Zahra Clare Baker #5 10/28/10 - 11/4/10

[Northern Rose]

Elisa Baker to appear in Catawba County court

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. -- Elisa Baker is back in court Friday, appearing on charges unrelated to the disappearance of her 10-year-old stepdaughter Zahra.

Baker was scheduled to appear in Catawba County court on charges of writing worthless checks.

Baker is now cooperating police in the search for Zahra, who was reported missing on Oct. 9.

This week, investigators located a prosthetic leg in Caldwell County. Zahra wore a prosthetic leg but police are awaiting medical records to see if he the leg is a match to the missing girl.

Investigators would not say if Elisa Baker provided the information that led them to the prosthesis.

Investigators have also been digging in the backyard of Baker's Hickory home. On Thursday, investigators used a backhoe to turn over piles of dirt, mulch and wood chips before painstakingly using rakes and sometimes just their hands to look for clues.

Hickory police Chief Tom Adkins would not say what investigators hoped to find, only that they returned to the house based on new information that had been provided to them.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Elisa-Baker-to-appear-in-Catawba-County-court-106304413.html

[Northern Rose]

Inside Elisa Baker's Rap Sheet (with video)

When it comes to showing up in court, Elisa Baker is not very reliable.

We found that out while uncovering Court documents against her.

Her arrest warrant contains just a few simple facts, Baker's mug shot, her address, and the charges she faces.

But so much of what investigators have found out relating to Zahra's disappearance remains confidential.

According to Catawba County District Attorney Jay Gaither, "It is a judicial decision. It is done for the integrity of the investigation, or for the protection of witnesses."

He would not talk specifically about the ten-year old's disappearance. But said in many cases the contents of search warrants are not released because it could jeopardize the work of Police. "If it could hamper or hinder the investigation, then we'd seek, but they'd be sealed."

We've also learned more about Elisa Baker's history with the courts in our State in recent years.

According to documents we uncovered at the Catawba County Courthouse, Baker has been a no-show for 15 traffic violations in several counties going back to the 1990s.

Meanwhile, it may be months before we find out what investigators have taken from a number of search locations they've scoured to find the missing child.

The D.A. has been tipping his hand, but will only say that some cases deserve this level of scrutiny. This coming Monday, the Catawba County Grand Jury convenes at ten o'clock. Sources say it is possible that Baker could face more charges later that day.

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13407560

[crazybabyborg]

Hmmmmm. Maybe it's nothing, but about "the littleset playset". Does it seem to you guys that the toy is a little "underaged" for a 10 year old? It's the only specific Aaron mentions.

[Serenity]

My grandkids lost interest in them when they were about 7yrs old

[pink angel]

My grandkids lost interest in them when they were about 7yrs old

They have virtual Littlest Petshop Pets, perhaps she enjoyed those?

[Claycat]

Hmmmmm. Maybe it's nothing, but about "the littleset playset". Does it seem to you guys that the toy is a little "underaged" for a 10 year old? It's the only specific Aaron mentions.

Some kids still play with dolls and that sort of thing until they are 10.  It's possible Zahra didn't have many toys. 

[pink angel]

Elisa was not brought into the courtroom. Her current attorney Scott Reilly, was appointed to represent her on the minor charges too.

http://twitter.com/RadBerkywcnc

[pink angel]

Her case on the minor charges now continued til Dec. She remains in jail.

http://twitter.com/RadBerkywcnc

[bananas]

My 8 year old granddaughter plays with the Littlest Pet Shop things.  She has loved them for a few years.  I do believe she is starting to outgrow them now as she is approaching the age of 9.  I thought the same thing.  I wonder if he has spent much time around Zahra in the last year or so?  Maybe he is remembering this from when she was younger. 

The boimum story is breaking my heart.  What really happened here?  This is all so sad and demented.

[bananas]

Oops... I meant BIOMUM story. sorry.

[no rose colored glasses]

quite a few new images of the backyard search here

http://www.wsoctv.com/slideshow/news/25548990/detail.html

I'm just not comprehending what they are all looking for. I guess the only conclusion for me is they burned Zahra's body, or in some machine and then spread her all over the yard? I really hope that all they are looking for is just evidence that is needed and not a body, so puzzling when I look at the pictures.

[ScareyCarrie]

My 8 year old granddaughter plays with the Littlest Pet Shop things.  She has loved them for a few years.  I do believe she is starting to outgrow them now as she is approaching the age of 9.  I thought the same thing.  I wonder if he has spent much time around Zahra in the last year or so?  Maybe he is remembering this from when she was younger. 

The boimum story is breaking my heart.  What really happened here?  This is all so sad and demented.

That is the same thin i was thinking, b/c wasnt he the ex of E, and E has been married to AB for 2 yrs if i remember correctly..so Zahra would have been quite a bit younger if thats when he is referring to.

I was at a gathering/party awhile ago and was laying on the florr with an adorable girl who was probably only 3 or 4 (cant remember) and we were playing with these pet shop animals, and she had a folded up catalog/brochure thingy she whipped out and showed me all her favorite pets and which ones she wanted to get next...

but then again i busted my barbies out until about 12 yo and would play with my lil sister and such, so its hard telling.

[ScareyCarrie]

(wow, sloppy fingers with not much coffee...sorry for all the errors!!)

just so sad to think that she had no one in her family who knew her, or got her so to say, and even in cases like that usually one of their little friends comes forward and says what their favs were and such, but not for Zahra, seems she wasnt allowed to have friends once she was pulled from school 

[Desdemona]

Hmmmmm. Maybe it's nothing, but about "the littleset playset". Does it seem to you guys that the toy is a little "underaged" for a 10 year old? It's the only specific Aaron mentions.

(My thought, mirrored; though I haven't really checked out the video game.)

[nicubird]

Hmmmmm. Maybe it's nothing, but about "the littleset playset". Does it seem to you guys that the toy is a little "underaged" for a 10 year old? It's the only specific Aaron mentions.

(My thought, mirrored; though I haven't really checked out the video game.)

Perhaps she was too ill to play with it the way she would have liked when she was younger because of her prolonged illness and chemotherapy. Perhaps she was making up for lost time. I don't find it odd that she may have hung on to these experiences a little longer than other children.

[Desdemona]

Hmmmmm. Maybe it's nothing, but about "the littleset playset". Does it seem to you guys that the toy is a little "underaged" for a 10 year old? It's the only specific Aaron mentions.

(My thought, mirrored; though I haven't really checked out the video game.)

Perhaps she was too ill to play with it the way she would have liked when she was younger because of her prolonged illness and chemotherapy. Perhaps she was making up for lost time. I don't find it odd that she may have hung on to these experiences a little longer than other children.

Yes, this is probably common in children who have been through overwhelming life experiences.

OTOH, there is an online "virtual world" which is rated at this review site for ages 7 and up.

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/website-reviews/www-hasbro-littlestpetshop.html
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Littlest Pet Shop VIPs was written by Dana Cotter

Parents need to know that this site requires the purchase of a stuffed toy to participate in the virtual world for one year (Kids can borrow a pet and register one time to explore the site with a three-game limit). Otherwise, Littlest Pet Shop plush toys are available for about $15 at hasbrotoyshop.com and several other online retailers. Currency is Kibble coins, earned by playing games and doing activities. Outside advertising doesn't exist, but there's a clear intent for kids to add several VIPs to their account.
===

[no rose colored glasses]

I have never even heard of this game you are all talking about 

[wildmala]

Had a dream last night that Zahra had been found in a back yard.  Don't know if it was THEIR backyard.  Weird.  I remember it was like I was watching a news report and all the backhoes sitting around a dug up area and LE standing around and a flash of her...she was very very very thin.    Awful dream.

So...if they aren't looking for the 'smoking gun' in the back yard...I am wondering do they already have it?  Or some/part of it? 

Also - they searched the father's work place first, correct?  I wonder if he borrowed equipment from his work to do the mulching, stump removal, etc on HIS property.  Perhaps it wasn't until after they search his work site that someone found info showing he had taken equipment home in the time being questioned...and perhaps THAT is what led them back to the property. 


Has it been mentioned whether any of HER belongings have been removed from the home as evidence?  Clothes...toys...sheets?  Or has any of this been seen by onlookers?  I do wonder if they were trying to 'dispose of her' with the recent biomom's discovery of her.  Did they remove everything they could of hers?  Were there much of her belongings even left in the house? 
I guess the 'disposal theory' might not make sense since they tried to do the whole fake kidnapping deal.  Maybe they realized how it would look if biomom showed up one day and Zahra was nowhere and then in a panic came up with this kidnapping plan? 

Just thinking 'outloud' here.

[crazybabyborg]

Just an FYI to those also following Caylee's case. Casey's back in court in 5 minutes. 

[BabsKats]

Here is a pic of Aaron Young holding Z at a birthday party, I believe it was a party for SM's I can't find the info where this was mentioned, believe it was on one of SM's Facebook or other that has since been locked.  Z looks to be a fairly good size so am assuming it was perhaps in the last year or so?