330909

Investigators tight-lipped as search continues

Saturday marked the 15th day spent searching for 10-year-old Zahra Baker. She has not been found.

The Hickory Police Department has been at the forefront of the effort to find the girl and discover what happened to her. They’ve been assisted by multiple agencies including the FBI, the U.S. Marshal’s service, the Burke and Caldwell county sheriffs’ offices in what has been called a homicide investigation since Oct. 12 – four days after her father reported her missing.

Hickory police did not respond to requests for a status update on the ongoing investigation Saturday, and it is not clear if the investigation has stalled.

A three-day search of the Foothills Environmental landfill in Lenoir for a mattress belonging to Zahra failed to turn up any evidence and was cancelled Friday.

Zarha’s stepmother, Elisa Baker, remains in the Catawba County jail under a $97,200 secured bond. She was charged with obstruction of justice following her Oct. 12 confession to investigators that she’d written a fake ransom note demanding $1 million. She also has been charged with more than a dozen additional crimes unrelated to Zarha’s disappearance stemming from nine arrest warrants served on Oct. 10.

Attorney Scott Reilly is representing Baker on her current charges. North Carolina’s Indigent Defense Services division provisionally assigned Attorney Lisa Dubs to the case in anticipation of possible murder charges against Baker.

Zahra’s father, Adam Baker, continues to cooperate with law enforcement as they search for his daughter.

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/24/investigators-tight-lipped-search-continues-ar-479124/

Good morning Monkeys.

I could be wrong, but I thought when she was first arrested E listed $599 of her own income as disability income.   Then maybe she is claiming half of Adams income each month from the tree business .

I saw that too about her disability income.
I think given the low income that the house and the use of the vehicle for Adam's work is taken off the top as an emplyee benefit in lieu of the wage.
Even with that, adding her disabilty and his wages and food stamps in is about what ? 1,000 a month ? There were two vehicles, Elisa's and Adam's work vehicle.
Not enough money there is there ?
..
Thta other lawyer visiting her worries me.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/24/1783096/lawyer-known-for-murder-cases.html

Lawyer known for murder cases assigned to Elisa Baker
Lisa Dubs may be on defense team if missing girl's stepmother is charged with murder.
By Richard Gould
Hickory Daily Record
Posted: Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010

HICKORY 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; lawyer Lisa Dubs; and private investigator Steve Elhers.

Police say Elisa Baker admitted writing a bogus ransom note found at the scene of a fire in the family's backyard on the day 10-year-old Zahra was reported missing.

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 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."

She is one of about 10 Catawba lawyers permitted to defend clients facing the death penalty.

Even though Baker has not been charged with murder, the case has gained nationwide attention. Hurley decided it was appropriate to appoint Dubs because of the likelihood that Baker will eventually be charged with murder, Dubs said.

Reilly was appointed to defend Baker on an assortment of charges unrelated to Zahra's disappearance and the obstruction of justice charge that followed Baker's confession to police that she'd written a fake ransom note demanding $1million.

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 husband Adam Baker's job at Real Tree Services, and $200 from additional income such as food stamps or child support.

On Friday, investigators said they had found no clues to the missing girl's whereabouts after a three-day search of a landfill in Lenoir. Crime Stoppers from four counties announced they are offering a $4,000 reward for information on the case.

Police have said they believe Zahra is dead and are investigating the case as a homicide.

Good Afternoon Monkeys and Guest!

I think LE must have a pretty strong case for the courts to be assigning Elisa a capital murder lawyer before she is even charged with murder.

I think it would be a good idea for LE to have someone checking out old logging roads and dirt roads in the areas where they have lived or Adam has worked. Around here that is where you will find illegal dump sites. Also under bridges on country roads.

The fact that she wrote the Ransom Note is the most damning piece of evidence- self incriminating. The dogs alerting in their vehicles, witness statements from people who saw the abuse and failed to report it- so it must not have been too bad, will be according to the defense.
They're going to try and get that confession thrown out-she was on medication for her disability or was due her medication or something. No body, no mattress. I hope the police get a tip or a break in this case. They do seem dedicated to solving this.

It is beyond appalling how these imbeciles time and time again baffle LE.
It's obvious AB is uneducated, so what kind of job did he think he was going to be getting moving to the states?
Doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that when you live in a country that has medical care for your sick, cancer- stricken child, and you don't have too many prospects in the job market, you stay put. Why did he move to the US? Why didn't that step monster stay on in Australia? None of this makes any sense.

Time to start treating the perps the same way they treated their victims.
I hope step monster is getting her azz kicked every day non-stop in jail.
I hope they're starving her.

BTW, the book The Lovely Bones beats the movie hands-down.

For whatever it's worth, these income statistics for Hickory were from the 2000 census.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,236, and the median income for a family was $47,522. Males had a median income of $31,486 versus $23,666 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,263. About 8.4% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

364,759 people live within 25 miles (40 km) of Hickory; 1.8 million people within 50 miles (80 km) of Hickory

I'm familiar with Hickory. Most all of the furniture I have came from buying trips to the Hickory/Lenoir area. There used to be a large furniture manufacturing industry and distribution there. It was home to huge showrooms where you could save a lot of money on high end furniture and custom order upholstered pieces to have directly shipped to your door. The manufacturing has dwindled down to a small fraction of what it used to be when the plants moved out of the country to avoid Union Labor. I would bet that jobs are harder to find, and rental properties go for less. It's a beautiful area, but it has to be feeling the impact of loosing the bulk of the furniture base it once had.

I share the frustration with this case and agree that it just boggles my mind how stupid people can effectively thwart Law Enforcement efforts to solve their crimes. There are a lot of rural, wooded areas in Hickory and it must seem like looking for a needle in a haystack. I'd be cutting off a finger a day until Elisa decided she has something to say. Prayers for Zahra. May she finally be whole and happy and loved. May she be experiencing the childhood now she was deprived of on earth.

And may those responsible for her torment pay dearly for what they've done!

 ::rhino:: ::rhino::

Oh do they mean Oxycontin ..or other drugs, there must be a long list

I'm still unclear as to whether the mattress has been found or not, the following article is in the Australian newsparper the Daily Telegraph today:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/north-carolina-police-find-mattress-of-missing-australian-girl-zahra-baker/story-e6freuy9-1225943073378

North Carolina police find mattress of missing Australian girl Zahra Baker By staff writers From: NewsCore October 25, 2010 8:51AM

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.

Zahra's father, Adam Baker, reported her disappearance to Hickory, North Carolina, police, but a few days later officials said they were investigating her disappearance as a homicide.

Zahra, who has hearing loss and had one lower leg amputated due to cancer, was born in Australia but moved to the US after Adam Baker met the woman who would become her stepmother on the internet two years ago.

Adam Baker has not been ruled out as a suspect and his wife, Zahra's stepmother Elisa Baker, has been charged with obstructing justice after she admitted writing a fake $1 million ransom note.

Elisa Baker is also a suspect in the investigation amid claims she had abused the little girl.

Did the book make you cry?  I mean the movie made me sob afterwards.  I was extremely upset.

I agree, there is some confusion as to whether the mattress was found or not. They abruptly stopped the search after day 3, when they stated it probably will take 4 days to search the landfill.

One article stated "the mattress was not found at the landfill," suggesting there was a mattress found but it was not found at the landfill.

Wording of articles can become confusing and actually say the opposite of what is meant.

I am not convinced that they found her mattress nor that they did not find it.

 ::MonkeyEek::

Brandi, when I was looking for news/updates on the case I found conflicting articles, with some saying mattress found and yet others saying not found.  I decided not to post any of mattress articles whether found or not found  since so many were posted yesterday (found and not found) and hopefully we will get some information soon that is reliable. 

Hi Brandi and MuffyBee, the reason I posted this article is because it is being reported in Australia that the mattress was found and so the general public here, reading that article would believe that is the case, whereas because I am fortunate enough to be a member of this forum, I am aware that this might not be correct.  It is very frustrating, to say the least, to think that the wrong information is being reported.

Maybe they found the mattress at a location other than the landfill? and LE is keeping it quiet?
Just my thought.
I know they searched around the Trailer Park and other places.

Investigators tight-lipped as search continues
By The Hickory Record Staff
Published: October 24, 2010

snipped
Hickory police did not respond to requests for a status update on the ongoing investigation Saturday, and it is not clear if the investigation has stalled.
A three-day search of the Foothills Environmental landfill in Lenoir for a mattress belonging to Zahra failed to turn up any evidence and was cancelled Friday.
http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/24/investigators-tight-lipped-search-continues-ar-479124/


wonder how true this is.........

Posted by allAmerican8888 on Oct. 24, 2010 - 11:01 a.m.

Word from the grape vine is that an indictment package is being prepared for the grand jury. They must have some good forensic evidence and of course they wouldn't tell us that.
It makes sense though....since they have appointed Lisa Dubs.
-------------
The Law Offices of Lisa Andrew Dubs
http://www.dubslawfirm.embarqspace.com/

recent work link
http://www.dubslawfirm.embarqspace.com/#/recent-work/4532635517

It's okay Nightowl.   (http://bestsmileys.com/hugging/1.gif)   I saw another article being reported in Australia that the mattress was found and I thought the same thing as you, that the general public there would believe that is the case.  We've seen the conflicting reports and I hope that we'll get a reliable source that tells us whether the mattress in question has been found or not.  I personally don't feel Zahra is still alive, and I hope I'm wrong about that.  I'm hoping there will be justice for Zahra. 

http://www.whky.com/news.asp?mode=detail&articleID=14014

Adam arrested.

It's about time!

Sorry, but about time  ::MonkeyNoNo::

(http://www.whky.com/sendbinary.asp?path=wwwroot\newsimages\Baker%20Adam%20Troy%20102510.gif&Width=200)

Zahra's Father Arrested on Outstanding Caldwell Co. Warrants
10/25/2010 9:10:16 AM

33-year-old Adam Troy Baker of 21st Avenue N.W. in Hickory was arrested just past 3 a.m. today on outstanding warrants from Caldwell County.  Baker is the father of missing 10-year-old Zahra Baker.  According to Deputy Chief of Police Clyde Deal, the charges against Adam Baker are unrelated to his daughter’s disappearance.  Chief Deputy Deal had no further comment.

The charges against Baker include five counts for worthless checks and four counts of failure to appear on charges of communicating threats, assault with a deadly weapon and failure to return rental property, all misdemeanors.

Baker was processed at the Hickory Police Department where bond was set at $7,000, secured.  He has been confined in the Catawba Co. Detention Facility with a first District Court date scheduled for November 18 in Caldwell County.  At Baker’s request, the Australian consulate in Atlanta, Georgia was notified of his arrest.  Baker is an Australian citizen.

(Pictured:  Adam Troy Baker, courtesy of Hickory Police Dept.)

Finally.

Even though he was arrested on the other charges, bad checks, etc, he needs to be in jail.

He did not seem to be cooperating with authorities.

wow - thanks Tolerance!

I wonder if the charge of failing to return rented furniture includes a mattress?!

http://hickory.wbtv.com/content/zahra-bakers-dad-charged-after-landfill-search-turns-empty
Zahra Baker's dad charged after landfill search turns up empty
Submitted by WBTVWebStaff on Monday, October 25th, 10:30
HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - Authorities said Monday morning that a missing 10-year-old girl's father had been charged and was being held in jail.
Adam Baker, the father of Zahra Baker, was not charged with allegations related to her disappearance, unlike Zahra's stepmother, who is being held on an obstruction of justice charge related to the search for the girl.
Full Coverage:  The Search for Zahra
Adam Baker, who first reported his daughter missing in a 911 call Oct. 9, was charged Monday with 5 counts of worthless checks and 5 counts of failing to appear in court.  He is being held in the Catawba County Jail on a $7,000 bond.
The charges against Baker came after authorties said Friday that they had completed their search of a Caldwell County landfill and that they had been looking for a specific mattress associated with the missing 10-year-old girl, Zahra Baker.
Dozens of law enforcement officers from various agencies descended on the landfill earlier this week and were seen pulling mattresses out it on Thursday. On Wednesday, police said that they were combing the landfill for a "key piece of evidence."

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

Zahra Baker's dad charged after landfill search turns up empty
Posted: Oct 09, 2010 7:05 PM PDT Updated: Oct 25, 2010 7:12 AM PDT


HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - Authorities said Monday morning that a missing 10-year-old girl's father had been charged and was being held in jail.

Adam Baker, the father of Zahra Baker, was not charged with allegations related to her disappearance, unlike Zahra's stepmother, who is being held on an obstruction of justice charge related to the search for the girl.

Full Coverage:  The Search for Zahra

Adam Baker, who first reported his daughter missing in a 911 call Oct. 9, was charged Monday with 5 counts of worthless checks and 5 counts of failing to appear in court.  He is being held in the Catawba County Jail on a $7,000 bond.

The charges against Baker came after authorties said Friday that they had completed their search of a Caldwell County landfill and that they had been looking for a specific mattress associated with the missing 10-year-old girl, Zahra Baker.

Dozens of law enforcement officers from various agencies descended on the landfill earlier this week and were seen pulling mattresses out it on Thursday. On Wednesday, police said that they were combing the landfill for a "key piece of evidence."

 

Friday, they elaborated on the evidence that they had searched for.

"The search focused on a mattress belonging to Zahra that had been disposed of by Zahra's parents sometime during early October, days before Zahra was reported missing," a press release from Hickory Police said.

 Police said that they hoped to "use the mattress to confirm interviews with persons associated with this investigation."  They also said that the mattress would be used to reinforce the timeline of Zahra's disappearance.

Several mattresses were found in the landfill and police took samples of those mattresses with them. However, it is not believed that investigators found the "key piece of evidence" they were looking for.

Lastly, police said they hoped the mattress -- in the landfill for at least 2 weeks now -- could provide some DNA evidence.

The girl's stepmother appeared in court for a bond hearing on Wednesday and the judge increased her bond amount.

 Officers with the Hickory Police Department and agents with the NC State Bureau of Investigation, Evidence Recovery Team members, Federal Bureau of Investigation and US Marshal Service arrived at the Foothills Environmental Landfill located on Cheraw Road in Lenoir early Wednesday morning.  The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office and the Hickory Fire Department were also called to assist with the search.

During a media briefing Wednesday afternoon, Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins commented on the search at the landfill saying officers would continue searching the area over the next few days.

When a reporter asked if they were looking for Zahra Claire Baker, Adkins replied, "We are not looking for her body in the landfill at this time."

 ::monkeyscissors::

http://www.wcnc.com/news/zahra-baker/Zahra-Bakers-father-arrested-105675973.html

Zahra Baker's father arrested

Posted on October 25, 2010 at 10:29 AM

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

Adam Baker was arrested Monday morning on five counts of writing worthless checks and three counts of failure to appear in court.

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 is not cooperating with investigators.

Here is the rest of my post.   ::MonkeyHaHa::
http://hickory.wbtv.com/content/zahra-bakers-dad-charged-after-landfill-search-turns-empty
Friday, they elaborated on the evidence that they had searched for.
"The search focused on a mattress belonging to Zahra that had been disposed of by Zahra's parents sometime during early October, days before Zahra was reported missing," a press release from Hickory Police said.
 Police said that they hoped to "use the mattress to confirm interviews with persons associated with this investigation."  They also said that the mattress would be used to reinforce the timeline of Zahra's disappearance.
Several mattresses were found in the landfill and police took samples of those mattresses with them. However, it is not believed that investigators found the "key piece of evidence" they were looking for.
Lastly, police said they hoped the mattress -- in the landfill for at least 2 weeks now -- could provide some DNA evidence.
The girl's stepmother appeared in court for a bond hearing on Wednesday and the judge increased her bond amount.
 Officers with the Hickory Police Department and agents with the NC State Bureau of Investigation, Evidence Recovery Team members, Federal Bureau of Investigation and US Marshal Service arrived at the Foothills Environmental Landfill located on Cheraw Road in Lenoir early Wednesday morning.  The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office and the Hickory Fire Department were also called to assist with the search.
During a media briefing Wednesday afternoon, Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins commented on the search at the landfill saying officers would continue searching the area over the next few days.
When a reporter asked if they were looking for Zahra Claire Baker, Adkins replied, "We are not looking for her body in the landfill at this time."
Adkins also urged the public to come forward if they have seen Zahra since Sept. 25 or within the last month.
Adkins said different family members have told police various timelines as to when they last saw Zahra.
"We are just looking for someone outside the family to tell us when they have seen her," Adkins said. 
A reporter asked if searchers at the landfill were possibly looking for Zahra's prosthetic leg, but Adkins repeatedly said, "We believe a piece of evidence is in the landfill."
Adkins said his officers were essentially working in two teams: one team is following up on leads and the other team is actively working at the landfill.
"We hope if we find this evidence, it will provide a good, solid timeline in this case," Adkins said.
Following Adkins' comments, Caldwell County Sheriff Allan Jones spoke briefly saying his deputies were assisting the Hickory Police Department in the investigation.  Jones said they will be searching all the trash which has come to the landfill from the date in which Zahra was reportedly last seen.
When asked how the trash is disposed of, Jones replied, "There is no incineration of the trash, all the trash is buried."
Wednesday morning, Zahra's stepmother appeared in Catawba County court for a bond hearing.  Elisa Baker was charged last week with felony obstruction of justice after police say she admitted to writing a ransom note to distract police from finding Zahra.
Baker appeared in court via video monitor.  Her attorney was hoping to the judge would reduce Baker's bond amount.  Instead, Judge Robert Mullinax Jr. raised Baker's bond from $40,000 to $65,000 citing some "unsettling allegations" against her.
Before the judge did this, the State called evidentiary witnesses to the stand including one of Baker's biological daughters.
Amber Fairchild said she had never seen her mother work and that her mother had received about $10,000 from a man in London during the last year.
Reporter Derrick Rose was watching the video monitor and saw Baker sitting with her hands folded and she appeared stoic even when she heard that her bond amount would be increased.
If she is able to post bond, there are restrictions Judge Mullinax has set in place.  She will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device, and she will have a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.   She will also be required to surrender her passport.
On Tuesday, the HPD released the 911 call in which Zahra's father, Adam Baker, made right after he discovered his 10-year-old was missing, or possibly kidnapped.
In the nearly 5-minute phone call on Oct. 9, Baker talked about how a fire was set at his house the day before and he theorized that a group of kidnappers, who allegedly left a ransom note for his bosses' daughter, had instead taken Baker's daughter.  (Click here to read a transcript and listen to the full 911 call)
Since the 911 call was made 11 days ago, police say Zahra Baker's stepmother has admitted to writing the ransom note that was found in a vehicle parked outside the family's home.  She is charged with obstruction of justice and police are pursuing the case as a homicide investigation.
In the 911 call, Adam Baker suggests that Zahra was taken during the melee when a fire was set in the back yard at his house, possibly by mysterious kidnappers who he repeatedly refers to.
"We checked in there last night about 2:30 a.m. and she was there," Baker says of Zahra, who had twice survived cancer, but suffered hearing loss and lost part of a leg in the battle against the disease.
"I don't know if they set a fire in the yard to distract us to go out and then they snuck in the door," he said.
When the 911 operator asked when Baker last saw Zahra -- since the call was 12 hours after someone last saw her -- he explained that he was used to not seeing her and laughed about the 10-year-old's "brooding."
"My daughter is, I think, coming into puberty, cause she is hitting that brooding stage (laughter) so we only see her when she comes out when she wants something, and that's about it," Baker said.
Baker goes on to briefly describe Zahra, and also tells the dispatcher that the "kidnappers" took her prosthetic leg.
 ::monkeyscissors::

I'm hoping Adam Baker ends up being the weakest link and he admits what happened to Zahra.  I fully believe he knows.

Guess he was not usefull to LE anymore.  It is over due. 

At Baker’s request, the Australian consulate in Atlanta, Georgia was notified of his arrest.  Baker is an Australian citizen.
Wonder what they can do for him?  Hopefully he will stay in the use to face all charges and any sentences.  I saw a programonce about Australian prisons, they are not about punishment of the inmates. 

sorry for the bad spelling hit enter prematurely

THE SOB WAS FLEEING !!!!

Zahra Baker's Father Arrested

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Zahra Baker’s father, Adam Baker, was arrested early Monday morning at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and is facing several charges unrelated to his daughter’s disappearance.

MORE..

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

::MonkeyNoNo::  Go figure

First 3 flights out were to Miami

MIA Miami MQ 3632  American Eagle 5:50 AM  6:17 AM  A11  Landed
  16 min  ER4   
MIA Miami AA 3632^  American Airlines 5:50 AM  6:17 AM  A11  Landed
  16 min  ER4   
MIA Miami BA 4982^  British Airways 5:50 AM  6:17 AM  A11  Landed
  16 min  ER4 

http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightStatus/flightStatusByAirport.do?airport=%28CLT%29+Douglas+Airport%2C+Charlotte%2C+NC%2C+US&airportQueryDate=2010-10-25&airportQueryTime=0&airlineToFilter=&airportQueryType=0&x=21&y=5

Funny the article no longer says he was arrested at the airport.  I don't doubt he was, just wondering if LE made them change it?

Wonder if his mom gave him the money?  It almost sounds to me that Adam must have told the police that Zahra's mattress was in the dump and when it didn't get found, the police had decided to arrest him, at least that is how I'm reading it.

That was fast  ::MonkeyEek::  I am betting he was getting out of town and that forced LE's hand to arrest him. 

Problem being, now he will "Lawyer up" and remain silent as we've seen in most of these cases.
Would they have returned his Visa and passport?  Can't see that happening!  Maybe he was heading for Florida and try for Cuba in a dingy......With his mentality anythings possible...

I doubt he saved the $5 left over every month from his paycheck for a rainy day.  He either wrote a bad cheque or got it from somewhere else like family.  Not sure he has any friends left there, maybe in Aussie.

Yes, and then mix in the Australian consulate and who knows what will happen  ::MonkeyNoNo::

I still had the browser open with the article that mentions the airport.  Here is the screen shot   ::MonkeyDance::

Zahra Baker's dad is jailed; not connected to disappearance


Adam Baker, father of missing 10-year-old Zahra Baker, was jailed Monday morning on charges not related to his daughter's disappearance, Hickory police say.

Baker had been wanted on five counts of worthless checks and five counts of failure to appear in court. Police say those charges pre-date Oct. 9, when Adam Baker called authorities and reported his daughter was missing from their Hickory home.

A number of searches apparently have turned up no clues, including a three-day search last week at a landfill in Caldwell County.

Hickory police Chief Tom Adkins told reporters two weeks ago that Adam Baker was wanted on several outstanding warrants, but he said authorities had delayed taking action because the father was cooperating with police in the search for Zahra.

Police had hoped to find a significant clue in the case during last week's painstaking look through mounds of trash in Lenoir. Now, with that search ended, authorities have decided to serve the warrants.

Baker was jailed Monday in Newton under $7,000 bond.

His wife, Elisa Baker, Zahra's stepmother, also is in jail in Newton under $65,000 bond. She is charged with obstruction of justice, with investigators alleging she wrote a phony ransom note aimed at interfering with the police probe into the girl's disappearance. Elisa Baker's bond was increased during a hearing last week, after her daughter asked a judge not to release her mother, saying she feared for her safety.


Elisa Baker also faces charges, including worthless checks, in Burke County.

Hickory police continue to ask the public for help in the case, saying they are having a difficult time establishing a timeline on when Zahra Baker was last seen.

Early in the investigation, Elisa Baker was named by police as a "person of interest" in the Zahra Baker case.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/25/1786178/zahra-bakers-dad-jailed-not-connected.html

Adam Baker arrested on worthless check charges

HICKORY --
Hickory police arrested Adam Baker on seven outstanding warrants for writing worthless checks. He is the father of Zahra Clare Baker, the 10-year-old girl who was reported missing on Oct. 9.

This morning, Hickory police and Caldwell County investigators were back at the Caldwell County Environmental Landfill searching for evidence.
Baker's wife, Elisa Baker, remains in jail on several charges unrelated to the case, plus a charged of obstruction of justice in the disappearance of her stepdaughter.

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/25/adam-baker-arrested-worthless-check-charges-ar-481519/

Yes. The book was quite moving..and so different, the story being told by the victim. It was excellent though very sad.

Best news I've heard all day so far~that Adam Baker's in the slammer.
Hope he enjoys his stay.

So, there was a statement from AY that some of Adam's family was coming from Australia. Could he have been waiting for a flight to come in? I just don't see how he could afford a flight. I would see him leaving in a car, bus, train, but not a plane. Too much of a paper trail that way too.

Breaking News
Zahra Baker's dad charged after landfill search turns up empty

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

What a dunce! Did he really think he was going to be able just hop on a plane and go somewhere?? While his daughter is missing, murdered, and his wife is in jail?
I think he knows exactly what happened and now maybe they can get him to talk.

In the video on this page they mention that LE found a few mattresses in the woods by the trailer park.  Not heard this before.

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

See, that is the way I took all this, he must have lied about that landfill and when the mattress didn't turn up they went for him  IMO

Has anyone else noticed the Fund FB is gone this morning?  Is it just me or did it go away like the other Zahra FB?

Zahra Baker's father arrested at airport Peter Mitchell
October 26, 2010 - 2:59AM

The father of missing 10-year-old Australian girl Zahra Baker has been arrested at a North Carolina airport.

Police in the Bakers' home town of Hickory, North Carolina, said they arrested Adam Baker at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Monday morning, but do not believe he was trying to flee the state or the US.

The charges were not related to Zahra's disappearance.

"We believe he was at the airport picking up relatives who were flying in from Australia," Hickory Police Department spokesperson Libby Grigg told AAP.

Baker, a former Queensland sugar mill worker who moved from Australia to the US two years ago with Zahra so he could be with his new American wife Elisa, faces five counts of writing worthless cheques, two counts of communicating threats, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of failure to return rental property.

The disappearance of Zahra, who had the lower part of her left leg amputated five years ago after being stricken with bone cancer, has made headlines across the world.

Adam and Elisa Baker reported her missing on October 9. However, Zahra had not been seen by anyone other than a family member since September 25 and Hickory police believe she was murdered.

Elisa Baker is also in custody.

Adam Baker is being held on $US7000 ($A7116) bond while Elisa was arrested a fortnight ago and is charged with obstruction of justice and other offences. The obstruction of justice count relates to an alleged fake ransom police believe she wrote.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/zahra-bakers-father-arrested-at-airport-20101026-17134.html

He needs to sit in jail until he tells where Zahra is...

Nothing arrived at the airport till 6:00am. 

SAN San Diego US 199  US Airways 5:58 AM  6:09 AM  B4  Landed
  On-time  321   
SAN San Diego UA 1182^  United Airlines 5:58 AM  6:09 AM  B4  Landed
  On-time  321   
PHX Phoenix US 1558  US Airways 6:00 AM  5:54 AM  B10  Landed
  On-time  321   
PHX Phoenix UA 1844^  United Airlines 6:00 AM  5:54 AM  B10  Landed
  On-time  321   
GIG Rio De Janeiro US 801  US Airways 6:00 AM  6:49 AM  D13  Landed
  49 min  767   
DEN Denver US 498  US Airways 6:02 AM  7:20 AM  B1  Landed
  78 min  320   
DEN Denver UA 1277^  United Airlines 6:02 AM  7:20 AM  B1  Landed
  78 min  320   
LAS Las Vegas US 1794  US Airways 6:03 AM  6:07 AM  B12  Landed
  On-time  321   
LAS Las Vegas UA 2364^  United Airlines 6:03 AM  6:07 AM  B12  Landed
  On-time  321   
LAX Los Angeles US 1498  US Airways 6:05 AM  6:03 AM  B15  Landed
  On-time  321   
LAX Los Angeles NZ 3760^  Air New Zealand 6:05 AM  6:03 AM  B15  Landed
  On-time  321   
LAX Los Angeles UA 1817^  United Airlines 6:05 AM  6:03 AM  B15  Landed
  On-time  321   
LAX Los Angeles OZ 9313^  Asiana Airlines 6:05 AM  6:03 AM  B15  Landed
  On-time  321   
LAX Los Angeles BR 3503^  EVA Air 6:05 AM 

http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightStatus/flightStatusByAirport.do

Father of Missing North Carolina Girl Arrested

The father of a missing North Carolina girl presumed dead was arrested early Monday on charges unrelated to the child's disappearance.

The Hickory Police Department told FoxNews.com that Adam Baker was arrested at 3:12 a.m. Monday on five counts of writing worthless checks and three counts of failure to appear in court.

MORE..

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/10/25/father-missing-north-carolina-girl-arrested/

Adam's racked up quite a history in two short years, IMO.

snipped: five counts of writing worthless cheques, two counts of communicating threats, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of failure to return rental property.

Have to wonder if he was really fleeing and not picking up relatives, sure we will find out more as the day goes on.

IF Adam was at the airport at least  3 hours before any flight arrival to pick up relatives from Aussie wonder who was there to meet them after he got arrested?  His mom KB was very vocal on FB about LE should not giving statements and they should do their jobs.  I bet she is happy that they did their jobs this morning.   ::piggy::

I was gone for a bit, GREAT CATCH AND SCREEN CAP!

I just got lucky as I had so many windows open that it was still one of them.  Sometimes I get lucky  ::MonkeyHaHa::

I saw it early this morning but it's gone now.  GOOD!

Good Afternoon Monkeys and Guest!

On WSOCTV noon newscast...There is a search going on this morning on a rural road. There were several trucks ,one was off the road in a heavyly wooded area. Missed the name of the rd. but I am sure they will tell it again in the next 30 min segment. Said it is a promising lead and they hoped it turned up some evidence..

Looks like the website is still up and running:

http://www.zahrabaker.com/

The screen capture you posted said just before 6 am, so I have a feeling we won't know more until later today. I still feel that it was for picking up, not taking off.

Thanks Darla.  I hope they find something today.

News update....search going on on Dudly Shoals Rd. in Caldwell County. less than a mile from where Elisa Baker lived 3 yrs ago. News will break in if anything develops over the afternoon

I think the family needs to complain about this to make it go away. 

Thanks Darla!

Looks like it has gone POOF!

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

Zahra Baker's dad charged as search moves to new location
Posted: Oct 09, 2010 7:05 PM PDT Updated: Oct 25, 2010 9:35 AM PDT


Adam Baker, who first reported his daughter missing in a 911 call Oct. 9, was charged Monday with five counts of worthless checks and five counts of failing to appear in court -- one of those cases being assault with a deadly weapon. He was arrested at Charlotte Douglas Airport and s being held in the Catawba County Jail on a $7,000 bond.

Other charges that Baker allegedly did not appear in court for are communicating threats. His next court date is set for November 18. Authorities said that although Adam Baker was arrested at the aiport Monday, he was not there to take a flight, but was instead picking up someone from the airport.

The charges against Baker came after authorties said Friday that they had completed their search of a Caldwell County landfill and that they had been looking for a specific mattress associated with the missing 10-year-old girl, Zahra Baker.

Dozens of law enforcement officers from various agencies descended on the landfill earlier this week and were seen pulling mattresses out it on Thursday. On Wednesday, police said that they were combing the landfill for a "key piece of evidence."

Friday, they confirmed the mattress was the focus of the search -- but also said their search was not successful.

"The search focused on a mattress belonging to Zahra that had been disposed of by Zahra's parents sometime during early October, days before Zahra was reported missing," a press release from Hickory Police said.

 Police said that they hoped to "use the mattress to confirm interviews with persons associated with this investigation."  They also said that the mattress would be used to reinforce the timeline of Zahra's disappearance.

Several mattresses were found in the landfill and police took samples of those mattresses with them. However, it is not believed that investigators found the "key piece of evidence" they were looking for.

Lastly, police said they hoped the mattress -- in the landfill for at least 2 weeks now -- could provide some DNA evidence.

Last week, Zahra's stepmother, Elisa Baker, appeared in court for a bond hearing on Wednesday and the judge increased her bond amount.

Officials kept urging the public to come forward if they have seen Zahra since Sept. 25 or within the last month.

Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said different family members have told police various timelines as to when they last saw Zahra.

"We are just looking for someone outside the family to tell us when they have seen her," Adkins said. 

Adkins said officers were working in two teams: one team is following up on leads and the other team is actively working at the landfill.

"We hope if we find this evidence, it will provide a good, solid timeline in this case," Adkins said.

 ::monkeyscissors::


I don't see that they say where this new area is

Thanks!

When I search Expedia.com for flights from Townsville, Australia, to Charlotte, NC, I get this:
Connect in Brisbane (BNE), Los Angeles (LAX)

or this
Connect in Brisbane (BNE), Los Angeles (LAX), Dallas (Dallas-Fort Worth Intl.)

So someone coming from the area of Australia where they are from, would be arriving at Charlotte from most likely LAX or DFW.
 
 
 
 

Police said Monday that they are following a "promising lead" in the search for Zahra Baker. (video)

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

ditto.

Maybe a witness saw Baker/s dump the mattress. 

Thanks Northern Rose for bringing the video over. I haven't figured out how to do that yet. I sure hope and pray they can find that sweet angel today.

Wow, thank-you.

You are all welcome.

Thanks, NR!

Charlotte airport is an hour's drive from Hickory. I suppose they figured out he wasn't flying anywhere because he didn't bring anything with him and didn't have any money maybe? It's easy enough to check incoming flights for names of relatives. With his history of writing bad checks, surely they didn't just take his word for it. Writing another one could have been his flight plan.  :roll:

Let's hope this tip is a reliable one, interesting it is around the area Elisa lived 3 years ago.

Hickory, NC -- Police in North Carolina say the father of a missing 10-year-old disabled girl has been charged with writing bad checks.

Hickory police spokeswoman Libby Grigg says Adam Baker was being held Monday in the Catawba County jail on $7,000 bond. It was unclear if he had an attorney.

Grigg says the charges not related to the disappearance of his daughter, Zahra Baker, who was reported missing Oct. 9.

The girl's stepmother, Elisa Baker, has been charged with obstruction of justice. Police say she admitted writing a bogus ransom note found at the scene of a fire in the family's back yard on the day Zahra was reported missing.

Authorities think the girl is dead.

http://www.digtriad.com/news/local_state/article.aspx?storyid=149671

They want to limit his support group- who knows what kind of plan there was. 

Someone could have showed up at the airport with a ticket/passport for him for all LE knows.

Apparently, they've gotten everything out of him that he was going to admitt to- or not.  They said as long as he was working with LE he wouldn't be arrested.

Also, the police aren't obligated to share any info with his family, they were dealing with AB as he is the parent of the missing child. 

Now, AB has the opportunity to lawyer up which the police were trying to avoid.  Curious to see what his financial statement will be for an attorney.

Missing girl case delays court hearing in Gaston murder case
October 25, 2010 12:52 PM

The attorney representing Michael Mead on a murder charge in Gaston County is now involved with the ongoing case of Zahra Baker, a missing Hickory girl.

Mead and his lawyer, Lisa Dubs, were scheduled to appear in court Monday to argue for a change of venue in his murder trial. An early-morning call changed that plan, according to Gaston County Assistant District Attorney Robert Forbes.

Forbes told Judge Robert Bell that Dubs called to say she and Mead couldn’t be in court because she’s now been assigned to Elisa Baker, the 10-year-old girl’s stepmother who has been in jail since Oct. 10 for obstruction of justice.

Forbes told Bell that he didn’t think another case elsewhere should affect court proceedings in Gaston County.

Bell asked Forbes to approach the bench. There was no further discussion in open court, but Forbes said the matter will come before the judge 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Mead, of York County, S.C., faces a death penalty trial for the July 2008 killing of Lucy Johnson, a 31-year-old single mother of two found in her burning house in a subdivision off Lowell-Bethesda Road. An autopsy indicates Johnson, a nurse at Kings Mountain Hospital, was fatally shot in the head before the fire.

Both the 2008 killing and the recent disappearance have made headlines locally and nationally.

During a recent bond hearing for Elisa Baker, Catawba County District Judge Robert Mullinax Jr. said there were “disturbing and unsettling allegations” in the case.

Investigators said Baker wrote a bogus ransom note found Oct. 9, the day she and her husband reported Zahra missing. Police have said they think someone killed the girl who used hearing aids and a prosthetic leg because of bone cancer, but have not found her body and haven’t charged anyone with killing her.

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, Hickory Police Chief Tom 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.

http://www.gastongazette.com/news/mead-51934-case-gaston.html

Not sure why Dubs would cancel a court appearance because of this case.  She knew before this morning she was assigned to Gothmom.  The early morning call makes me wonder if she is also Adam's lawyer now. 

This doesn't make sense to me either Northern....Elisa and Adam haven't been charged with murder yet, that we know of...What  would be so important that she had to cancel court this am?   

Crews searching Caldwell County in Zahra Baker case


CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. – Crews have resumed their search into the disappearance of 10-year-old Zahra Baker.

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.

Zahra’s father, 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.

Police acknowledged that Adam Baker had outstanding warrants for worthless checks when the investigation began, but said that they would execute those warrants when the time was appropriate.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Crews-searching-Caldwell-County-in-Zahra-Baker-case-105693703.html

Whatever it was it had to be big as she was the one who asked for the court's time this morning to ask for a change of venue for her other client.   ::MonkeyEek::

It sure has to be very important.

The roads were not closed off as of noon, because Dave Faherty was right near where the search was going on, and said that he had spoke with LE. Praying that they have found something at this location. I have WSOC tv on, waiting for any updates.
Havi

Restaurants help feed Zahra Baker investigators (with video)


HICKORY, N.C. -- Local restaurants and businesses are stepping up to help the Hickory police and other agencies investigating the Zahra Baker homicide case. The Catawba County, Burke County, and Caldwell County sheriff's offices, as well as the SBI, and other federal agencies have worked for two solid weeks.

The Hickory chief said he appreciated restaurants donating food so investigators could continue their assignments. Local restaurant owners said the case hits close to home.

"The people in Hickory are taking this story personal and everybody wants to do something but they're so limited in what they can do," said Brenda Perone-Smith from the Carolina Bagel Bakery Cafe.

Police expected the search of the Caldwell County landfill the last five days, they wrapped up their work after three days. Investigators took several items from the site included a mattress, but said they didn't get the DNA evidence they had hoped.

http://charlotte.news14.com/content/zahra_baker_case/631898/restaurants-help-feed-zahra-baker-investigators

It is always nice to read when businesses or restaurants help like that  ::MonkeyAngel::  I'm wondering if Elisa confessed? It has to big big for her lawyer to cancel this morning with her other case.

(http://media.wcnc.com/images/102510+zahra+search+copy.jpg)

Zahra Baker's dad charged as search for girl moves to new location

(http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo242/Brandi-Monkey/ZahraClareBaker/Image1-1.png)
HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - Authorities said Monday morning that a missing 10-year-old girl's father had been charged and was being held in jail just as the search for Zahra Baker becane active in Caldwell County near a former Baker family residence.

Adam Baker, the father of Zahra Baker, was not charged with allegations related to her disappearance, unlike Zahra's stepmother, who is being held on an obstruction of justice charge related to the search for the girl.

Meanwhile, authorities Monday confirmed that a new search was underway on Dudley Shoals Road which is in Caldwell County, about four miles northeast of Granite Falls. That location is reportedly near where the Baker family once lived.

Adam Baker, who first reported his daughter missing in a 911 call Oct. 9, was charged Monday with five counts of worthless checks and five counts of failing to appear in court -- one of those cases being assault with a deadly weapon. He was arrested at Charlotte Douglas Airport and is being held in the Catawba County Jail on a $7,000 bond.

Other charges that Baker allegedly did not appear in court for are communicating threats. His next court date is set for November 18. Authorities said that although Adam Baker was arrested at the aiport Monday, he was not there to take a flight, but was instead picking up someone from the airport.

The charges against Baker came after authorties said Friday that they had completed their search of a Caldwell County landfill and that they had been looking for a specific mattress associated with the missing 10-year-old girl, Zahra Baker.

Dozens of law enforcement officers from various agencies descended on the landfill earlier this week and were seen pulling mattresses out it on Thursday. On Wednesday, police said that they were combing the landfill for a "key piece of evidence."

Friday, they confirmed the mattress was the focus of the search -- but also said their search was not successful.

"The search focused on a mattress belonging to Zahra that had been disposed of by Zahra's parents sometime during early October, days before Zahra was reported missing," a press release from Hickory Police said.

 Police said that they hoped to "use the mattress to confirm interviews with persons associated with this investigation."  They also said that the mattress would be used to reinforce the timeline of Zahra's disappearance.

Several mattresses were found in the landfill and police took samples of those mattresses with them. However, it is not believed that investigators found the "key piece of evidence" they were looking for.

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

I am reading comments at

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/20/records-show-zahra-fund-spokesman-had-2006-felony--ar-467634/#comments

Seems there is a business that is shown as a sponsor on their $5,00 giveaway that has requested their logo to be removed since Sept.

http://www.ncchristiancounselors.com/support-5000.htm

Posted by Tvb on Oct. 23, 2010 - 9:31 a.m.
I am speaking on behalf of Hannah's BBQ & will ASSURE you there has been absolutely NO money given to support this organization.

We did offer a coupon on their card to fill a blank they had, but it was not financially supported by us at all. Please know that we do not and have never given financial support to organizations, with the exception of Carolina Cross Connections. We have helped people in our communities, but we don't collect for organizations.

Also, I would ask, would you not shop at Home Depot as well? What we did was to offer a coupon to a potential customer & we also had our coupon removed from them in September. If we have offended anyone, we apologize, the intent was never do deceive or offend anyone, only to offer a coupon to folks.

Hopefully you will understand & we will see you again.

Posted by LeLe1953 on Oct. 23, 2010 - 10:09 a.m.
In all fairness, I have not looked today, but have you insisted they take your business's name of their sponser page?

As a community we have all fallen in love with Zahra & would gladly give what we could & do what we could to help bring her home. The issue with the fund raising in her name has been about WHO is doing it & their reputations. Most don't trust them because of their past history.

I am glad to see your explanation & it seems you have been exploited like so many others.
Thank you & God Bless

Posted by Tvb on Oct. 23, 2010 - 10:57 a.m.
Yes we have requested to be removed from their sponsor page, we did this in early September....

I did just check about a week ago and was unable to find or see any sponsors.

I just happened upon this blog, I had no idea this kind of even going on...if ever there is a question about anything with any of our restaurants I would encourage you to always contact the stores & ask for the manager. They will direct you to me & I will handle things asap...
Thanks for your understanding & be blessed.

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/20/records-show-zahra-fund-spokesman-had-2006-felony--ar-467634/#comments

His eyes in his mugshot give me the chills

(http://www.whky.com/sendbinary.asp?path=wwwroot\newsimages\Baker Adam Troy 102510.gif&Width=200)

http://www.whky.com/news.asp?mode=detail&articleID=14014

Yes, it made me think 'someone' was talking.

I think that his eyes look sad...

Nightowl, another misconstrued fact reported by the Australian news, I believe.

Says that Adam was arrested and released on bond.

I don't think he has been released. None of the articles except for this one says he was.

http://www.news.com.au/world/father-of-missing-10-year-old-zahra-barker-arrested-on-unrelated-charges/story-e6frfkyi-1225943508897
(http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo242/Brandi-Monkey/ZahraClareBaker/Image3-2.png)

Zahra Baker's father arrested at airport
The father of missing 10-year-old Australian girl Zahra Baker has been arrested at a North Carolina airport.

Police in the Bakers' home town of Hickory, North Carolina, said they arrested Adam Baker at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Monday morning, but do not believe he was trying to flee the state or the US.

The charges were not related to Zahra's disappearance.

"We believe he was at the airport picking up relatives who were flying in from Australia," Hickory Police Department spokesperson Libby Grigg told AAP.

Baker, a former Queensland sugar mill worker who moved from Australia to the US two years ago with Zahra so he could be with his new American wife Elisa, faces five counts of writing worthless cheques, two counts of communicating threats, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of failure to return rental property.

The disappearance of Zahra, who had the lower part of her left leg amputated five years ago after being stricken with bone cancer, has made headlines across the world.

Adam and Elisa Baker reported her missing on October 9. However, Zahra had not been seen by anyone other than a family member since September 25 and Hickory police believe she was murdered.

Elisa Baker is also in custody.

Adam Baker is being held on $7000 ($7116) bond while Elisa was arrested a fortnight ago and is charged with obstruction of justice and other offences. The obstruction of justice count relates to an alleged fake ransom police believe she wrote.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/zahra-bakers-father-arrested-at-airport-20101026-1713x.html

He puts me in mind of Josh Powell

The 1st one to talk gets the best deal and I have a feeling Adam was just thrown under the bus.

Wow, it seems that Aussie news is almost as bad as ours here in the states!

This is the video where they are talking about the promising lead they are following in the Dudley Shoals Road area.  I know the link has already been posted.  They mention that they have been searching this area since before dawn this morning.  Wonder if Elesa finally talked?

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

That would fit with her new attorney calling this morning to cancel a change of venue court date for another client facing murder charges. 

Do you think she would talk in the middle of the night? That seems weird to me. However, the fact that they are searching the new area at that time, her lawyer called and postponed another hearing at that time and arrested AB at that time seems to fit. It just seems like such a strange time to start talking.

Forgot to add that this makes me wonder just who was coming in on that plane and if their arrival had anything to do with all of this.

HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - Authorities said Monday morning that a missing 10-year-old girl's father had been charged and was being held in jail just as the search for Zahra Baker becane active in Caldwell County near a former Baker family residence.

Adam Baker, the father of Zahra Baker, was not charged with allegations related to her disappearance, unlike Zahra's stepmother, who is being held on an obstruction of justice charge related to the search for the girl.

Meanwhile, authorities Monday confirmed that a new search was underway on Dudley Shoals Road which is in Caldwell County, about four miles northeast of Granite Falls. That location is reportedly near where Elisa Baker lived in 2006-2007 before she married Adam Baker and before his daughter, Zahra moved to the United States.

MOVE...

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

Maybe Adam talked when they arrested him.   Which they then asked to speak with E and her attorneys.

I'm wondering, because the police started their search around dawn, and that would kind of fit with his arrest.

He looks mean and nasty  ::MonkeyNoNo::

kimberlyholt    Zahra Baker's stepmother taken from jail to the newest search site today. Only Eyewitness News was there. Story coming up at 5.

http://twitter.com/kimberlyholt

Wow, thanks!

  ::MonkeyNoNo::

Zahra Baker case shifts to investigation off of Dudley Shoals Road in Granite Falls
10/25/2010 3:59:42 PM


Investigators connected to the Zahra Baker case have resumed searching in Caldwell County, this time near an area where the Baker family once lived.

The Caldwell County Sheriffs Department, the Hickory Police department along with SBI and FBI agents are searching an area near Burns Road, off of Dudley Shoals Road in the Granite Falls area of Caldwell County. Roads are blocked off in the area and Dudley Shoals Baptist Church is being used as a staging area as investigators have been searching the area for most of the day.

Caldwell County Sheriff Alan Jones held an impromptu press conference on site of the investigation. You can access the entire press conference by clicking here.
http://titancast.titantv.com/p/whky/v/Zahra-BakerDudley-Shoals-press-conference/1ACF23V7.aspx

http://www.whky.com/news.asp?mode=detail&articleID=14027

Zahra Baker’s Stepmother Brought To New Search Site

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.

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.

While at the search site on Monday, Eyewitness News reporter Dave Faherty did not see Elisa Baker get out the SUV that she was brought to the area in.

Zahra Baker’s father, Adam Baker, is also in police custody. He was arrested early Monday morning and is facing several charges unrelated to his daughter’s disappearance.

MORE...

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

Wow. It really sounds like she's talking. I hope so!

It sure does, somebody is definitely talking.

Can someone who knows how bring the Sherriff's press conference over please? 

from Nancy Grace:  BREAKING NEWS: Zahra Baker’s stepmom reportedly just taken out of jail & brought to the newest search site!

Someone please tell me.  What was the father arrested for while at the airport.  Was there an assault or something brought on by him?  I missed something.??????? ::MonkeyShocked::

Arrested on his outstanding warrants...bad checks,assault with a deadly weapon, not returning rental equipment and failure to appear...no new charges.

Thanks.  Do you know who he might have assaulted with a deadly weapon and when??  Very curious.  I did not think he had a temper?

I think that was when he tried to run someone off the road with his car but I could be wrong.

Zahra Baker's father arrested, charges unrelated to disappearance
Oct 25, 2010 | 4:33:57


CHARLOTTE - The father of a missing Hickory girl has been arrested on charges that are unrelated to the disappearance of Zahra Baker.

Adam Baker was jailed today on charges including passing worthless checks and failure to appear in court. His bond was set at $7,000, with a court appearance on these charges slated for Nov. 18.

A police statement issued late this afternoon said Baker was arrested at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport around 3:15 this morning.

The statement said Baker was at the airport to pick up a family member.
Prior to his arrest, the statement said Baker voluntarily went to the Hickory Police Department and gave an interview.
 

Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said officers delayed arresting Adam Baker because he was cooperating with the investigation into Zahra's disappearance.

Police have said they believe the ten-year-old is dead.
 

Investigators, now into their third week of looking for Zahra, today focused on a Caldwell County property that's near the former home of Zahra's stepmother, Elisa Baker.

Elisa Baker has been held at the Catawba County Jail since Oct. 10 on a range of charges, one of which stems from Zahra's reported disappearance on Oct. 9.

She admitted to writting a bogus ransom note that was found in a car that was set on fire outside the Baker's home.

A judge last week raised Elisa Baker's bond to $65,000.

This afternoon's police statement said the Australian consulate in Atlanta was notified of Adam Baker's arrest, at his request.

http://www.wbt.com/news/local_detail.aspx?ID=52462&title=Zahra%20Baker%27s%20father%20arrested%2C%20charges%20unrelated%20to%20disappearance

Who shows up 3 hours early at the airport?  When I checked flights this morning nothing moves in or out of that airport before 6am.

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

News Video of today's events.

They suggest you get there 3 hrs ahead of your scheduled flight if you are departing.

I would have no idea, and wondered who he was picking up.

His mother maybe????

I can't imagine who else it would be.

Don't you know if it was his mother, it broke her heart to have him arrested.  The LE must have a tail on him and they may have thought he was going to run.

Posted on Facebook by Nancy Grace:
BREAKING NEWS: Zahra Baker’s stepmom reportedly just taken out of jail & brought to the newest search site!

Good morning everyone, I've just been catching up on these new developments.  Could the following statement mean that AB went to the police station and made a statement that started the ball rolling with all of this action?

"A police statement issued late this afternoon said Baker was arrested at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport around 3:15 this morning.

The statement said Baker was at the airport to pick up a family member.
Prior to his arrest, the statement said Baker voluntarily went to the Hickory Police Department and gave an interview."

I know that doesn't make much sense because I can't see him walking into the police, telling them where to search and then they let him walk out again to go to the airport.   ::MonkeyNoNo::

Nightowl, please include the link in your posts, even if you've snipped the article.  Thanks.  MuffyBee

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/10/25/north.carolina.missing.girl/?hpt=T2
Father of missing North Carolina girl arrested
October 25, 2010

(CNN) -- The father of a missing 10-year-old North Carolina girl has joined his wife behind bars after being arrested on charges unrelated to the weeks-long search for his daughter.

Adam Troy Baker was arrested shortly after 3 a.m. Monday in 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 Baker faced bad-check charges but did not initially arrest him. He had been helping authorities in their search for his daughter, Zahra Clare Baker.

Zahra was reported missing 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.

Last week, police said that the girl's stepmother, Elisa Baker, admitted writing a fake ransom note that was left at the family's home. She faces an obstruction of justice charge -- a felony -- in addition to several unrelated charges, including writing worthless checks.

Authorities on Friday ended an unsuccessful search at a North Carolina landfill for a mattress connected to Zahra's disappearance, said police in Hickory.

The adolescent's disappearance is being investigated as a homicide, police said. Local, state and federal authorities, along with cadaver dogs, are continuing to search Caldwell County and thereabouts for signs of Zahra.

Zahra's father, Adam Troy 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.

At Adam Baker's request, the closest Australian consulate, in Atlanta, Georgia, was notified of his arrest. He is an Australian citizen, according to press reports.

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-TV in Charlotte.

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

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

I also saw this from ABC:

Adam Baker, 33, was arrested at 3:12 a.m. on 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. Adam Baker was taken into custody while at the Hickory Police station after voluntarily coming in to give a statement, a police official told ABC News.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/zahra-baker-case-father-arrested-unrelated-charges/story?id=11964372

So many different "facts," huh?

 ::MonkeyEek::

Indeed. 

So it sounds like Adam was found at the airport and police asked him to come to the Police station and was arrested there.

Sorry MuffyBee, will do in future.  ::MonkeyWink::

 Date/Time Type Details Location Report
 10/25/2010 03:12 Arrest Arrestee: BAKER, ADAM TROY
Charge: WORTHLESS CHECK  347 2ND AVE SW

http://www.hickorypd.net/Summary.aspx

Yup that is how I put it together as well.  I could be wrong though.

Zahra Baker’s Stepmother Brought To New Search Site


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

Zahra Baker/Dudley Shoals press conference

http://titancast.titantv.com/p/whky/v/Zahra-BakerDudley-Shoals-press-conference/1ACF23V7.aspx

I'm just speculating here but maybe his mother arrived, he's told her what actually happened and she has convinced him to go to the police and confess what he knows.  It appears from this new search that they are focussing on a specific area and they are confident of finding Zahra's body and laying charges, hence the change to the court appearance this morning for EB's defence attorney and AB's request for the Australian Consulate to be informed?

VIDEO: Zahra's Stepmother Brought To New Search Site: http://www.wsoctv.com/video/25506523/index.html

sorry, I dont know how to post the video on here

This is along the lines of what I was thinking. I am just sitting on pins and needles for more info. She needs to be found and these two sickos need to be brought to justice!

I am thinking the opposite.

I am thinking (speculating) that Elisa was told Adam was arrested and maybe they said he was talking. So Elisa got worried and was told by LE whoever talks first gets a better deal. So Elisa talked.

I think this because she came out with the ransom note confession quite early after being arrested, and I think she would be the first to talk, and want to cover her butt as best she can.

JMO and all speculation on my part.

I would still like to know what the assault with a deadly weapon is all about.  Who in the world did he try and assault and why.  Wish some of our sleuths can get in there and see the arrest record.  ::dogwag::  Sure would be enlightening to say the lest.  I still think it is the SM who delivered the death sentence to Zahra.  Boy, would I like to be in the same room with her for about 20 minutes.  She would be singing like an opera star. ::MonkeyKiss::

mariloo I think the assualt with a deadly weapon charge stems from when he tried to run someone off the road with his car.  It is on here somewhere in one of the earlier threads.

The police arrested Adam, the police brought Elisa out to the area they are searching, and they have been searching since dawn. Starting to wonder if one of them lied to the police, or one of them can't remember where they put Zahra's remains  ::MonkeyNoNo::

The Big Dawg, 92.1FM This news update on the Zahra Baker search: WSOCTV is reporting that Elisa Baker the step mother of Zahra Baker was taken to the site today of where they are searching in Caldwell County. She was there about fifteen minutes and did not get out of the vehicle she was riding in. We'll have more on WMNC News Tuesday morning with CJ Stancil.

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=170677219615245&id=94628656805

Zahra's Stepmother Brought To New Search Site (video)

http://www.wsoctv.com/video/25506523/index.html

Oh!!  I missed that.  Wonder why he would do that?  Sorry, I come in every week or two.  Have to work and been very busy.  Hard to keep up.  I just want the little girl found, give the perpetraitors a fair trial, then HANG-EM!!!!! ::MonkeyMad::

I could be wrong, but as I understood it, Elisa and Adam were angry that they had not been paid after a drug deal. And they reportedly tried to run someone off the road with their vehicle. I think Brittney Bently or her mother, Kim Drum were the ones who filed charges.

The arrow marks an area that I think might be a small waterfall and stream off of Dudley Shoals and Burns Rds:

(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o100/klaasen3/Sub9%20June%202010/DudleyShoalsBurnsRd.jpg)

Zahra Baker's father arrested at airport

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 » 08:13am

The father of missing 10-year-old Australian girl Zahra Baker has been arrested at a North Carolina airport.

Police in the Bakers' home town of Hickory, North Carolina, said they arrested Adam Baker at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Monday morning, but do not believe he was trying to flee the state or the US.

The charges were not related to Zahra's disappearance.

'We believe he was at the airport picking up relatives who were flying in from Australia,' Hickory Police Department spokesperson Libby Grigg told AAP.

Baker, a former Queensland sugar mill worker who moved from Australia to the US two years ago with Zahra so he could be with his new American wife Elisa, faces five counts of writing worthless cheques, two counts of communicating threats, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of failure to return rental property.

The disappearance of Zahra, who had the lower part of her left leg amputated five years ago after being stricken with bone cancer, has made headlines across the world.

Adam and Elisa Baker reported her missing on October 9. However, Zahra had not been seen by anyone other than a family member since September 25 and Hickory police believe she was murdered.

Elisa Baker is also in custody.

Adam Baker is being held on $US7000 ($A7116) bond while Elisa was arrested a fortnight ago and is charged with obstruction of justice and other offences. The obstruction of justice count relates to an alleged fake ransom police believe she wrote.

http://bigpondnews.com/articles/TopStories/2010/10/26/Zahra_Bakers_father_arrested_at_airport_530712.html

Thank you for this, Klaas.

Father of missing 10-year-old Zahra Baker arrested on unrelated charges

    * From: NewsCore
    * October 26, 2010 3:10AM

    * Zahra's father arrested and released on bond
    * Charges not connected to missing 10-year-old
    * Zahra disappeared on September 25

THE father of a missing 10-year-old Australian girl was arrested in North Carolina today on charges unrelated to his daughter's disappearance.

WCNC-TV reported that Adam Baker was arrested on five counts of writing bad cheques, two counts of communicating threats, assault with a deadly weapon and failure to return rental property.

His bond was set at $7000 and he is expected to appear in court on November 18.

Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins had said at the beginning of the investigation that Baker had outstanding warrants for his arrest for writing worthless checques.

Baker reported his daughter Zahra missing on October 9, but police in Hickory, North Carolina., announced days later that they were investigating the girl’s disappearance as a homicide.

Investigators, who have said Zahra was last seen on September 25, removed the girl’s mattress from a landfill Friday and have used cadaver dogs to search her family’s car and home.

Elisa Baker, Zahra’s stepmother, was arrested on unrelated charges after reporting the girl’s disappearance.

She later admitted to writing a $1 million ransom note in connection with the case and was charged with obstruction of justice.

Zahra, who has hearing loss and had one lower leg amputated due to cancer, was born in Australia but moved to the US after her father met the woman who would become her stepmother on the internet two years ago.

Read more about US police arrest dad of missing Zahra at  wcnc.com.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/father-of-missing-10-year-old-zahra-barker-arrested-on-unrelated-charges/story-e6freon6-1225943508897

The above report is interesting in that it states Adam Baker has been released on bond whereas the story at the link to wcnc.com staes he is being held.

As we all know newspapers never let the truth get in the way of a good story, and I have seen some of the sloppiest reporting that I have ever read in this story.

The Courier Mail is the main paper for the Queensland state capital of Brisbane.  The Townsville Bulletin is the daily paper for the town where Adam Baker lived before moving to USA.

Zahra's dad arrested on unrelated charges

AAP  |  October 26th, 2010

THE father of missing 10-year-old Australian girl Zahra Baker has been arrested at a North Carolina airport.

Police in the Bakers' home town of Hickory, North Carolina, said they arrested Adam Baker at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Monday morning, but do not believe he was trying to flee the state or the US.

The charges were not related to Zahra's disappearance.

''We believe he was at the airport picking up relatives who were flying in from Australia,'' Hickory Police Department spokesperson Libby Grigg said.

Baker, a former Giru sugar mill worker who moved from Australia to the US two years ago with Zahra so he could be with his new American wife Elisa, faces five counts of writing worthless cheques, two counts of communicating threats, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of failure to return rental property.

The disappearance of Zahra, who had the lower part of her left leg amputated five years ago after being stricken with bone cancer, has made headlines across the world.

Adam and Elisa Baker reported her missing on October 9. However, Zahra had not been seen by anyone other than a family member since September 25 and Hickory police believe she was murdered.

Elisa Baker is also in custody.

Adam Baker is being held on $US7000 ($A7116) bond while Elisa was arrested a fortnight ago and is charged with obstruction of justice and other offences. The obstruction of justice count relates to an alleged fake ransom police believe she wrote.

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2010/10/26/180195_news.html

For any monkeys concerned about what the Australian Consulate may do to thwart any charges against Adam Baker in this case here are the main points on Australians arrested overseas :

Arrested or jailed overseas

Each year almost 1000 Australians are arrested overseas and about 220 are in prisons overseas at any one time. Being detained or jailed overseas, or having one of your relatives or friends arrested and in prison overseas, can be very traumatic, distressing and frightening. Prison conditions in many countries can be significantly harsher than those in Australia.

If you are arrested overseas, you may face a significant period of detention before your case comes to trial. Legal and administrative processes may be substantially different from those in Australia and slow by our standards.

This brochure is designed to provide information to help you understand what consular staff in Australia and overseas can do to assist prisoners and their families during this difficult time.

When Australians travel abroad, they leave behind Australia’s support systems, emergency service capabilities and medical facilities. The Australian Government will do what it can to help prisoners and their families as much as possible within the local and international legal framework. There may be limitations to what can be done and you should have realistic expectations about this. It is recommended you read the Consular Services Charter, available on smartraveller.gov.au, before you go.
Before you go — be prepared
Local laws

Familiarise yourself with local laws

While you are in another country, you are required to respect and abide by that country’s laws as you are required to respect and abide by Australian laws when you are home.

Be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that may appear harsh by Australian standards, apply to you. Some countries impose tough penalties including life imprisonment and the death penalty. Age, health concerns or ignorance are not valid excuses.
International laws
The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations

The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, available at http://treaties.un.org and which many countries are a signatory to, provides the framework upon which a person who has been arrested, detained or jailed overseas is entitled to seek access to consular officers from their country of citizenship. Should you be detained overseas, you should ask to speak to officials from the nearest Australian mission.

Addresses and telephone numbers of Australian embassies, high commissions and consulates can be found at www.dfat.gov.au/missions.
Drugs

Do not use, carry or get involved with drugs.

Do not be fooled into thinking carrying or taking drugs overseas is worth the risk. Australians do get caught and every year, many Australians of all ages are arrested overseas on drug charges. Even the possession of small quantities of so-called ‘soft drugs’ can attract jail sentences or heavy fines.

Avoid getting into trouble with drugs overseas by:

    * obeying the law — do not purchase, take or travel with drugs
    * locking your bags as a precaution against tampering or theft
    * not leaving your bags unattended in public areas or in the care of a stranger
    * never carrying anything into or out of another country for someone else
    * ensuring your medication is not considered illegal overseas by contacting the nearest foreign mission of the country you are visiting before your departure. Contact details are available from www.dfat.gov.au/embassies.html.

In some countries the presence of illegal drugs detected in blood or urine tests is considered possession. You may also be charged with possessing drugs if trace amounts are found on your body, bloodstream, clothes or luggage. Amounts of 0.05 grams or less can lead to a conviction for drug possession and lengthy minimum mandatory prison sentences.
Being arrested overseas

If you are arrested overseas you have the right to contact the Australian Government, but consular assistance cannot override local law, even when local laws may appear harsh by Australian standards.

The Australian Government cannot get you out of jail.
What we can do to assist

We will do everything in our power to assist Australians who are arrested or in prison overseas, but we must also work within the legal and administrative processes that apply in the country.

We can:

    * visit you while you are detained
    * assist you in getting information about visitor procedures or accessing money or telephones
    * provide you with a list of local English-speaking lawyers
    * if authorised, arrange for your next-of-kin to be contacted and informed of your welfare
    * assist you to organise your family and friends to send you money
    * assist you to maintain contact with your family
    * discuss justified and serious complaints about ill-treatment or discrimination with the local authorities
    * raise medical or dental issues with local authorities, should you fail in your attempts to have these issues addressed
    * arrange a small loan from the Australian Government under the Prisoner Loan Scheme (subject to your location and strict eligibility criteria)
    * monitor your court trials and, in some circumstances, attend as an *******
    * where applicable, provide you with information on the International Transfer of Prisoners Scheme
    * support an application for a pardon, if local law and practice allow.

What we cannot do

We cannot:

    * get you out of jail, or give Local Authorities written guarantees to secure your release
    * determine your innocence or otherwise
    * conduct investigations relating to any alleged offence
    * provide you or your family with legal advice
    * make recommendations as to which lawyer you should choose
    * pay your lawyer’s fees, instigate court procedures or interfere in local judicial processes
    * seek better treatment for you than that provided to the host country’s own citizens or other nationals
    * arrange your bail or pay your fines
    * support you financially in prison, except in some circumstances where the country and your circumstances qualify you for the Prisoner Loan Scheme.

More at the website :

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/tips/gaolos.html

Tibrogargan, thank you so much for that informative post!

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/tips/gaolos.html

Answers a lot of questions for us!

Tibrogargan or Night Owl

Has the Australian news mentioned AB or Zahras immigration status in the US.

HI NC Mike..I see you up in the rafters.

What are you hearing locally through the grapevine about this case?
TYIA

Sorry if this has already been posted.....

Just read this on thehinkymeter......Zarah's bio mother's comment and comment by someone who knows Zahra's mother.

biomum said: { Oct 24, 2010 – 09:10:50 }
“aussie girl said: { Oct 14, 2010 – 06:10:10 }

i just want to clarify that the bio mother did not know that zahra was in the states… adam some how forged a passport to get her out of australia… u need both parents signature. She loved her little girl with all her heart and was lookign for her.. i have read comments all over the internet saying that the bio mum must not have loved her or gave a shit , but this is far from the truth… adam took off with this lil angel not letting the mother see her…. some one needs to also look into her passport application and find out how she was able to leave australia tpo begin with… if her wasnt invloved in the dissapearance ( doubtful) it his fault she was there to begin with”

aussie girl, i have no idea who you are, but you are obviously someone close to me and I thank you for speaking the truth when I have not been strong enough to have a public voice.

I am the biological mother (only mother) of this beautiful angel. aussie girl has stated the most important point, I have never stopped loving Zahra, and never will. nor did a day go by that I, and my family, didn’t try in someway to find her. I am here to clear up a simple fact while I am having a day that I feel strong enough to.

*I have not stepped up to the media for my “15mins of fame” , as some have referred to it, because the last 11 years of MY life are irrelevant, the truth of Adam and his hurtful and manipulative ways will come out in time.. what IS relevant is finding Zahra and putting her to rest with some dignity.

while i have read some very “interesting” theories about what has happened, i would hope that none of these horrible things are true. I cannot fathom the possibility of my daughter going through things that would never even enter my night terrors, and if i had known where she was, and what was being done to her, I would have taken her away immediately.

i can only send out my greatest appreciation to every single person who has spent so many hours away from their own families to help bring these monsters to justice, and many thanks to all the people who have had such beautiful words to say about a daughter I was never given the chance to know.

please keep praying they find her. I am not not holding onto any hope of her being alive, I have to accept the reality of what these monsters have done. but please pray her body is found and she can be shown respect and dignity by those who really do, and will always, love her.


let each and every one of our tears lead them one step closer to the truth.



http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2010/10/22/zahra-baker-case-landfill-search-ends/#comment-82388

Investigators search near former home of Zahra Baker's step mom

(http://media.wcnc.com/images/102510-ZahraCaldwellSearch.JPG)

by MICHELLE BOUDIN / NewsChannel 36
Posted on October 25, 2010 at 7:09 PM

GRANITE FALLS, N.C.-- Dudley Shoals Road was closed to traffic for most of the afternoon Monday as the FBI and SBI worked with local investigators combing the woods for clues in the Zahra Baker case.

Teams have searched the Baker family home in Hickory, a pond in Burke County and the Caldwell County Landfill, all while trying to find any clues to Zahra’s Baker’s whereabouts.

Monday's search focused on  a short road running off Dudley Shoals Road in Granite Falls.

Caldwell County Sheriff Alan Jones said, “Still the same as last week, we’re following up on leads Hickory gets in our county, and we’ll be with them until they run out of leads.  We’ve been all over the place, followed up on leads, get different calls, callers call in.”

Dudley Shoals Road was shut down so investigators could work without interruption.

In searches past, Zahra’s father, Adam Baker tagged along. 

This time he’s in jail, arrested on unrelated outstanding warrants.

Investigators had said they would serve those warrants at an “appropriate” time.

The sheriff says the search for his daughter will go until they find her.

“We always like to be hopeful.  In a case like this we’re not gonna rest until we Find this little girl, whether in this county or another county, were gonna continue to look,” says Jones.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Investigators-search-near-former-home-of-Zahra-Bakers-stepmom-105726938.html

Not sure what to think of this.

Reply with quote

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGfNeVsv9OI

OCT 25

Police cut out a large piece of a mattress Behind the old trailer Adam and Elisa baker moved from. the same area where the nieghbor saw them that night.

here is a link where a witness said they saw them behind their old trailer near a manhole. LE says Adam baker threw out Zahra's old mattress DAYS before she was said to be missing.

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

Im thinking Adam Baker was trying to flee. My guess since it was 3:15 AM he thought maybe cops wouldnt be following him at that time? maybe they noticed he snuck away? he could have gotten a ticket to go anywhere in the US, I dont think he had his passport? and if he was Really picking up family, he would have just said who and it would have been cleared up.

I tend to agree with you, by now I think we would have heard who he was suppose to pick up at the airport IMO

Did you guys just hear that zahra body was found. I think I just saw that on NG

Not watching NG.  I hope it's true.

Im watching Nancy I didnt hear that? are you sure?

 ::MonkeyShocked::  I did not hear that either....I hope they did though

I see the question on the Banner at the bottom of the TV. On Nancy there is the question posted (Has Zahras body just been found)?

 . Well idk now cause there was a question mark. It says was zahra's body found? So I am so sorry I am not sure now. Please forgive me.

I just went back on my DVR for NG and I did not hear where they found her body

Yes starmonkey I am so sorry for jumping to conclusions you guys. I am so embarrassed

Well she might know something we don't?

No worries, typical NG...the banner is very misleading.  I'm not watching just listening so I didnt even see the banner until you mentioned something. 

no you dont need to be embarressed. I totally missed that question on there! You made me really pay attention and wait for the commercial to be over!hehe

dont be embarrassed...again, it is very misleading.

I agree!and nancy would spill it if she knew!

Yes it was misleading cause at 1 time it said. Just in and then body found. And unless u look real close u can hardly even see the question mark.

yes she would and right now she is only spilling about SM being taken to the search site...which we already now  ::MonkeyWink:: 

I saw that too and if I would have been watching the TV I would have taken just as you did.  I try not to watch NG for this reason...but I confess that I always have her on the TV...at least listening.

Where they are searching is around a curve, right down the road from a school, in a wooded area with water... echoes of Caylee.

Oh, I hope they find her!

Attaching close-ups of the area Klaas posted, from BingMaps.

http://www.gastongazette.com/news/mead-51934-case-gaston.html
Missing girl case delays court hearing in Gaston murder case
October 25, 2010 4:53 PM
Diane Turbyfill

The attorney representing Michael Mead on a murder charge in Gaston County is now involved with the ongoing case of Zahra Baker, a missing Hickory girl.

Mead and his lawyer, Lisa Dubs, were scheduled to appear in court Monday. An early-morning call changed that plan, according to Gaston County Assistant District Attorney Robert Forbes.

Forbes told Judge Robert Bell that Dubs called to say she and Mead couldn’t be in court because she’s now been assigned to Elisa Baker, the 10-year-old girl’s stepmother who has been in jail since Oct. 10 in Hickory for obstruction of justice.

An agitated Forbes told Bell that he didn’t think another case elsewhere should affect court proceedings in Gaston County.

Bell asked Forbes to approach the bench. There was no further discussion in open court, but Forbes said the matter will come before the judge at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Forbes later told The Gazette now that he knows the specifics of why Dubs was detained, he won’t be upset if the case gets delayed.

“If this involves finding that child I don’t mind if it takes two weeks,” said Forbes.

Forbes said he is waiting to hear back from Dubs’ office as to whether or not she will be available for the Tuesday session.

Sorry for delay in answering as I had to go out.  It is  midday Tuesday 27th here on the east coast of Australia.  Queensland (also on east coast) does not have daylight saving time so their local time is now 11 am.

I have not read anything about AB or Zahra's status except that the US media keep stating he is an Australian citizen.  What permit he is living there under I do not know. Almost all of the news reports here are copies from US news sites.  Nightowl may know something more from her local media.  I would expect more to come to light when this pair of scumbags are charged with murder.

Previously in these threads I mentioned about Zahra possibly being taken out of our country without her bio mother's permission.  I think I surmised that the wicked SM could have forged bio mother's signature on the application forms, noting that forgery was one of her "accomplishments".  I think I also had a minor rant about how the SM was even allowed into our country because of her dubious past.

That is very interesting thank-you. So I'm going to take it as Elisa told where Zahra is?

Thanks for the reply. I thought maybe a reporter had talked to the relatives about their immigration to the states. Also Karen Baker was on a blog site over there and thought maybe she mentioned it.

Wonder how deep that water is where they are searching? I have a sick feeling they may have weighed her body down or in a container depending how deep.  ::MonkeyNoNo::

In what way pfaubush?

Do you not think these posts may be genuine or do you doubt that someone could not be able to find their child here in Australia?

I do not know if posts are genuine but if so I can totally understand how someone could be searching for their child for so long without any success. 

Zahra was born in Wagga Wagga which is a town in inland New South Wales.  Then it has been said her father took her to Newcastle which is an industrial city on coastal New South Wales.  Then they moved to a small town on the outskirts of Townsville which is a city on coastal Queensland, and from there to USA, be it legally or illegally, and if they had seemingly authorised documents and passports there would be no reason to query them leaving our country.

It is very difficult to find someone here if they do not want to be found.  The average person does not have access to any records or whereabouts of other persons.  Google only shows persons who are in the media for either good or bad reasons.  We do not have web sites here that show every person who have the same name and their addresses, telephone numbers and any associated relatives or hangers on.  Our privacy laws are very strict.  You could search every telephone listing in the white pages of course but if they do not have a landline or have a silent number that will not give any results.  A private investigator may be able to dig deeper and of course the police force does have access to records.  In some ways it would be good to be able to sleuth anyone and everyone that lives here but most law abiding citizens like privacy.

I hope this helps.

Tibrogargan thank-you that sure helps me, I was trying to figure out how the mom was having trouble locating Zahra.

My heart aches for this mother who was so robbed of her blessing.   

Also thank you from me. Was just going to ask that question. You know here in the States you can find just about anyone, anytime. So your info really helps us to understand.

Tihrogargan gave me a quick lesson on Australian privacy in her thread in the monkey lounge when this case first started. She is a wealth of information. ::MonkeyAngel::

It was rainy weather today in Granite Falls.  And now it is nighttime.  Have they stopped searching?  Any news?

(And here is another attached pic, closeup of the GoogleMaps image of the search area.)

You are welcome 4Donks.  I have not seen or read any interviews with the Australian relatives.  Maybe Nightowl has.  It does seem they have kept a very low profile in the media about all this but if you believe the blog entries there could be a lot going on under the surface.  Time will tell I suppose.

She sure is, because for the life of me I couldn't understand how the mother couldn't find her child, and I just assumed wrongly, that she may not have wanted to find Zahra.

Thank-you, hard to tell if that water is deep or not  ::MonkeyNoNo::

MURTWITNESSONE MURTWITNESSONE: Zahra's Stepmother Brought To New Search Site

http://twitter.com/stopcyberabuse

 ::MonkeyEek::    ::MonkeyEek::    ::MonkeyEek::    ::MonkeyEek::

Thank you to all the monkeys who appreciate my input.  There are not many threads where I can be of any real assistance, apart from support and prayers.

It is possible the mother either did not search at all, or met with too many brick walls, or even that the father threatened her with violence unless she stayed out of the picture.

I would also like to know what his criminal past was here in Australia but alas - those privacy laws once again.

Now I would like to see both these wastes of space being fed feet first into a wood chipper.   ::MonkeyMad::

Searchers in Caldwell don't find Zahra on Monday

(http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/mgmedia/image/294/0/118174/zahra-search-4/)

GRANITE FALLS --
Authorities headed back to Caldwell County Monday in their search for missing 10-year-old Zahra Baker.

Despite a search by several law enforcement agencies and a surprise appearance by Zahra's stepmother, Elisa Baker, at one point, authorities turned up nothing.

The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office FBI, SBI and the Hickory Police Department searched an area of Caldwell County off Dudley Shoals Road near Burns Road from daybreak Monday until about 5:35 p.m. Nearly a dozen cars were at the scene, as well as SBI and FBI lab vans.

Law enforcement searched a heavily wooded area near a waterfalls, but the search seemed to center more toward the stream at the foot of the falls and closer toward the road. The brush is dense in that part of the area, and the stream is about 15 feet across and contains large rocks. During parts of the search, some members of law enforcement could be seen peering over the side of the bridge from the road, inspecting the work searchers were doing below.

Law enforcement closed off Dudley Shoals Road from Burns Road to just past Dudley Shoals Baptist Church to better aid their search efforts on Monday.

"We're following up on leads Hickory gets in our county,'' said Alan Jones, sheriff of Caldwell County. "We've gotten several leads.''

He acknowledged that several have not panned out, but said any lead is important.

Jones did not say what, specifically, investigators were looking for, just that they were looking for "different parts of evidence.''

Investigators left just before dusk without finding Zahra, despite her stepmother, Elisa, being at the scene. Elisa arrived at the search of the woods in a SUV at about midday, but did not get out of the car. She stayed for only a short time, before the SUV left.

However, according to an official at the Catawba County Detention Center, Elisa, 42, did not return to the jail until about 6 p.m. Information about where she went after she left the search site was not available.

Elisa is currently in jail for obstruction of justice for writing a false ransom note, asking for $1 million. She is also being held on several other unrelated charges.

Zahra was first reported missing on Oct. 9 by her father, Adam Baker, although Hickory police believe she's been missing longer than that. Zahra, a cancer survivor, lost her lower left leg to the disease, as well as part of her hearing. Her prosthetic leg was not found at the home when she was reported missing, but her two hearing aids were. Zahra was last seen by someone outside of the family on Sept. 25 at In Your Home Furnishings in Hickory. Zahra was in the store with her stepmother, Elisa.

Police initially called Zahra's disappearance a missing persons case. On Oct. 12, that was changed to a homicide investigation. Investigators have searched several sites, including where Adam Baker is employed in Morganton and numerous former places the Bakers have lived in Caldwell County.

At one point, the investigators searching the area along Dudley Shoals Road seemed to find something, calling out to each other underneath the road overpass. However, when two investigators emerged from underneath the bridge, they were empty-handed.
We always like to be hopeful,'' Jones said. "We're not going to rest until we find this little girl.''

Anyone with information is asked to call the Hickory Police Department at 328-5551.


http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/25/searchers-caldwell-dont-find-zahra-monday-ar-482713/

::MonkeyGavel:: ::MonkeyGavel:: ::MonkeyGavel::

I just wish they could find Zahra.  ::MonkeyAngel::

As far as the bio mom, there could be many reasons she didn't have custody of Zahra.  Maybe her life wasn't in order or she had some substance abuse problem.  We really don't know.  People change.

Please, please tell me this isn't Murt from Caylee's case  ::MonkeyShocked::

NorthernRose, thank you for that update, and for all you do.  That's what I was waiting for.  How interesting that Elisa was not returned directly to her cell after she was taken from the search site.  Could she have led them to (an)other site(s)?  Or maybe she agreed to be questioned at length?  I'm dreaming, I know.  Really want this darling girl found ASAP.

Oddest quote from the article, IMO, was: 

Jones did not say what, specifically, investigators were looking for, just that they were looking for "different parts of evidence.''

"parts?"   ::MonkeyEek::

Thank you, Tibro, for the Aussie perspective and info.  It is enlightening.  And yes, feet first.

Someone had to say something to take them to that area to search and it seems logical it was the stepmother. Maybe they informed her of Adam's arrest and told her they were going to strike a deal with him and the one that talked first had the best shot for a break.

Maybe I've watched CSI too much...............

I had the same thought and will add one more "PLEASE"!!!

Yup

http://twitter.com/MURTWITNESSONE

Lol! I agree...it's logical.
Or Law and Order, Criminal Minds, NCIS, Chase....

That local article ends by asking people to contact police if they have any information, but did not mention the reward.  Isn't there a $4000 reward?  I can't help but think that in this case, considering the people in AB and EB's circle who may know something but are hesitating to come forward, a reward might be pretty effective.

Here is a snip from a story a couple of days ago, regarding the reward money:

http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/8497546/
Posted: October 22
Reward in Hickory girl's disappearance up to $4,000

NEWTON, N.C. — Crime Stoppers groups have combined to offer a reward of up to $4,000 for information about the disappearance of a Hickory girl reported missing from her home Oct. 9.

--

Wonder why they aren't mentioning the reward??

 ::MonkeyAngel::

"parts" stood out to me as well.. First thing that crossed my mind was her leg 

Me too  ::MonkeyNoNo::  Just can't believe that Murt is at it again, was so hoping not to hear from him again  ::MonkeyEek::

Thank you. That does help clear some things up. What I'm not too sure about is if the poster is genuinely her. I'm confused because there was a fundraiser for Zahra because of the cancer and that was publicized (if I understood it right) and if they were looking for her daily according to her post, I would assume something would have come up. I am also still a bit lost with all of the various reports. Some say she abandoned her at 8 months, others say that there are more recent photos with the two together. Sorry, it is sooo part of my nature to question all the little details.

 ::MonkeyShocked::    I'm hanging garlic and looking for the crosses.............   (jk)

Just step away from the Twitter and no one gets hurt. ::MonkeyDevil::

Could be someone impersonating Murt.

lol...maybe the Bakers are some Murts old neighbors....they seem like the kind of folks he would hang with, ::piggy::

I am a  NIt- Witter when it comes to Twitter...I could not twit if I had to ...just now learned how to BBM

 ::MonkeyLaugh::   Me too!    ::MonkeyConfused::

::MonkeyHaHa::

made me spit my tea out

LOL about BBM... I didn't know until you asked either.  Twitter is easy.  Nothing to it.... you sign up and then you just blab about whatever thought flits through your head at any time of the day.  Lots of people do too..... it is amazing what they will twitter about.

I am wondering if the posts are really from the biological mother and if they are, my heart is aching for her.  It is not that hard for a father to take a child away and hide them.  It even happens here in the United States!

snipped to save space

Yes there are a lot of confusing and downright contradictory posts out there.  Now IF bio-mother did not know where Zahra was living it is quite possible that fund raisers and any local news stayed within the community in which Zahra lived and did not make to interstate media, therefore she may not have known about any or all of it.  From memory the fundraiser and cancer treatments all happened in Queensland so none of the details may have filtered to New South Wales, surmising the bio mother still lived in or around Wagga Wagga.

I do wish someone who knows the correct story would just come out and tell us, and hope that the media then do not get everything ass backwards as usual.

snipped again to save space

I wish I knew more about Australia. Maybe some of this would make more sense??? Or even better, the rest of the story needs to be put out there. If birthmom didn't know where she was and really was searching for her, then my heart just aches for her.

pfaubush - you and all monkeys are welcome to visit my Australian thread in the Monkey Lounge.  I started posting about scenery, animals and life here and then went on to news items I thought would interest monkeys.  I think I may expand into more of our daily customs and lifestyle and especially legal matters.

 ::MonkeyGavel::

Heading out and hoping that tomorrow brings news of Zahra's whereabouts.

God bless the monkeys who follow these cases and suffer along with the loved ones who lose a child.

 ::MonkeyAngel::

Thanks Tibro!

Thanks Tibro...!    ::piggy::

Awesome! Thank you!

 

Could be the mattress was in one location, the boxspring in another, her taser and gun or knife in another, and Zahra's leg in another.  AB has beem out free while the police have been coming up empty while searching for his daughter.  Apparently, he knows nothing or is a good/poor actor.

The police have probably advised EB that AB said she did it.

EB has been in there a while and has thought about things nonstop for 24/7.  They may even have told her AB has gone back to Au and left her to face the charges alone. 

Keeping her out of jail today, while AB was arrested and it's plastered all over the media, EB has no clue what's going on nor any chance of finding out differently.

EB, if AB IS involved, isn't going to take the rap for AB and will do whatever it takes to get her a$$ out of the sling.  She's too self serving.

We shall see how this unfolds.

Zahra's father, Adam Troy 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.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/10/25/north.carolina.missing.girl/?hpt=T2

Her attorney cancelled court to be in Hickory so I doubt the police got her alone and tricked her. Her attorney would be advising her.

I wonder how the bio mom lost custody of Zahra.  If AB had record in Australia, then why would he be given custody?  What did AB have to gain by keeping this child with him.  Was she on public assistance?  When AB married dumbazz, did that not make him a citizen of the US?  Lots of questions, pity there are so few answers.  I feel so sad for Zahra.  I keep thinking of what may have been her last day.  What is the last thing she saw?  Did she suffer long or was it quick?  This is so disturbing, like Caylee and all the others.  Oh, my dear Lord, please help us find her and give her a proper burial. 

I have the same questions as you do, Mariloo. Since I don't know anything about the bio-mom other than what's been posted here, I can't "truth-filter" the words attributed to her. Taken at face value, it sounds like Zahra was almost kidnapped from her and that she's been looking for her.

That would make me feel better, however I cannot imagine my husband with a criminal past gaining custody of my child.  I would end up with a record, because I would kill him if he harmed my child and no way in hell would he take her from me willingly.  I hope the TRUTH comes out soon and little Zahra is found.

I sure was hoping we would have some more news by this morning!  :gaah:

I have the same feeling that Zahra was taken away by Adam either by his own actions or persuaded by his family from bio-mom.  From looking at Gothmonsters profiles she was advertising herself as 25-26 yrs old.  That to me means Adam likes his woman young.  Could be that bio-mom was very young when Zahra was born, was naive and tricked or bullied into something without fully understanding what was going on.  We just do not know.  What we do know is Zahra is missing, she did not deserve this and I pray that they can find her so that bio-mom has some closure. 

Adam Baker held on bad-check charges
Officials delayed arrest because he was helping in search for daughter Zahra.


Adam Baker, father of missing 10-year-old Zahra Baker, was jailed Monday on charges unrelated to his daughter's disappearance, Hickory police say.

Baker had been wanted on five counts of worthless checks and five counts of failure to appear in court. Police say those charges predate Oct. 9, when Adam Baker called authorities and reported his daughter missing from their Hickory home.

Also Monday, police began another search for clues to Zahra's disappearance in Caldwell County, where the family once lived, according to media reports.

Authorities took Zahra's stepmother, Elisa Baker, from jail to the search scene along Dudley Shoals Road, WSOC-TV reported. The family lived in Caldwell County before moving to Hickory.

Elisa Baker is in jail in Newton under $65,000 bond. She is charged with obstruction of justice, with investigators alleging she wrote a phony ransom note aimed at interfering with the police probe into the girl's disappearance. Elisa Baker also faces charges, including worthless checks, in Burke County.

Early in the investigation, Elisa Baker was named by police as a "person of interest" in Zahra's disappearance.

The Hickory Police Department on Monday continued to decline to answer questions or provide more details about the case.

Last week, a three-day search focused on a Caldwell County landfill, where police said they failed to find a mattress - and possible DNA evidence - that could help explain Zahra's disappearance. Police said the girl's parents disposed of her mattress just days before reporting her missing.

Authorities have said they had several outstanding warrants for Adam Baker, but that they delayed taking action because he was cooperating in the search for Zahra.

Police had hoped to find a significant clue in the case during last week's painstaking search through mounds of trash in the landfill. With that search ended, authorities decided to serve the warrants.

Baker was jailed Monday in Newton under $7,000 bond.

Hickory police continue to ask the public for help in the case, saying they are having a difficult time establishing a timeline on when Zahra Baker was last seen.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/26/1787098/adam-baker-held-on-bad-check-charges.html

Cops resume search for Zahra Baker; stepmother cooperating


HICKORY, N.C. (AP) -- Police say the stepmother of a missing disabled 10-year-old girl is cooperating with investigators who are continuing to search several sites in rural North Carolina counties.

Hickory Deputy Chief Major Clyde Deal said Tuesday that Elisa Baker has been talking to investigators, and earlier this week was taken to a home in Caldwell County where she once lived. Deal would not elaborate, but said police were approached by her lawyer that she wanted to help.

The 42-year-old Baker has been charged with obstruction of justice. Police say she admitted writing a bogus ransom note found at the scene of a fire in the family's back yard on the day Zahra Clare Baker was reported missing.

Authorities think the girl is dead.

The girl's father, 33-year-old Adam Baker, was arrested Monday on unrelated charges.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/Cops-resume-search-for-missing-10-year-old-NC-girl-105775613.html

Does AB have a criminal record in Australia?  I thought his drug use and record started when he met EB and moved to the US.  People do change when they start doing drugs.

Adam Baker was arrested Monday
Baker was arrested on outstanding warrants for worthless checks, failure to appear in court.

HICKORY --
After interviewing Adam Baker early Monday morning, he was arrested by the Hickory Police Department on several charges unrelated to his daughter's disappearance.

Baker, 33, is the father of missing 10-year-old Zahra Baker.

Baker voluntarily came into the Hickory Police Department at about 3:15 a.m. Monday for an interview with officers, according to officials. He was booked into the Catawba County Detention Center at about 5 a.m. on a $7,000 secured bond, and has yet to make bail.

Baker was charged with five counts of worthless checks, three counts of failure to appear for communicating threats and one count of failure to appear for a charge of returning rental property.

The five worthless checks amount to about $380, and were all written to grocery stores.

Just before Baker went to the Hickory Police Department for his interview with officers, he was at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport to pick up a family member, according to the Hickory Police Department.

After Baker's arrest, the Australian Consulate in Atlanta, Ga., was notified, upon Baker's arrest.

Zahra was first reported missing on Oct. 9 by her father, Adam, although Hickory police believe she's been missing longer than that. Zahra was last seen by someone outside of the family on Sept. 25 at In Your Home Furnishings on U.S. 70, SE, in Hickory. Zahra was in the store with her stepmother, Elisa Baker.

Elisa Baker, 42, is currently in jail for writing a false ransom note, in which she demanded $1 million. Police charged Elisa with obstruction of justice. They also arrested her on several other charges unrelated to Zahra's disappearance.

Police initially called Zahra's disappearance a missing persons case. On Oct. 12, that was changed to a homicide investigation.

Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins had said authorities delayed taking action because Baker was cooperating with police since Zahra's disappearance was reported.

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/25/9/adam-baker-arrested-worthless-check-charges-ar-481519/

We don't know anything about Adam from his Australia days.

Search For Zahra Resumes
POSTED: 10:48 am EDT October 26, 2010

(http://www.wcti12.com/2010/1026/25514975_240X152.jpg)

HICKORY -- Police say the stepmother of a missing disabled 10-year-old girl is cooperating with investigators who are continuing to search several sites in rural North Carolina counties.

Hickory Deputy Chief Major Clyde Deal said Tuesday that Elisa Baker has been talking to investigators, and earlier this week was taken to a home in Caldwell County where she once lived. Deal would not elaborate, but said police were approached by her lawyer that she wanted to help.

The 42-year-old Baker has been charged with obstruction of justice. Police say she admitted writing a bogus ransom note found at the scene of a fire in the family's back yard on the day Zahra Clare Baker was reported missing.

Authorities think the girl is dead.

The girl's father, 33-year-old Adam Baker, was arrested Monday on unrelated charges.

http://www.wcti12.com/news/25514976/detail.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Zahra Baker Fund – Scam Alert

In typical fashion, the criminals are showing their ugly heads.  Several different bloggers, and websites have begun posting about the Zahra Baker Fund and pointing out that it is a fraud.

Recently the Hickory, NC Police Department said in their press release:

Hickory Police Department has been made aware of an organization soliciting funds for Zahra Baker.  This group states that one purpose for these funds according to their website is to:   ”Support the efforts of law enforcement to investigate and prosecute the case surrounding the abduction/homicide of Zahra Claire Baker.”  Hickory Police Department has not been contacted by this group or has been given any information of their intent for this fund.  HPD intends to explore this matter in greater detail without diverting resources from the investigation of Zahra.

According to a site called Social Exploitation the Zahra Baker Fund (which can be found here,  is ran by a group called the Spiritual Counseling Network.  At the time of this post, the Spiritual Counseling Network site was down for a “redesign”.  We were unable to find an IRS certificate of non-profit for this group, but that does not mean for sure that they are not legal.  They may have it filed under a different name.

On the Zahra Baker Fund website, there is a link to the counseling service.  There is no claim on the site that it is run by the same people, and it has not designation of being a non-profit.  It does however have what appears to be a donation record.  It shows, at the time of this post, that they have NOT paid out any donation money.

It is typical that during a time of disaster or of crisis, these scam artists come out in droves.  It is becoming a normal thing.  There is always someone who out there who is willing to try to make a name for themselves or make money off the tragedies of others.  As with all charities or groups, it is a good idea to investigate before giving money.

I would suggest that if you want to help in the search for missing children, that you donate to the Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  That is a group that is well known, well established, and is used by numerous government agencies.

Be sure to read up on the group.  It is my personal recommendation, that if you want to help in the search for Zahra Baker, contact the local authorities, and ask what supplies you can donate to them to assist.  Find out what, if any, search organization is assisting in the search, and donate to them.  Be careful where you throw your money.  You may just be funding someone’s new car or home.

http://www.crimeinthenews.com/?p=1222

Yup, as of this morning

The only way she can "help" is by telling the truth about where Zahra is and what happened to her.
What else can cooperating mean?
No DP...Life..

OK, so random thinking here. These two nit-wits are said to be 'co-operating' with investigators. If they were truly co-operating, they would have found Zahra and all of the evidence they've been searching for. It seems to me that since they haven't found anything, the two are playing dumb and trying to get the other to take the blame. I bet that AB is playing the, "well, she lived here and talked about places around there and could have done this or that." I'm guessing she is playing the, "He worked here and talked about places around there and could have done this or that." They are probably pointing investigators in a direction close enough for things to be found, but not close enough to get any of the blame. I just wish one would actually break and speak the truth. That would mean admitting culpability though.

That is what I thought.  I was wondering why we would be questioning how he got custody when he has a criminal record.  I see now it was just a supposition.  Thanks for setting me straight Northern.

That's what I don't get if they are both helping then what is the problem? I have a bad feeling that maybe this is a wild goose chase that the police are being put on.  ::MonkeyNoNo::

Exactly. If they're both so forth coming, what's the problem with finding what they're looking for?

First Adam is not arrest on outstanding warrants as he is "cooperating".  Then Adam is arrested and within 12 hours GothMonster is taken out for a country drive as she is "cooperating".  Does this mean Adam is no longer "cooperating"?  If either of them were "cooperating"  I would think that LE would have found something by now.  LE may have but are keeping it close to their vest but from what is being reported in the articles I am left with the feeling that LE is overwhelmed by this ad that Adam and Gothmonster are playing games.  It is also very interesting that as soon as a supposed relative of Adam arrives on US soil he gets arrested.  Does this arrival of the supposed relative have anything to do with Adam no longer cooperating?

WHERE IS ZAHRA???? 

This makes no sense, unless they were drugged out of their mind and can't remember exactly where they put little Zahra  ::MonkeyNoNo::

In the Tori Stafford case LE took the female accomplice out on drives daily as she was "helping" them locate the car seat and Tori's remains.  It was just as frustrating watching that.  The issue was that Tori had been disposed of in a different season, trees looked different, crops where at a different stage, etc.  Could this be the same scenario?  Zahra was disposed of long enough ago that the surrounds have changed enough to not look the same and confuse both of them (not that it looks like it would take much to confuse either of them)?

Good Afternoon Monkeys and guest!

Watching WSOC noon news. Searchers are at a different location this am. about 7 miles from where they were yesterday. Elisa has given them 3 different locations. And I am fairly sure they said she was back out with LE this am. They will repeat the story at 12:30 so will try to verify what i think i heard. They have a two mile stretch of road blocked off. heavily wooded area being searched.

Thanks Darla.  From late reports yesterday they were interested looking under and around bridges (foot bridge and road overpass).  Any bridges in the area this morning that you know of?

I pray God will guide their search and Zahra will be found today.  It seems to me they must be leading the police around by their nose and not really telling them anything.

Northern, The one shot they put up couldn't really tell if there was a bridge. Dave Faherty showed some pics from the site yesterday and several places at been red flagged. I will watch closely on the repeat at 12:30 to see exactly what is showing in the video. They have not posted it on their website yet!

There was just a tweet that Zahara body was possibly found in Dudley Shoals.  Don't know who the guy is that tweeted and am waiting to see if this is true.

http://twitter.com/bullheaded82

Hope it is true.  It is time for her to be found.

Thanks, NR. I hope so! Thank you too, darla, for the updates!

Ok on the repeat.....Elisa is out with LE again this morning. They are on Christy or Kristy rd. the rd is curvy but do not see a bridge in the shot. but there is a little dirt rd that they are searching down.

Thanks to all for the updates, images, research and insights in both the Kyron and Zahra cases.  I held my breath yesterday.  The early morning arrest and ... the early morning search ...

Janet

 

From Dave Faherty no body has been found as of yet. Some Flags were posted yesterday at what looked like anilmal bones.
Northern if you will check wsocs website in about a half hour or so they should have video up. I don't know how to bring it over.

Will do. 

If they disposed of things at night out in the country it would be difficult to go back to an exact location.

That is what I have been thinking, the same darn thing as in Tori's case  ::MonkeyNoNo::

So three different locations  ::MonkeyNoNo::  OMG

Thank-you  ::MonkeyNoNo::

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/national_world&id=7746519

Police: Stepmother talking in missing NC girl caseUpdated at 12:20 PM today

Elisa Baker, the stepmother of Zahra Clare Baker, has been talking with investigators after her lawyer approached police offering her help, said Maj. Clyde Deal, deputy police chief in Hickory where the child was reported missing Oct. 9.

Police believe the girl is dead. She uses hearing aids and has a prosthetic leg because of bone cancer. Authorities in recent weeks have combed wooded areas and a landfill for evidence or her body.

Deal said Tuesday that Elisa Baker, 42, was taken earlier this week to a home where she once lived. But he declined to elaborate.

"We're working with her attorney to see what information she has and what she is willing to share. We're treating her like every other source of information," he said.

A telephone message left for Elisa Baker's attorney, Scott Reilly, was not immediately returned.

The stepmother has been charged with obstruction of justice. Police said she acknowledged to writing a bogus ransom note found at the scene of a fire in the family's back yard on the day Zahra Clare Baker was reported missing.

The girl's father, Adam Baker, was arrested Monday on unrelated charges. He and his daughter are from Australia. He and his daughter moved to North Carolina in 2008 after he married Elisa Baker, whom he had met on the Internet.

Adam Baker, 33, is facing one count each of assault with a deadly weapon and failure to return rental property, two counts of communicating threats and five counts of writing worthless checks, authorities said.

The timing of his arrest raises questions because the charges against him were filed over the past few months. Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins had said authorities delayed taking action because he was cooperating with police.

Deal said investigators haven't talked to Adam Baker since his arrest. He also said Adam Baker did not have an attorney.

Adam Baker was being held in a western North Carolina jail on $7,000 bond. Elisa Baker is at the same jail.

Police have not found the girl's body and haven't charged anyone with killing her. A three-day search of a landfill last week failed to turn up any evidence.


(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Thanks, and I suppose like 4 Donks said it may be hard to find the exact location, but I still say they were high as a kite when they did this   IMO  ::MonkeyNoNo::

Northern, the video is up on www.wsoctv.com

Hello everyone!!!!!!
I have a question....Does anyone know the reason  why the stepmom is saying she wrote a ransome note???????

Hi Wesley, I would assume that she did it to try and make cops think Zahra was kidnapped. It didn't work.

The only thing I've seen is that she confessed to the police after her arrest. Nothing more. ::MonkeyNoNo::

But what I am saying is....if she is claiming she is not sure what happened to Zahra doesn't that right there prove her guilt?  Why would she write a ransom note and then pretend to not know what happened to Zahra...So I am just wondering what she told the investigators as to why she wrote that note, if she is indeed proclaiming her innocence...

So she did confess???

All we know is that she did say something, I'm assuming through her lawyer.

I see what you mean Weslybear. It seems she was guilty and since she confessed to the note, I bet she maybe confessed to where zahra is since she is out with LE at the scene. I was wondering what her explination to LE for writing that note was as well.

I think 4 Donks was referring to confessing to writing the ransom note.

That's when they added the obstruction charge and she was appointed Dubs.

Yes, I see she is out there with law enforcement, and she is supposed to be in jail.  So obviously the only reason they have her out there with them is because she is telling them where to locate her body...hopfully!
This little girl needs to be put to rest, although I know she is in a better place now!

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/25516624/detail.html

Zahra’s Stepmother Brought To Search Site Again
Related Stories/Links
MORE INFO


Posted: 12:41 pm EDT October 26, 2010Updated: 1:10 pm EDT October 26, 2010
CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. -- Zahra Baker’s stepmother, Elisa Baker, was again taken out of jail and brought to a site investigators are searching in connection with the disappearance of the 10-year-old girl.

On Monday, Elisa Baker led investigators to three locations, police confirmed to Channel 9. On Tuesday morning, police blocked off an approximately two-mile stretch of Christie Road in Caldwell County and began searching there. The area is about seven miles away from where investigators searched on Monday.

 ::monkeyscissors::

I was answering thw question about the ransom note. Apologize if I wasn't clear on that.

So in order for the police to do this Elisa has had to have confessed to something, they wouldn't be bringing her out there like that imo. Now the question is, where is dad, because there is no way that I believe he doesn't know  ::MonkeyNoNo::

I'm thinking Adam has been tossed under the bus.

I think Adam has been thrown under the bus also.

Has anyone heard what relative/friend that Adam was supposedly picking up at the airport?

NC police: Stepmother talking in missing girl case

The Associated Press
Tuesday, October 26, 2010; 12:04 PM

HICKORY, N.C. -- The stepmother of a missing 10-year-old girl is cooperating with investigators who are searching in rural North Carolina for the disabled child or evidence in her disappearance, police said Tuesday.

Elisa Baker, the stepmother of Zahra Clare Baker, has been talking with investigators after her lawyer approached police offering her help, said Maj. Clyde Deal, deputy police chief in Hickory where the child was reported missing Oct. 9.

Police believe the girl is dead. She uses hearing aids and has a prosthetic leg because of bone cancer. Authorities in recent weeks have combed wooded areas and a landfill for evidence or her body.

Deal said Tuesday that Elisa Baker, 42, was taken earlier this week to a home where she once lived. But he declined to elaborate.

"We're working with her attorney to see what information she has and what she is willing to share. We're treating her like every other source of information," he said.

A telephone message left for Elisa Baker's attorney, Scott Reilly, was not immediately returned.

The stepmother has been charged with obstruction of justice. Police said she acknowledged to writing a bogus ransom note found at the scene of a fire in the family's back yard on the day Zahra Clare Baker was reported missing.

The girl's father, Adam Baker, was arrested Monday on unrelated charges. He and his daughter are from Australia. He and his daughter moved to North Carolina in 2008 after he married Elisa Baker, whom he had met on the Internet.

Adam Baker, 33, is facing one count each of assault with a deadly weapon and failure to return rental property, two counts of communicating threats and five counts of writing worthless checks, authorities said.

The timing of his arrest raises questions because the charges against him were filed over the past few months. Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins had said authorities delayed taking action because he was cooperating with police.

Deal said investigators haven't talked to Adam Baker since his arrest. He also said Adam Baker did not have an attorney.

Adam Baker was being held in a western North Carolina jail on $7,000 bond. Elisa Baker is at the same jail.

Police have not found the girl's body and haven't charged anyone with killing her. A three-day search of a landfill last week failed to turn up any evidence.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/26/AR2010102602561.html

Seems like her lawyer has struck a deal for her. This is a death penalty atty. I'm willing to bet she made a deal with the DA's office to reveal the location if they drop pursuit of the DP.

Let's see what they turn up with EB's information. AB didn't appear to give them squat for information leading to Zahra.

...and I believe that is why he is in jail right now.

Here it is http://www.wsoctv.com/video/25516548/index.html

Markers from the video

From the picture is that like a stream of water?

SLIDESHOW: Search Team At New Site


http://www.wsoctv.com/slideshow/news/25518340/detail.html

AB legal position

If you are arrested or jailed overseas
a lot of infoon that pg ,a snip

Being arrested overseas
If you are arrested overseas you have the right to contact the Australian Government, but consular assistance cannot override local law, even when local laws may appear harsh by Australian standards.

The Australian Government cannot get you out of jail.
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/tips/gaolos.html

more info
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/arrested_or_detained_overseas.html

Consular services
Helping Australians arrested or detained overseas
Approximately 750 Australians are arrested overseas each year. For Australians arrested overseas, operating within unfamiliar legal systems and procedures can be distressing and frightening.

Consular assistance
Australian consular officers provide a range of assistance to Australians detained overseas to help ensure their welfare is protected, and that they are subject to a fair judicial process according to local legal procedures. This may include visiting the person regularly in detention, providing general information about the country's legal system and local prison system, offering a list of local English-speaking lawyers, helping them to contact their family, and attending their trial as an ******* (if approved by the local authorities).

Consular officers can approach local authorities to request that an Australian detainee's basic needs are met and that humanitarian standards of treatment are respected. However, they cannot organise better treatment for an Australian than that provided to the host country's own citizens.

Local laws and legal processes
Local laws and legal processes overseas can be very different to those in Australia and harsh penalties may apply (for example the death penalty for some drug offences). The Australian Government cannot intervene in another country's legal system or seek to impose Australian standards on the judicial process of that country. Australians would not tolerate foreign government intervention in our legal processes, and we cannot expect a different standard to apply in other countries.

Australian missions overseas do not have Australian lawyers to assist Australians who are arrested, detained or jailed overseas. It is the responsibility of each individual to organise their own legal representation. The mission can however provide Australians with a list of local lawyers with relevant experience and qualifications. Locally-trained lawyers, who are familiar with the laws and legal processes of the country, are best-placed to provide assistance.

Legal fees
The Australian Government as a general rule does not pay legal fees for arrested, detained or jailed Australians. A consular officer can however make arrangements for an individual's family or friends to pay for lawyers.

Consular officers can also inform arrested Australians about how to apply to the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department under the Special Circumstances (Overseas) Scheme for financial assistance to cover overseas legal costs and related expenses. Assistance under this Scheme is provided only in the most exceptional circumstances and it is not intended to be used for hiring a private lawyer in place of a court-appointed lawyer or public defender.

Further information
Further information on consular assistance provided to Australians arrested and jailed overseas is available from:

Frequently Asked Questions - arrested, detained and jailed overseas (see link)
If you are arrested or jailed overseas


Legal fees
 Special Circumstances (Overseas)Scheme
http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/agd.nsf/Page/Legalaid_SpecialCircumstances(Overseas)Program

(see link)
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/faq.html

I think that is just long grass in the foreground and it gives that shadow because of where I captured the still from.  I could be wrong.

Thanks it is hard to tell, always seem to have problems with pictures.

Zahra Baker's stepmom talking with authorities as search shifts


HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - Sources are now confirming that the jailed stepmother of a missing 10-year-old Hickory girl is cooperating with authorities and was taken from her cell early Monday and was driven to at least two areas that were searched by officials for clues about the missing girl.
Police said Tuesday that 42-year-old Elisa Baker was talking with investigators and had been taken this week to a home where she once lived. Hickory Deputy Police Chief Maj. Clyde Deal wouldn't elaborate, but says Baker's lawyer approached police to offer her help.

On the same day that Zahra Baker's father, Adam Baker, was charged, Hickory Police took stepmother Elisa Baker to various areas in Caldwell County where they later searched for the girl -- or clues for the girl who has been missing since Oct. 9
Adam Baker, the father of Zahra Baker, was hit with unrelated charges early Monday morning, unlike Zahra's stepmother, Elisa Baker, who is being held on an obstruction of justice charge related to the search for the girl.
On Tuesday, searchers went to a new location of Caldwell County on Christie Road near Hudson, which is reportedly near a former Baker residence. It's also a place where trash is known to be dumped.
Tuesday's search area is different from Monday's at Dudley Shoals Road and Burns Road which is in Caldwell County, about four miles northeast of Granite Falls. That location is reportedly near where Elisa Baker lived in 2006-2007 before she married Adam Baker and before his daughter, Zahra moved to the United States.
On Tuesday, sources told WBTV that Elisa Baker was removed from her jail cell early Monday and was taken to various search areas with police. Officials say that Baker never got out of an SUV that she was riding in for the tour of future search areas.
MORE...

http://hickory.wbtv.com/content/zahra-bakers-stepmom-talking-authorities-search-shifts?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Could it be that Gothmonster asked someone else to dump the mattress and that is why she can not remember where it was dumped?  or is she just enjoying the fresh air and scenery?

That image is of animal bones found on the search yesterday in the Dudley Shoals area, according to the report. They are searching about 7 miles from there today, along the roadway, they said.

Police: Stepmother talking in Zahra Baker case

(http://media.wcnc.com/images/102610+zahra+baker+christie+road+search.jpg)

HICKORY, N.C. (AP) -- The stepmother of a missing 10-year-old girl is cooperating with investigators who are searching in rural North Carolina for the disabled child or evidence in her disappearance, police said Tuesday.

Investigators are currently searching an area in Caldwell County near Pine Mountain and Christy roads.

A barricade was posted at Christy Road earlier Tuesday. Deputies had said that barricade would come down around noon. Instead, the barricade currently remains up and investigators have expanded the search area.
MORE...

http://www.wcnc.com/news/Cops-resume-search-for-missing-10-year-old-NC-girl-105775613.html

I actually think she is talking. I think she is scared for herself, and trying to get a better deal by talking.

She's not getting too much fresh air, as I have read that she has not been getting out of the SUV when they arrive at a location.

JMO.

I have to wonder why she's not getting out of the vehicle. Are the cops not letting her out or is she afraid someone will shoot her if she gets out.
How stoned can u be to not remember where you hid the body of a little girl that you murdered?
I think she's playing games. She knows exactly where Zahra's body is.

 
Police Find Mattress Matching Description Of Zahra's - News Story - WSOC Charlotte http://t.co/tAriGpF