NC - Zahra Clare Baker, 10, Hickory, 9 Oct 2010 - #14

[wfgodot]

Can someone please link me to the article of the people from the trailer park claiming they came back? Did they say it was three weeks later? If so, I don't see how it fits into the timeline between them moving to Hickory and Zahra being seen on September 25th.

Video (upper right) details possibility starting at about 1:20 mark.

http://www.wbtv.com/global/category.asp?c=197806

 

[Nancy2441]

I apologize if someone already posted this. I just read it a little while ago.

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13310100

 

[kalekona]

I have been wondering about the computers as well. I can speak to video cards as I have a very tech savy friend - its just a "microchip like board" thingy that you plug in on the inside of your tower or laptop. My DH and DD just got new graphics cards.

We know from the arrest records that they rented a 42" TV, LAPTOP, and living room that they didn't return. Has LE gone and gotten that laptop as well - if they could and it wasn't resold?

How were they paying for all this - I mean the computers, internet service, etc. I guess if they had laptops that were wireless they could have "stolen" internet signals from various places or just hung out at free wi-fi establishments. Micky D's downhere have free wi-fi among other places.

Maybe they stopped their "game play" once back here. I bet LE knows a whole lot about all this.

My husband and I own a local ISP and a dial up connection cost no more than spare change (a few dollars) now granted you aren't going to be visiting any virtual worlds using dial up-but frustrating as it may be dial up still keeps you connected and is enough for FB/MS

 

[NoeticSoul]

Yes! Doing some ferreting around I thought they must have had all that gaming paraphernalia and that ain't cheap. Wonder where those computers are now? It's so good to have you on board - it's easy enough to read about IMVU but I it isn't as good as hearing it from someone with first hand knowledge. I've been looking at IMVU clips on youtube as well.......interesting lol I'll find a good one and post it up.

BTW I don't really understand much about the video card's, can you elaborate on this?

Thanks so much for the warm welcome Regarding the video card... the Second Life viewer for example has certain PC video card specs, in order for the viewer to properly load the World itself, so one can sign on. This is due to the amount of resources that the Second Life viewer (program) sucks from your personal PC and it's video card particularly. A good gaming video card is upwards of $150 if you know how to install it yourself. Most normal PC's come with a standard video card because all you are really loading and looking at, is the Internet.

No matter whether they purchased a gaming PC or installed a compatible video card for the virtual worlds.. which ever way, it's expensive. Definitely NOT a cheap hobby. Also? Virtual Worlds can be VERY addicting which I find interesting in this case.

I truly believe that if they have their PC's, they'll know allot more about this case. A good gaming laptop, too, is possible.

People who are addicted, do not give up their time in their Virtual World without a fight. And.. they generally don't stop using them, just because they got married. They can still carry on in the same home. I've seen this done dozens of time. I bet they got married there too.


Speaking of a video example of how serious some people take Second Life

Remember... wat seems silly to many, some take critically serious.

Modeling Graduation Video

These avatars (who are each an individual real person) spend months learning how to dress, walk and turn, believe it or not They can now move on to promoting clothing for the 1000's of 3d clothing designers who sell their designs in the virtual world.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQZrw7V_6kg[/ame]

 

[Moonlit]

Video (upper right) details possibility starting at about 1:20 mark.

http://www.wbtv.com/global/category.asp?c=197806

Oh wow, they said it was three weeks AGO, I was thinking I had heard three weeks after they had moved out. So this would actually work with the dates of the move and when Zahra was last seen.

Thanks a lot wfg!

 

[Mrs G Norris]

Can you imagine how fast their unrealistic expectations of each other broke down once they met? I mean it's bad enough when you meet someone new and see them through rose coloured glasses, and then have to adjust yourself to the fact that they're merely human....in this case they were seeing each other as avatars in a virtual world! I'm not surprised this relationship degenerated into screaming matches and physical confrontations. Add to that a move for EB to Australia, a disabled child, the three of them moving back to the States, stories of false illnesses, financial problems and arrest....it's just craaaaazy!! No wonder the family didn't approve, these two infantile adults were living in coo-coo-la-la-land!

 

[Wise Old Owl]

NeoticSoul - question please

Is there "drug use" in these virtual worlds? I mean can you purchase, deal, grow, cook, etc.? If there is how does that work? Do your avitars act "stoned"?

TIA

 

[NoeticSoul]

NeoticSoul - question please

Is there "drug use" in these virtual worlds? I mean can you purchase, deal, grow, cook, etc.? If there is how does that work? Do your avitars act "stoned"?

TIA

You SURE can. Weed, bongs, whatever it is.. some artists is designing it in 3d so you can buy it. People walk around with blunts in their mouth.. bongs, ect.

*looking for a better link to show

http://tinyurl.com/23sevqh

 

[Wise Old Owl]

You SURE can. Weed, bongs, whatever it is.. some artists is designing it in 3d so you can buy it. People walk around with blunts in their mouth.. bongs, ect.

*looking for a better link to show

Thank you - can your avitars die? Say from an overdose? Is the "crime" there like in real life here? Serial killers, rapists, etc?

 

[NoeticSoul]

Thank you - can your avitars die? Say from an overdose? Is the "crime" there like in real life here? Serial killers, rapists, etc?

No only in role-play if it is being "acted" out. Avatars cannot be "killed" dead at any time.

Note: Yes there are crimes (and god knows what else) acted out on Sims that are specifically for role play..

 

[Wise Old Owl]

Ok - what about children. Now I know actual real life children can't (or shouldn't) be on - but can your avitar have children or can you "create" a child for yourself? Do you control them as well if you can?

My Lord, I can barely deal with my real life, I can't imagine trying to "play" this kind of game.

 

[NoeticSoul]

Ok - what about children. Now I know actual real life children can't (or shouldn't) be on - but can your avitar have children or can you "create" a child for yourself? Do you control them as well if you can?

My Lord, I can barely deal with my real life, I can't imagine trying to "play" this kind of game.

Yes. There are children and babies. You can even buy a pregnant adult avatar to "wear". A baby.. would be a prop, though, In other words and object that an avatar owns and carries around.. a child is different. That would again be role-play. Some adults, like you and I, choose a child's avatar, rather than an adult one. And in role-play.. MAY choose to act like another adult avatar's child. Complete with child like sound effects and all. But they are all only adults. I hope that makes sense.

No one under 18 is supposed to be in these virtual worlds. They have separate ones for teens.

 

[Wise Old Owl]

No wonder this woman was so angry. She couldn't deal with real life but in her virtual world she could do, buy, be anything she wanted. I wonder how much they were playing? I do realize it could be very addicting (my grown DS is a gamer).

Could also explain why she was so mean towards Zahra - she didn't want to be bothered. Kinda like that Japanese couple that let their REAL baby starve to death while they were busy in their virtual world taking care of their baby there.

Now, I would love to know what LE has found out about these two from their computers. I also have to wonder if you do serious drugs in real life what this type of "game" can do to your psyche if you play while high?

Its no wonder why this world seems to be getting sicker and sicker everyday......

 

[Tikki]

You SURE can. Weed, bongs, whatever it is.. some artists is designing it in 3d so you can buy it. People walk around with blunts in their mouth.. bongs, ect.

*looking for a better link to show

http://tinyurl.com/23sevqh

I had to look, if this works

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Meth-Lab/150065

yikes!

 

[Paintr]

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/oct/18/police-continue-follow-tips-ar-463512/


Police continue to follow up on tips


Officers spent Sunday searching with cadaver dogs for Zahra Baker at the girl’s former residences, but they still haven’t found her.

 

[NoeticSoul]

... Could also explain why she was so mean towards Zahra - she didn't want to be bothered. Kinda like that Japanese couple that let their REAL baby starve to death while they were busy in their virtual world taking care of their baby there. EXACTLY

Now, I would love to know what LE has found out about these two from their computers. I also have to wonder if you do serious drugs in real life what this type of "game" can do to your psyche if you play while high? It would seem to be to be a double addiction.

Its no wonder why this world seems to be getting sicker and sicker everyday...... SADLY

I would love to know if their virtual world life will come into play at all too! Maybe they went around renting PC's and laptops and skipped out on them all over the place. It also might be why they kept the poor child locked up.. while they did their drugs and "played" together in their virtual lives. There.. she could be a 16 year old GOTH queen, he could be her submissive and all kinds of sick crap.


Just my opinion..

 

[Paintr]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/18/1769699/fears-rising-amid-search-for-zahra.html


A Hickory-based nonprofit Christian counseling ministry has started a fund in Zahra's name. They were out raising donations for the fund Sunday.

"This little girl survived cancer twice, and she couldn't survive her own home," Tim Curtis, a Spiritual Counseling Network counselor, said into a bullhorn outside the Wal-Mart in nearby Granite Falls. "We're calling on your mercy and compassion."

The staff of the Spiritual Counseling Network also is collecting donations for the Zahra Baker Fund through a website, www.zahrabaker.com.

Initially, money raised will help law enforcement in their investigation, said the Rev. Brandon Greeson, the ministry's director of marketing and outreach.

The money will also be used to offer counseling services to people affected by Zahra's disappearance, including her classmates and teachers, as well as law enforcement involved in the case.

If her body is recovered, the fund will help provide Zahra a proper funeral, Greeson said, and in the long term, the fund will support organizations working to fight child abuse.

 

[Paintr]

http://www2.wnct.com/news/2010/oct/17/zahra-baker-fund-pulls-community-support-ar-463635/

Fund for missing Zahra Baker pulls in community support

video...

 

[bellyup]

In my experience, if a person uses those words they are likely a security guard or something of the sort. If someone works in LE, they call it as it is, not "in the police field".

That's possible... I wish I could find the comments on the article but I can't. I was thinking more along the lines of he doesn't want the public to know exactly what he does so it was a general term ? ?

 

[shefner]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/18/1769699/fears-rising-amid-search-for-zahra.html


A Hickory-based nonprofit Christian counseling ministry has started a fund in Zahra's name. They were out raising donations for the fund Sunday.

"This little girl survived cancer twice, and she couldn't survive her own home," Tim Curtis, a Spiritual Counseling Network counselor, said into a bullhorn outside the Wal-Mart in nearby Granite Falls. "We're calling on your mercy and compassion."

The staff of the Spiritual Counseling Network also is collecting donations for the Zahra Baker Fund through a website, www.zahrabaker.com.

Initially, money raised will help law enforcement in their investigation, said the Rev. Brandon Greeson, the ministry's director of marketing and outreach.

The money will also be used to offer counseling services to people affected by Zahra's disappearance, including her classmates and teachers, as well as law enforcement involved in the case.

If her body is recovered, the fund will help provide Zahra a proper funeral, Greeson said, and in the long term, the fund will support organizations working to fight child abuse.

Call me skeptical...but I wouldn't give money to this organization.