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

[MandyLeigh]

I forgot to add to my post (in case anyone missed it previously) that when we first heard of this woman she was arrested on unrelated warrants. I remember wondering why she hadn't been picked up before since the warrants where numerous. Now we hear about cops showing up before? I want to know then why.

 

[pinkpuddytat]

I made a post with statistics (not sure it's going to show up or not because it said it had to be reviewed ... maybe contained a link I should not have included ?? not sure ) .... but YES there is a much higher risk of death by negligence or abuse among those with low incomes and limited education. (you can do a search about the effects of poverty on domestic violence and child abuse / death - there is a lot of information out there.)

And I'm sure the effect is even greater for households that are not only low income/limited education themselves, but also live in an area where this is the norm (which is the observation about the Baker family's area that triggered this discussion). It's not that anyone imagines they're mostly "bad" people, but when nearly all the households in a given area are struggling to make ends meet, there are very few with the time and resources available to look into and help with other families' problems. A family where both parents (or the only parent, in many cases) work long hours for low wages, get home exhausted, and have to scrape together dinner for themselves and their own children from a nearly bare pantry, is not able to invite the sad-looking and bruised neighbor-child over for a relaxed and comfortable meal where adults are available to spend time encouraging her to open up and talk. There's not enough food and the adults are exhausted and need to be up at dawn to catch the bus for the long ride to their jobs, and need to talk to each other about whether to pay the electric bill or the rent since there isn't enough money for both.

 

[pinkpuddytat]

I forgot to add to my post (in case anyone missed it previously) that when we first heard of this woman she was arrested on unrelated warrants. I remember wondering why she hadn't been picked up before since the warrants where numerous. Now we hear about cops showing up before? I want to know then why.

She had also failed to show up for a court date on the charge re threatening to kill BB and BB's infant daughter. No-showing for a court date on a charge of that nature, especially when the person has multiple other pending charges, should be cause for an immediate go-out-and-arrest-her warrant, and a home in the county jail until the next court date.

 

[Wise Old Owl]

Friends: Missing girl had happy life in Australia

By MITCH WEISS, AP

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Though Zahra Clare Baker was battling cancer that forced her to wear hearing aids and a prosthetic leg, friends who knew her in Australia say she was an outgoing, caring, happy girl.

Wright says friends in Australia were suspicious of Elisa Baker when Adam Baker met her online in early 2008 and invited her to visit.

Elisa Baker told them she was she was a police officer who was shot in the line of duty. She also said she was a bounty hunter and had met celebritites.

"She told a lot of stories that never quite rang true," Wright said.

They were married that July in a small ceremony in Adam Baker's parents' backyard. In November, they moved to North Carolina. The family was less than thrilled, especially since Zahra's medical treatments were free in Australia.

"Adam was on his own for eight years with Zahra before he met (her) and I think he was lonely and I think that was his biggest downfall, really," Wright said.

The last time Wright saw Zahra, the little girl said she didn't want to leave her grandparents and friends. Wright hugged her and told her she would get to go to Disneyland.

"But she was nervous," Wright said. "She said she wanted to go for a day, but wasn't sure she wanted to live there. But when you're a 7-year-old kid, you don't get a choice. Your parents tell you what to do and that's the end of that discussion."

**more at link**

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20101013/US.Missing.Girl.North.Carolina/

 

[PunKnLuV]

I just ran some basic demographics on Hickory because I'm not real familiar with the area. I find it interesting to note that it's nearly HALF rental properties. The graduation rate is 79% with only 28% of graduates attaining higher education. Close to 15% below the poverty level with a per capita income of $23k.

I live in Hickory. The abuse that has been recorded was NOT in Hickory. Nor was in it Catawba County. Caldwell County is a more rural area than the Hickory area. This a beautiful town. This story is tragic and has torn me up inside...but I think it has much more to do with evil sadistic people than their income level. If they were moving around so much there are many different reasons that Zahra slipped through the cracks.

I have a sister-in-law who has adopted and fostered children through the Catawba County DSS and while she had moments of frustration she has had some wonderful caseworkers. Another friend had to get DSS involved when her niece was being abused and she was removed from the home and placed with my friend who then became certified to foster.

 

[crocus]

Just can't imagine what Zahra's thoughts were about moving. Such a young child already faced with huge life changes as far as her cancer, and then to be uprooted and moved to a foreign country, away from all those she knows and loves, and thrust into a totally different way of life. She had no choice.

 

[JoeFromLB]

"She was nervous." She didn't want to go to North Carolina.

Deep down inside, little Zahra felt something was wrong, but she didn't know what kind of horror was awaiting her with angry, "Gothic" stepmom.

Heartbreaking.

 

[Wise Old Owl]

Just can't imagine what Zahra's thoughts were about moving. Such a young child already faced with huge life changes as far as her cancer, and then to be uprooted and moved to a foreign country, away from all those she knows and loves, and thrust into a totally different way of life. She had no choice.

and with those two she had no chance!

:furious:

 

[tiredblondy]

I live in Hickory. The abuse that has been recorded was NOT in Hickory. Nor was in it Catawba County. Caldwell County is a more rural area than the Hickory area. This a beautiful town. This story is tragic and has torn me up inside...but I think it has much more to do with evil sadistic people than their income level. If they were moving around so much there are many different reasons that Zahra slipped through the cracks.

I have a sister-in-law who has adopted and fostered children through the Catawba County DSS and while she had moments of frustration she has had some wonderful caseworkers. Another friend had to get DSS involved when her niece was being abused and she was removed from the home and placed with my friend who then became certified to foster.

WELCOME PunKnLuV!!! I'm about 2 hrs away from you!
Glad you're here!

 

[pinkpuddytat]

Sadly, the failings of DDS, DFS, etc. are epidemic - nationwide. And our children are the victims. Overworked, overloaded, LAZY, UNCARING... Whatever the excuses, babies are dying. I cannot understand how these people can live with themselves.

In THIS case, I'm not sure how many people really attempted to help little Zahra. I would like to believe that they did, but I just can't be sure.

Also - NOT a big fan of home-schooling. And this is exactly why - it removes a significant safety net from the life of a child. One of the few.

I'm a big fan of homeschooling -- plenty of public schools are downright dangerous and many others offer a poor and political agenda-driven education, and most people can't afford private schools (especially after being taxed to pay for the public schools). Not to mention that basic principles of freedom demand that parents be free to choose how their children will be educated. BUT -- there's no way any parents should be allowed to homeschool if they've got a criminal record, or a court-documented substance abuse record (i.e. could have been convicted of a crime but were given an option to avoid that only by going through some treatment program), or currently have warrants out for their arrest. Take that easily identifiable group out of the pool, and serious problems with homeschooling (i.e. more serious than the problems commonly seen among public-schooled children) virtually disappear.

Also, in the case at hand, we're seeing how little of a "safety net" is really provided by public schooling. Zahra's school alerted DSS to potential problems in her home, but it did no good whatsoever, because there was no meaningful follow-up on the alert. Same with the Nixzmary Brown case, where school officials had tried repeatedly to get child welfare officials to help, to no avail. People who are torturing or killing their children rarely even bother to claim to be "homeschooling" -- they just don't send the children to school. EB seems to have made up the claim on the spot, when a school official called to inquire about Zahra's absence in the new school year. I honestly doubt EB even realized the new school year had begun, much less had given any prior thought to pretending to homeschool Zahra.

 

[tiredblondy]

"She was nervous." She didn't want to go to North Carolina.

Deep down inside, little Zahra felt something was wrong, but she didn't know what kind of horror was awaiting her with angry, "Gothic" stepmom.

Heartbreaking.

Even more heartbreaking to me is her Daddy did nothing to protect her!

 

[elepher50]

I live in Hickory. The abuse that has been recorded was NOT in Hickory. Nor was in it Catawba County. Caldwell County is a more rural area than the Hickory area. This a beautiful town. This story is tragic and has torn me up inside...but I think it has much more to do with evil sadistic people than their income level. If they were moving around so much there are many different reasons that Zahra slipped through the cracks.

I have a sister-in-law who has adopted and fostered children through the Catawba County DSS and while she had moments of frustration she has had some wonderful caseworkers. Another friend had to get DSS involved when her niece was being abused and she was removed from the home and placed with my friend who then became certified to foster.

Welcome to WS PuKnLuV: Agreed this is all to do with pure Evil and nothing else.

 

[human]

People can only adjust to a few stressors in their lives before things become unmanageable. Poverty, job loss, marital discord, illness, transportation, child care issues, just to name some.

I believe people can cope with three stressors.

There is a quote from the Bible

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee ahungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

 

[tiredblondy]

People can only adjust to a few stressors in their lives before things become unmanageable. Poverty, job loss, marital discord, illness, transportation, child care issues, just to name some.

I believe people can cope with three stressors.

There is a quote from the Bible

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee ahungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Human that was beautiful...the only thing I'd add in your second sentence is Teenagers...:angel:

 

[cluciano63]

You know, I have various health problems that pretty much guarantee pain all of the time, just varying in degree, and tonight I started feeling just a little bit sorry for myself, and that lasted about one minute until I began to think about this little girl again. Now I feel ashamed that I often moan and groan, when we have some idea of what this little girl (and doubtless thousands more) endured every day. Bless her heart, I hope she is at peace.

 

[Nosee_Parker]

So many questions :furious:

It's quite unusual how a seemingly caring father who was at his daughter's side during her cancer treatment takes off on a whim and allows a narcissistic, weird, cruel bully to parent his child. No words really. While I'm not entirely placing blame on the SM (AB is as equally responsible), it's just mind boggling he would get wrapped up in her lies and fanciful stories.

America seems so alluring to Australians. Every child's dream is to visit Disneyland. We are immersed in anything American right now - music, movies, celebrities etc. I bet AB saw 'her' as an extension of those exciting visions we all have here. He would have sold the idea to Zahra and of course, as a child who loves her Dad dearly, would have accepted the trip, particularly as he was right by her side.

So sad for this little girl.

 

[essies]

http://www.wsoctv.com/video/25360091/
I don't know if ya'll have seen this clip of AB - I hadn't!
On this video AB says that he went to sleep at 10:30 Sat. morning after the fire and then went to work but came home to do something that afternoon when EB came out and said Zahra was missing!
And that he didn't disturb Zahra that morning because she had been suffering from a stomach virus.
Hmmm....It's late and I don't even want to go there-but I wonder if he saw Zahra sick or was told she was sick by EB and she told him not to disturb her!!:banghead:
4;17-AB says the last time he "100%, genuinely" (strange wording IMO) saw his daughter out of bed was Tuesday!! He later corrects himself (when the reporter asks him about if he was sure he meant Tues.) and says Thursday. I'm wondering if he saw her at all that week!!:waitasec:

 

[gitana1]

Yeah... I'm not buying the attic story.

It's hard enough to walk on the attic ceiling studs with two good legs... I don't see how on earth a child with a prosthesis could do it. One miss and she'd have fallen through the ceiling drywall.

My guess is they were hiding drugs or something up there. But I can easily see demonic EB banishing Zahra there each day. I guess we'll find out eventually.

 

[pudd]

http://www.wsoctv.com/video/25360091/

I thought it was interesting that at the very end (in answer to the reporter's question) he says "I haven't thought about my wife at all, I just want my baby back".... sounds like EB's just been dumped from his life! Which, I think, is right, and he probably should have done it earlier, TBH. I wonder if the only reason he's still with her through all the arguing, etc, is because he couldn't afford tickets back to Australia for himself and Zahra?

 

[bevichan]

I just can't believe after all this time and all the searching that's been done there are no solid leads to where this beautiful child is right now. :furious: Are we going to have another child that is never found? That is happening much too often, IMO. Our children must be found. :banghead: