NC - Zahra Clare Baker, 10, Hickory, 9 Oct 2010 - #19

[Curious Me]

Maybe that's what she was taught to say. Reminds me of Joan Crawford making her abused adoption children call her "mommy dearest". Chills me, though, to think she could have been in that much denial if she believed that as others witnessed the beatings.

I thought so too. Zahra was keeping secrets about being abused. How sad, how sad.

 

[audreyfan]

I don't believe so...for many reasons. For me to even ponder that possibility I would have to know why EB wrote the ransom note because I don't believe that she (they) had any intention of actually kidnapping AB's bosses daughter. Not only that..the fact that it appears (at least to me) that her own children believe her to be guilty and that speaks volumes to me. They know what went on in that household and they know her better than anyone. It was bad enough for at least the one daughter to contact DSS.

I agree, but let's say the ransom note writing was a false confession, and I know many say they saw SM abuse Zahra, but that is a she said-she said kind of thing, isn't it? It is a volatile family with some really dysfunctional behavior. DSS hasn't said that they investigated her (and I know they probably won't admit it). Is there any possibility she is a messed-up, jerky, sick woman who actually had nothing to do with Z's disappearance?

 

[Pondering Mind]

Maybe that's what she was taught to say. Reminds me of Joan Crawford making her abused adoption children call her "mommy dearest". Chills me, though, to think she could have been in that much denial if she believed that as others witnessed the beatings.

I have worked alongside DSS for many years..not employed by them, but as a Guardian ad Litem volunteer. In my own experience, children are terrified to tell because what if no one does anything?..they know they're in trouble then. But to me, what's even sadder is the fact that these children (most anyway) love these abusers, they don't want them to go to jail...it will break your heart. Often I think that this way of life is all they know and even after enduring horrible abuse, they don't want their parents taken away.

 

[Kamille]

I agree, but let's say the ransom note writing was a false confession, and I know many say they saw SM abuse Zahra, but that is a she said-she said kind of thing, isn't it? It is a volatile family with some really dysfunctional behavior. DSS hasn't said that they investigated her (and I know they probably won't admit it). Is there any possibility she is a messed-up, jerky, sick woman who actually had nothing to do with Z's disappearance?

Not if Zahra has been missing for two weeks or more.

MOO

 

[audreyfan]

No, there really isn't any way, is there? Just wanted to see if I could think through any other possibility....

 

[Pondering Mind]

I agree, but let's say the ransom note writing was a false confession, and I know many say they saw SM abuse Zahra, but that is a she said-she said kind of thing, isn't it? It is a volatile family with some really dysfunctional behavior. DSS hasn't said that they investigated her (and I know they probably won't admit it). Is there any possibility she is a messed-up, jerky, sick woman who actually had nothing to do with Z's disappearance?

DSS can't say anything..although we want to know, people would be raising h@ll if that info got out. When I was doing this kind of work, I wasn't even allowed to discuss a case with anyone other than a caseworker or another GAL. Even without mentioning names, I couldn't even discuss it with family members.

I think EB is all the things you described above and I suppose ANYTHING is a possibility at this point, but I don't believe that it was a false confession, I believe that got that out of her and after they did she know she was in deep doo-doo and lawyered up...jmo though..

 

[Mrs G Norris]

So she is a death penalty qualified lawyer.

She'll need it.

 

[SherlockHomey]

The fact that she is willing to defend that kind of crime should inspire you and restore you faith in US Justice System as it is what our system is founded on- EVERYONE is entitled to a defense a competent defense in fact.
Without that out system falls apart.

Nope still don't get it. Just my opinion of course.

 

[Curious Me]

Here we go with the defense being that EB was accused of this crime based on her own bad reputation and was coerced into confessing she wrote the ransom note.

 

[Pondering Mind]

I know many don't think a lot of DSS, DCF, whatever it is called in your state..and they definitely need some overhauling and absolutely there are some bad apples, but most are dedicated workers that don't make much money, are called out 24/7 with caseloads you wouldn't believe. They spend a tremendous amount of time in court with the usual red tape and when you have no proof at that time and the children won't say anything even when you talk to them alone, it can be extremely frustrating for them as well, I promise you. It's not enough to 'know in your gut' that something is going on..or even for a friend/family member to tell you that they believe it is. In most states, once a family moves out of the county..and that's exactly what they do when they know they are being investigated...you have NO jurisdiction over them..most often have no idea where they even moved to and they are under no obligation to tell you either..

 

[lonetraveler]

I just logged in to get a status and started at the last page to do a bit of crawfishing (going backwards) and saw posters talking about death bands on hair. Could someone give me just a quick catchup, please? Did LE find death bands on hair on the mattress? Was the prosthesis leg found in the landfill? Any news? TIA.

 

[Curious Me]

Everybody will get their 15 minutes to shine telling how they saw all this abuse.

I see a bounty hunter man in a cowboy hat but I hope he stays away.

This is not going to all go away anytime soon.

 

[SewingDeb]

Lonetraveler- no new from the landfill yet. No death bands on hair in this case yet...no prothetic leg found at this time.

There are pictures of them checking a couple of mattresses at the landfill and that's it so far.

 

[Kamille]

Here we go with the defense being that EB was accused of this crime based on her own bad reputation and was coerced into confessing she wrote the ransom note.

Or EB was a battered woman and she was doing what she was told to do by her abuser to save her own life. That's why she took up with the London guy online. She was trying to raise the funds to get her and Zahra out of this horrible situation. But she was too late for Zahra. The possibilities are endless. I really hate defense lawyers sometimes even though I know they are necessary.

MOO

 

[Ada]

I just logged in to get a status and started at the last page to do a bit of crawfishing (going backwards) and saw posters talking about death bands on hair. Could someone give me just a quick catchup, please? Did LE find death bands on hair on the mattress? Was the prosthesis leg found in the landfill? Any news? TIA.

I believe we were just speculating about death bands on hair. Someone asked what it was and others posted info about it, including from the Casey Anthony case.

I don't think there have been any death bands recovered from Z, at least not that we know about.

 

[Pondering Mind]

I just logged in to get a status and started at the last page to do a bit of crawfishing (going backwards) and saw posters talking about death bands on hair. Could someone give me just a quick catchup, please? Did LE find death bands on hair on the mattress? Was the prosthesis leg found in the landfill? Any news? TIA.

Lol lone, I commented on death bands, but I just logged on and was going to ask that same question!

 

[PunKnLuV]

Nope still don't get it. Just my opinion of course.

I totally get it!! I mean not everyone who is charged with a crime is guilty. Even if the lawyer is only in it to make money the fact that there IS a lawyer that could defend an innocent person and allow justice to prevail in that way is a comforting thought! I think I watch too much Dateline, Dateline Mysteries, 48 Hours, Forensic Files, Wicked Attraction etc. because IMO if you are innocent you probably need a lawyer even more than if you are guilty.

 

[tlcya]

Just got done feeding the family dinner and alot seems to have happened onthread in the few hours since I last check in on this case.

So EB is being courted by DP laywer and now reported in MSM that LE believes Zahra never slept in the bed they removed from her room.

Anything else I should know?

 

[tlcya]

Everybody will get their 15 minutes to shine telling how they saw all this abuse.

I see a bounty hunter man in a cowboy hat but I hope he stays away.

This is not going to all go away anytime soon.

Last few posts were dead on IMO. Let the circus begin.

 

[Curious Me]

I think it is just speculation at this point about death hairs, but looking for another mattress is connected.