NC - Zahra Clare Baker, 10, Hickory, 9 Oct 2010 - #1

[kalekona]

Has it been said whether the note was handwritten or typed?

Has the stepmom lawyered up yet, or is she talking?

Zahra, I'm praying hard for you to come home safe.

Not that I know for sure but I imagine since she was arrested on charges not related to Zahra that she should have been arraigned by now which means she should be represented by a lawyer.

The fact that they are piling on charges to make sure she remains in custody leads me to think they have something pretty incriminating on her concerning Zahra.

Also I'm a bit lost on something- someone posted that the father has an extensive criminal record also including bad checks- where these charges already prosecuted? if not wouldn't they have also arrested him?

 

[Aedrys]

I hate to say this because I know it's going to come off rude, but these parents seem like idiots and it seems like they think the cops are pretty stupid in order to REALLY think the cops wouldn't notice a million holes and red flags with this entire story.

Anyway, from what I understand, there was only one fire (a brush fire) in the backyard.

ITA. So one fire, and two cars possibly with remains in them. Good grief, this is like a bad gothic soap opera!

 

[eyes4crime]

So after all this time-consuming craziness by mom and dad - where is beautiful Zahra? Wonder if they will search the water next.

Did mom do something with her and dad tried to help cover it all up? Was there drugs? sure seems like it! moo mho

 

[kai]

I really hope for the police/fire department's reputations sake that the media has some of this time line goofed. I would like to think that if a ransom note is found at a residence that the people living in the residence would be questioned immediately about who is living there.

Please let the media be jumbled in this time line.

 

[KaylynnCouture]

"He said investigators were having trouble finding anyone else who had seen the home-schooled girl alive in the last few weeks."

and also

"A reporter saw what appeared to be remnants of clothes among burned branches from the fire at the scene."

Snipped from http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/8435154/

That's a problem. A real big problem. How could no one (neighbors, etc) not have seen her in weeks??

 

[salvarenga]

"He said investigators were having trouble finding anyone else who had seen the home-schooled girl alive in the last few weeks."

and also

"A reporter saw what appeared to be remnants of clothes among burned branches from the fire at the scene."

Snipped from http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/8435154/

That's a problem. A real big problem. How could no one (neighbors, etc) not have seen her in weeks??

Question, why has LE not seize whatever those remnants were from the fire? They could be evidence!

 

[Sherbie]

The criteria in North Carolina for an Amber Alert is: (Note: ALL of the criteria must be met)

1) The child has to be 17 years of age or younger.
2) Believed to have been abducted.
3) Not taken by a parent (unless the child is in danger).
4) Not believed to be a runaway or voluntarily missing and the abduction has been reported to and investigated by a law enforcement agency.

http://www.nccrimecontrol.org/Index2.cfm?a=000003,000014,000081,000576

I'm thinking that cops issued an Amber Alert based on the fact that she is special needs, and also on first glance they may have thought she had been abducted based on the initial report (missing from her bedroom while she slept, parents haven't seen her in 12 hours, etc).

Also, I think here in NC (unlike some other states), there doesn't necessarily have to be a kidnapper or vehicle description, so long as there is enough identifying info about the kidnapped child for people to have an idea what to look for.

 

[tehcloser]

I'm just afraid we are going to find out she has been missing for weeks...

 

[alwaysonmymind]

So dad and sm have outstanding warrants?

I wonder about the other financial strain and could Zahra have had a life insurance policy?

With her medical condition, would she see a medical doctor on a regular basis?

 

[cluciano63]

Also, I think here in NC (unlike some other states), there doesn't necessarily have to be a kidnapper or vehicle description, so long as there is enough identifying info about the kidnapped child for people to have an idea what to look for.

I only asked about the Amber Alert as I wondered what they gave out that people should be looking for...I thought I may have missed a car or a description...so in NC, the child can be the description? But where do they issue the alert, then, they can't really use highways I guess...

 

[tehcloser]

The search warrant and information coming from Hickory police surrounding Zahra Baker's disappearance brings into question if this was a case of mistaken identity by strangers or a carefully-crafted plot by people close to Baker, possibly her own parents.

According to the warrant, a brush and car fire at the Baker family home the morning Zahra disappeared included a ransom note on a car windshield. That note mentions Adam Baker's boss' name, demanding a million dollars for the boss' kidnapped daughter and no police.

Police checked that man and his daughter and both were fine. Then, a short time later, the warrant says Baker called police from the same address saying someone poured gas in his vehicle and that whoever did it took his daughter, not his boss' daughter.

Police think it could be a smoke screen.

http://arklatexhomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=130945

 

[KaylynnCouture]

I only asked about the Amber Alert as I wondered what they gave out that people should be looking for...I thought I may have missed a car or a description...so in NC, the child can be the description? But where do they issue the alert, then, they can't really use highways I guess...

No, they still use the highways. I lived in North Carolina briefly, and they have giant screens over most highways (primarily the major one- I-40) that I've seen Amber Alerts on numerous times. I'm not sure if Zahra's case is up on those currently (a local would need to answer that) but I know LE DOES use those highway monitors in most Amber Alert (or Silver Alert) cases.

 

[KaylynnCouture]

I'm just afraid we are going to find out she has been missing for weeks...

Me too.

 

[kai]

(Snipped Quote)

Then, a short time later, the warrant says Baker called police from the same address saying someone poured gas in his vehicle and that whoever did it took his daughter, not his boss' daughter.

Police think it could be a smoke screen.

http://arklatexhomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=130945

YA THINK???? :banghead:

Poor Zahra...

 

[raeann]

Have any of the media actually posted a copy of the search warrant yet? It seems that they have all seen it.

jmoo

 

[salvarenga]

No, they still use the highways. I lived in North Carolina briefly, and they have giant screens over most highways (primarily the major one- I-40) that I've seen Amber Alerts on numerous times. I'm not sure if Zahra's case is up on those currently (a local would need to answer that) but I know LE DOES use those highway monitors in most Amber Alert (or Silver Alert) cases.

I live in NC and I see the digital screens lit up with Amber/Silver alert info all the time. I have to go out in a bit and get on the interstate to get where I am going so I will take a look to see if they are mentioning Zahra.

 

[Sherbie]

I'm just afraid we are going to find out she has been missing for weeks...

Me, too. I imagine some of the questioning might be going kinda like this:

LE: Can you remember any places you or your wife took Zahra the past two weeks -- restaurants, doctor's office, grocery store?

I hope dad comes up with some ideas so LE can ask for surv. video from those and nearby places to see if they can spot Zahra and get a tighter timeline.

Of course, if Dad is either in on it or trying to cover his own butt for not reporting it sooner, he may not be able to come up with anything because...there wasn't anything in the past two weeks (or whatever amt of time).

Store clerks where they regularly shop will certainly remember that beautiful little face and Aussie accent and let LE know when they last saw her. If the parents won't/can't solve the mystery, LE and everyone else will!

 

[Donjeta]

I wonder if he's butted heads with his boss. The note said the boss likes to be in control, and the pot smoking youngster part was a bit inflammatory if it was intended to imply that he's got a secret pothead son somewhere.

Dunno, maybe it was just because he owns the house and there is a connection and he's the only person they know who is likely to have a million dollars to spare.

 

[BobbieBu]

little girl missing + fire + ransom note = somebody is covering up their tracks.

I pray for her safe return but do not think it'll go this way.

 

[panthera]

The search warrant and information coming from Hickory police surrounding Zahra Baker's disappearance brings into question if this was a case of mistaken identity by strangers or a carefully-crafted plot by people close to Baker, possibly her own parents.

According to the warrant, a brush and car fire at the Baker family home the morning Zahra disappeared included a ransom note on a car windshield. That note mentions Adam Baker's boss' name, demanding a million dollars for the boss' kidnapped daughter and no police.

Police checked that man and his daughter and both were fine. Then, a short time later, the warrant says Baker called police from the same address saying someone poured gas in his vehicle and that whoever did it took his daughter, not his boss' daughter.

Police think it could be a smoke screen.

http://arklatexhomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=130945

I agree - it's a smoke screen. I also believe it is quite possible she was killed during the time he was gone, immediately put inside one vehicle, then moved to his vehicle to be taken off property to wherever she is now. That would account for the dogs hitting on "indication of human remains" in both vehicles. Then the fire was set to try to destroy evidence. MOO