NC - Zahra Clare Baker, 10, Hickory, 9 Oct 2010 - #2

[big4dropout]

Most likely to call or visit the take out place and see if any employees in there ever saw Zahra come in with her parents and when the last time that was. If it's a place they often ordered take out from, police were probably thinking maybe Zahra went with them a time or two.

Good thinking Kaylynn.

 

[truckengirl]

Thanks, teh. Why would they take a Chinese take out menu?

Maybe to find out if food was delivered if the delivery driver might have saw Zahra when they delivered the food.

I have just learned of this case, where is the bio mom?

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Again, ALL DSS agencies are broken. Please provide a link to DSS investigating this child. The only thing we have right now is the word of some people we know nothing about. Perhaps they did "drop the ball", but at this point we don't know that. We do know that her own Father "dropped the ball", by dragging her into such a situation. Just as Shaniya's Father "dropped the ball" by sending her to live in horrid conditions that he KNEW about. DSS is not the be all end all when it comes to keeping kids safe.

If you want to discuss the details of Shaniya's case, we can do that in another thread. Some of the things you have brought forward are not exactly factual.

Again, there is proof out there that NC DSS has big time issues. I'm not now or have I ever said they are the only state with issues.
This case is in NC.

 

[Wise Old Owl]

Interesting in the handwritten portion of the search warrant - LE found THREE (3) passports in the Tahoe. Also, it seems the Tahoe was drenched with gasoline - wonder if they were gonna set it on fire too - or was it just close enough to that "mulch pile" that caught fire - that the fire would have just "jumped" to the Tahoe?

Why burn the passports? Why would you even have your passports in your vehicle?

 

[6angels]

This woman was on one of the morning shows...CBS I think. I was soooo upset when she said we all knew this day would come. She had an awful homelife...her stepmother locked her in her room and let her out for an hour a day. She beat her for minor things. The father never did but also did not interfere when the sm did. The interviewer said was this reported and she replied yes and they went out there but we don't know what came of it.

Excuse me?? It's not like a gray area where a toddler is being spanked and you don't approve...locked in her room? Beaten? I would stay on CPS over and over and over until I was sure something was done...especially if this woman had already made death threats to people. WTH. She said Zahra would spend the weekends and was loving and happy til she had to go back and then got angry...this is how my daughter is when she has to go for her every other weekend visit to her verbally abusive father. I am so angry I could spit nails.:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

It is not Brittany Bentley fault! She reported the abuse. CPS failed this child. IF Brittany Bentley or anyone elese would of took the child and refused to give the child back kidnapping charges would of been filed. You and I have NO Idea how many times Brittany Bentley and OTHERS have called CPS or the cops. The blame belongs on the SM and DAd and the state NOT the family that DID report it.

 

[Velouria]

The more that comes out ...wow! Sounds like the Bakers were really out of control people.

Yep. Just because they haven't arrested Dad (yet), I'm in no way ready to let him off the hook. Seems like he's got quite a few charges pending for all sorts of wonderful things.

And whether or not he actually administered the abuse, at a minimum he's guilty by way of neglect, IMO. How do you wait until THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON to check on your disabled child after a fire??

 

[big4dropout]

in the video (8 min interview) with the family member... she also says that she filed charges on Adam for trying to run her family off the road with his car.

As for the threats she said that Elesa brandished a TAZER at her and said she was going to kill her whole family and that she knew where they lived.

((link again... video to the right; http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13297637 ))

Oh man, I drove past the police station as this interview was going on!

 

[ella971]

Interesting in the handwritten portion of the search warrant - LE found THREE (3) passports in the Tahoe. Also, it seems the Tahoe was drenched with gasoline - wonder if they were gonna set it on fire too - or was it just close enough to that "mulch pile" that caught fire - that the fire would have just "jumped" to the Tahoe?

Why burn the passports? Why would you even have your passports in your vehicle?

Thought the same thing.Someone sure had a plan that did not get played to the end.

 

[Seymour Krelborn]

ZAHRA BAKER, Age Now: 10, Missing: 10/09/2010. Missing From HICKORY, NC. ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT: Hickory Police Department (North Carolina) 1-828-328-5551.

More...

 

[nursebeeme]

http://www.wcnc.com/live-stream/Live-Video--Hickory-police-discuss-Zahra-Baker-case-104774669.html

presser

 

[tehcloser]

Yes, the agenda is to find Zahra.

 

[wfgodot]

Presser:

Elisa admitted to writing the ransom note. She then requested an attorney. Warrant for felony obstruction of justice.

 

[shefner]

I have to say, from experience, that DSS can do very little unless you have PROOF that something is going on with a child. You have to have seen bruises and have photos. It doesn't matter if one parent is arrested and the other isn't working and you know the child is going hungry and wet or being left alone (as an infant). If you've seen the parents drugged out...but not actually seen them DOING the drugs, they can't do anything. That's not enough to investigate. The individual agents may feel bad for you but they have a certain standard to meet in order to send an agent to investigate.

I feel for DSS agents...I know they have a hard job. Just like any other profession, there are compassionate agents and then there are those who have become jaded due to all they have seen. I'm not sure what the answer is...but we need to find one.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Yes, the agenda is to find Zahra.

That has been my agenda all along! I don't think anybody here can say different.

:smile:

 

[tlcya]

Thanks, teh. Why would they take a Chinese take out menu?

I think they took (or at least catalogued) everythig they found in the vehicles. At this point, who knows what is relevant or not. A Chinese take out menu would seem pretty innocuous but who knows, mayb ethere is fingerprint evidence on it, etc.

I am pretty sure that in a search situation such as this, LE takes everything and analyses it at the lab later.

 

[darlin gal]

Just a short conference. Police guy in tears. All I caught was that the status of the case has changed to a homicide case.

 

[ella971]

Can't see live stream...HELP!

 

[Wise Old Owl]

Anyone else catch the presser? By the time I got it up and raised my volume the dude had walked away and it was over! What did he say?

 

[nursebeeme]

it is now a homicide investigation amber alert cancelled

hasn't been seen in a month... need public's help

because of the change to homicide investigation info given to the public will be limited to breaking news

 

[Fyrecat]

It's all well to bash DSS and all social service child welfare agenices. However, most do the best they can do under law.
It is when laws change that how things are handled are changed.
A child service worker in most states that I know is not law enforcement. You can't barge into someones home, break the door down, and remove the child.
In most cases, that takes a court order, a law enforcement escort, and what is considered
'proof of abuse/neglect'.
Believe it or not, this is not easy to get. Families don't have to open a door to you. They can dodge workers, avoid phone calls, refuse to open doors. Then, when they finally decide to open the door, they may have 'fixed' things. Many who are in positions of abusing a child know how to hide it well.
Child services workers are very often pretty young in the state I live. It may be their first job out of College, and they may be young and inexperienced. The turnover of this job is often high.

No argument the system is broken. How to fix it and impliment the changes to make things better is what's needed.