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

[Nosee_Parker]

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?

I've wondered the same and posted the other day that tickets to the US (or return) are not cheap. If he was stuck in a destructive relationship and wanted 'out' where on earth would he go? He obviously has no family or close friends. It would be soul destroying for a man to admit that he is being emotionally abused by a woman.

But, he had the power to stop the abuse of Zahra. I'm sure his family would have rallied and raised enough funds for a trip home for her to Australia. He wouldn't have even had to travel with her - there are 'flight nannies' to care for her. There were means and ways to protect Zahra and he didn't act.

 

[pudd]

I've wondered the same and posted the other day that tickets to the US (or return) are not cheap. If he was stuck in a destructive relationship and wanted 'out' where on earth would he go? He obviously has no family or close friends. It would be soul destroying for a man to admit that he is being emotionally abused by a woman.

But, he had the power to stop the abuse of Zahra. I'm sure his family would have rallied and raised enough funds for a trip home for her to Australia. He wouldn't have even had to travel with her - there are 'flight nannies' to care for her. There were means and ways to protect Zahra and he didn't act.

I'm sure the Embassy would have helped, and you're right, family in Australia would certainly have done something. So sad that he seems to have been a victim of, well, spousal abuse I guess, and if EB was wearing the pants in the household and there wasn't much money.... I could see how he'd just cave in. But I'm sure he never realised it would get so bad, surely? [insert cursewords of frustration here]:furious:

 

[cluciano63]

I wish there was a way the dad could be innocent in all of this, but I can't see how. I just find the wrong done to Zahra so much his fault, for putting in her harm's way. Of course the woman is responsible for her own actions toward Zahra, but she never should have been anywhere near that child. Zahra should be in Australia, going to school, seeing her grandma, and looking forward to growing up.

 

[darnudes]

I've wondered the same and posted the other day that tickets to the US (or return) are not cheap. If he was stuck in a destructive relationship and wanted 'out' where on earth would he go? He obviously has no family or close friends. It would be soul destroying for a man to admit that he is being emotionally abused by a woman.

But, he had the power to stop the abuse of Zahra. I'm sure his family would have rallied and raised enough funds for a trip home for her to Australia. He wouldn't have even had to travel with her - there are 'flight nannies' to care for her. There were means and ways to protect Zahra and he didn't act.

You can always be man enough and call your mum and dad and say "it's not working can you help me". Failing that, as a last resort he could have gone to the nearest Australian Embassy and requested assistance. Maybe he couldn't do that because he wasn't in the US legally. He had money for the internet and blackberry phones no reason why he couldn't contact them.

I suspect we will hear more on this in the future. But you're correct Nosee he had options he chose not to utilise them.

 

[Nosee_Parker]

You can always be man enough and call your mum and dad and say "it's not working can you help me". Failing that, as a last resort he could have gone to the nearest Australian Embassy and requested assistance. Maybe he couldn't do that because he wasn't in the US legally. He had money for the internet and blackberry phones no reason why he couldn't contact them.

I suspect we will hear more on this in the future. But you're correct Nosee he had options he chose not to utilise them.

I agree with you Darnudes .... my guess is there are residency issues (or lack of them) also.

There was an earlier article that included a statement from AB's employer that basically implied he considered him to be 'under the thumb' from SM. Eeewww, I can't even type her name, she is purely and utterly revolting. The vision of her conjures pure evil. There is just something about her ... something very, very sinister and just not right.

 

[rotterdam]

I'm sure the Embassy would have helped, and you're right, family in Australia would certainly have done something. So sad that he seems to have been a victim of, well, spousal abuse I guess, and if EB was wearing the pants in the household and there wasn't much money.... I could see how he'd just cave in. But I'm sure he never realised it would get so bad, surely? [insert cursewords of frustration here]:furious:

I can not see how a normal loving father would cave in when his daughter is being abused. On the other hand, he could be here illegally, over stayed on his visa, did not really have a working permit etc. And was afraid to ask for help, including at an Australian Consulate. If he left, he probably could not come back, especially if outstanding warrants. He wanted to remain under the radar. Still, the worst thing that could have happened to him, is that he and Zahra would be deported. In that event Uncle Sam would have payed for the trip back to Oz. But his daughter would be safe. Even if he would not be involved in her murder, he is still guilty of passive abuse/cruelty that apparently occurred for quite some time. . Unless, he does not have a full deck, how could he have missed that. Makes him just as evil as the person who committed those atrocities.

 

[Donjeta]

I'll never get caught up, this thread is moving so fast. Could anyone please give a quick recap of what's new since two threads ago? She's still not been found?

 

[Mrs G Norris]

^ I don't think he's playing with a full deck, and agree it's no excuse. He knew what was going on, he was just desperate and lonely IMO. His parents must be absolutely devastated. I would like to know why he took Zahra with him. I look forward to charges being filed against him for his part in this horrific crime. Pure evil IMO.

 

[rotterdam]

^ I don't think he's playing with a full deck, and agree it's no excuse. He knew what was going on, he was just desperate and lonely IMO. His parents must be absolutely devastated. I would like to know why he took Zahra with him. I look forward to charges being filed against him for his part in this horrific crime. Pure evil IMO.

Well, if he was very gullible and we know that EB lies a lot, he could have been expecting quite a different scenario when arriving in the USA. Who knows what kind of tall stories that creature filled his head with.

 

[BrownRice]

I wish there was a way the dad could be innocent in all of this, but I can't see how. I just find the wrong done to Zahra so much his fault, for putting in her harm's way. Of course the woman is responsible for her own actions toward Zahra, but she never should have been anywhere near that child. Zahra should be in Australia, going to school, seeing her grandma, and looking forward to growing up.

You're right - there's no way he is not indirectly responsible for this (or even directly). As a parent, his first priority is to keep his child safe. If neighbors and extended family members knew of her abuse and horrible conditions, he had to have known. Sitting by and letting your spouse treat your child inhumanely is abuse. I have no sympathy for him. Even if he felt trapped by immigration issues, he could have packed up and gone to a shelter. He could have sent Z to an extended family member in NC who cared for her.

 

[BrownRice]

I'll never get caught up, this thread is moving so fast. Could anyone please give a quick recap of what's new since two threads ago? She's still not been found?

She still hasn't been found - all leads are turning up nothing. Of course we can look at this positively (no body found means maybe she is alive), but it seems very unlikely she is safe.

 

[Peliman]

I'm leaning toward unlikely safe because of the car hits by dogs and the ransom note by SM. The reported vehicle/brush fire which still makes me wonder because if the vehicles were doused with gas, it wouldn't take much spark to make a fireball out of them.

I'd love to hear the 911 fire call because the word petrol was used, not gas. Makes me really curious who made the call but reportedly she did, I'd think a US citizen would use the word gas.

 

[elepher50]

Dogs trained to locate human remains were deployed across multiple locations in Catawba, Burke and Caldwell counties Thursday, but have not located the child.

“We are continuing to search properties with cadaver dogs – properties that have been developed through leads that are coming in through the public,” said Hickory police.

Zahra’s father, Adam Baker, 33, has cooperated with investigators throughout the search for his daughter and is continuing to do so.

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/15/cops-pour-through-leads-search-continues-ar-458449/

 

[Nosee_Parker]

I'm leaning toward unlikely safe because of the car hits by dogs and the ransom note by SM. The reported vehicle/brush fire which still makes me wonder because if the vehicles were doused with gas, it wouldn't take much spark to make a fireball out of them.

I'd love to hear the 911 fire call because the word petrol was used, not gas. Makes me really curious who made the call but reportedly she did, I'd think a US citizen would use the word gas.

Yes! We refer to 'gas' as petrol.

 

[NancyA]

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.

It's the same in the UK, where I come from, people get sold on the 'American Dream' and just drop everything to come here thinking it's all gonna be like the movies and tv or what they see when they're here on vacation. They often become disillusioned and disappointed when they find that no one hands them the keys to a 90210 mansion when they get off the plane. The clue is in the name Land of Opportunity, this country and its mostly wonderful people, provide the Opportunity for the Dream. It's there but like ANYWHERE else on Earth, you have to prepare the ground in advance and put in the work to MAKE it come true.

I'm so sad for Zahra, that the Dream became a nightmare for her, had her father done his homework and taken the time and the trouble to do the thing properly it could have and should have been so different for her.

 

[majikposhun]

Former Classmates Honor Missing Girl - absolute tearjerker!

http://www.wsoctv.com/video/25397711/index.html

 

[belimom]

^ I don't think he's playing with a full deck, and agree it's no excuse. He knew what was going on, he was just desperate and lonely IMO. His parents must be absolutely devastated. I would like to know why he took Zahra with him. I look forward to charges being filed against him for his part in this horrific crime. Pure evil IMO.

They sure seem to be upset about Zahra but still in the dark about their son's possible (and probable) involvement. The grandmother said, "Adam is obviously very upset, but he is holding up...." (She said this a few days ago so I'm not sure if she still feels this way. But if the Anthonys can support Casey, then anything can happen.)

(the link is embedded but here it is just in case: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/wo...o-1m-ransom-note/story-e6frf7lf-1225937943333)

 

[pudd]

They sure seem to be upset about Zahra but still in the dark about their son's possible (and probable) involvement. The grandmother said, "Adam is obviously very upset, but he is holding up...." (She said this a few days ago so I'm not sure if she still feels this way. But if the Anthonys can support Casey, then anything can happen.)

(the link is embedded but here it is just in case: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/wo...o-1m-ransom-note/story-e6frf7lf-1225937943333)

Interesting in that article, AB is quoted as saying he called police:

"I went inside searched the house, started searching around the block, called the police."

 

[pudd]

And it looks like the police have spoken with Zahra's bio-mum:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/aussie-mums-fear-for-zahra-baker/story-e6frf7l6-1225939356137

THE mother of missing 10-year-old Zahra Baker is devastated by fears her girl has been murdered in the US.

North Carolina police officer Clyde Deal told the Herald Sun he had spoken with the mother and her sister in Australia.

"Like any parent, she was extremely upset," he said.

Captain Deal said Zahra's mother and father, Adam Baker, separated when Zahra was a baby, but she maintained contact with her daughter over the years.

 

[Paintr]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/aussie-mums-fear-for-zahra-baker/story-e6frf7l6-1225939356137


North Carolina police officer Clyde Deal told the Herald Sun he had spoken with the mother and her sister in Australia.



"Like any parent, she was extremely upset," he said.

Captain Deal said Zahra's mother and father, Adam Baker, separated when Zahra was a baby, but she maintained contact with her daughter over the years.