Zahra Clare Baker #2 10/13/10 - 10/16/10

[Northern Rose]

Zahra Baker search brings crews to Burke County pond (with video)

HICKORY, N.C. -- As the Hickory Police Department launches their sixth day of searching for a missing girl, people following the story of 10-year-old Zahra Baker have to wait for updates. Since this turned to a homicide investigation on Tuesday, police are releasing fewer details. Crews were seen searching a wooded area in Burke County but they haven't revealed any results.

K9 and search crew left the police department Thursday morning but did not reveal where they are going to look, in fact, since Tuesday, police haven't formally issued any new information.

Crews searched the Burke County land again Wednesday night. This time, they went beyond the pile of lumber and debris and brought in a tanker truck to drain a small pond on the property.

The police chief said multiple times in separate press conferences they have not found Zahra's prosthetic leg and we're told that is what they are searching for at this site. K-9's indicated evidence of human remains on wood processing equipment at this site. Zahra's father worked there.

The little girl was reported missing Saturday, but police say it may have been much longer. She lost her lower left leg and hearing to cancer. Her hearing aids were found at her home.

Stay with News 14 Carolina and News14.com for updates on this story.

http://charlotte.news14.com/content/top_stories/631486/zahra-baker-search-brings-crews-to-burke-county-pond

[Northern Rose]

Zahra Baker Case: Frustration at Alleged Abuse Boils Over (with video)

Some Investigators Doubt Father's Story, Friend Claims Extended Family Called Social Services About Alleged Abuse

Vigils for missing children are generally sources of collective strength and hope, but in the case of missing disabled 10-year-old Zahra Baker, countless allegations of repeated domestic abuse spawned another feeling entirely Wednesday night: anger.

"I hope this will be the beginning of no one not speaking out when they see a child being hurt," one woman said in a passionate plea as onlookers held back tears around her during a candlelit vigil for Zahra in Hickory, N.C.

Zahra, who lost her left leg and hearing in a childhood battle with cancer, was reported missing Saturday but police have been unable to find anyone other than her parents who have seen the girl in weeks.

Police searching for any sign of the girl have focused on a woodchipper, mulch piles and the woods few miles from the Baker home and have drained a nearby pond; all to no avail. Today they're also combing through computer and phone records for any hints.

Several former neighbors, along with one relative, have come forward to claim the girl was repeatedly abused by her stepmother, Elisa Baker.

Baker, who was already in custody on unrelated charges, admitted Tuesday to writing a ransom note demanding $1 million in connection with the case, police said. But she has since denied any involvement in the girl's disappearance.
 
Zahra's father, Adam Baker, told "Good Morning America" Monday that he believed his wife could be involved in his daughter's disappearance. Some law enforcement are questioning his motives as well.

"He seems concerned. I don't know how sincere his concern is," Burke County Sheriff John McDevitt said Wednesday as investigators continued to search for any sign of Zahra's remains. When asked if he believed Adam Baker, McDevitt said, "I don't."

But today, Hickory city police officials said Adam Baker has been fully cooperating with investigators since Zahra went missing.

Much of last night's anger was focused on Zahra's extended family, who some people implied did nothing to protect the little girl. But one family friend stood up to defend them and said the family called social services on Zahra's behalf.

"They tried, they really tried," Baker family friend Lindsey Parker said at the vigil. "And I just want everybody here to know that the family honestly tried."

Elisa Baker's son, who also attended the vigil, did not comment on the allegations of abuse.

"Right now's not the appropriate time for that, you know," Douglas Baker told "GMA." "We need to let all the facts come out and go from there."

Another family friend, Brandy Stapleton, said she took a picture of Zahra more than two months ago in which the child clearly has a bruise under her eye.

MORE....

http://abcnews.go.com/US/zahra-baker-case-frustration-alleged-abuse-boils/story?id=11877535

[fatcatlurker]

IDK if the Dad is cooperating or not but I sure hope they asked him to sit tight at the search sites and watch it all.  JMO.

[no rose colored glasses]

Thanks Northern

[Northern Rose]

Per last article,

Burke  County Sherriff says Dad IS NOT cooperating...

Hickory police say Dad IS cooperating

  

[mariloo]

Per last article,

Burke  County Sherriff says Dad IS NOT cooperating...

Hickory police say Dad IS cooperating

  

I am glad that is cleared up. 

[Brandi]

Per last article,

Burke  County Sherriff says Dad IS NOT cooperating...

Hickory police say Dad IS cooperating

  

I am glad that is cleared up. 

LOL

I suspect he is not fully cooperating.

[mariloo]

Per last article,

Burke  County Sherriff says Dad IS NOT cooperating...

Hickory police say Dad IS cooperating

  

I am glad that is cleared up. 

LOL

I suspect he is not fully cooperating.

Me too.

[4 Donks]

Per last article,

Burke  County Sherriff says Dad IS NOT cooperating...

Hickory police say Dad IS cooperating

  

I am glad that is cleared up. 

LOL

I suspect he is not fully cooperating.

Me too.

Maybe they say he's co-operating because he hasn't lawyered up and stopped talking.

[Brandi]

Bulldozer tearing apart wood pile in Burke Co. in search of Zahra Baker. Chopper 9 skyzoom video on wsoctv.com shortly.
4 minutes ago via web

http://twitter.com/shelleyclynch

[Northern Rose]

Images of the search today

http://www.wsoctv.com/slideshow/news/25392609/detail.html

[mariloo]

Bulldozer tearing apart wood pile in Burke Co. in search of Zahra Baker. Chopper 9 skyzoom video on wsoctv.com shortly.
4 minutes ago via web

http://twitter.com/shelleyclynch

I do so hope they find something.

[Gypsy DD]

I think they would insist the father be there so they could watch his reaction at each site.

[no rose colored glasses]

I think they would insist the father be there so they could watch his reaction at each site.

That must be it, I thought that he was cooperating at first and taking the police to where her remains are. But obviously he isn't helping. I'm shocked that he doesn't have a lawyer.

[Northern Rose]

CHOPPER 9: K-9 Searching Wood Pile For Missing Girl

http://www.wsoctv.com/video/25392797/

[no rose colored glasses]

Images of the search today

http://www.wsoctv.com/slideshow/news/25392609/detail.html

Is that wood pile at the site where the wood chipper is located?

[Brandi]

CHOPPER 9: K-9 Searching Wood Pile For Missing Girl

http://www.wsoctv.com/video/25392797/

Grabbed these two shots from the video.

Looks like a metal detector to me in first shot. And dog(s) searching as well in second.

[no rose colored glasses]

Brandi in the second shot is that a hole or an illusion?

[Brandi]

Brandi in the second shot is that a hole or an illusion?

The bulldozer or front end loader, I don't know the difference ... just made that by clearing wood and some earth for the dog to work on.

It is a bit of a trench, I'd say.

 

[mariloo]

Brandi in the second shot is that a hole or an illusion?

The bulldozer or front end loader, I don't know the difference ... just made that by clearing wood and some earth for the dog to work on.

It is a bit of a trench, I'd say.

 

Are you watching live?  Wish I could see!!  I am on old pooter that needs newer Flash drive installed and I don't have that authority.  Dang it!!