Zahra Baker MEDIA links only **NO DISCUSSION**

[WhyaDuck?]

Zahra Baker case might be complicated by lack of specific cause of death

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

By Gary L. Wright and Franco Ordoñez | The Charlotte Observer

Catawba County prosecutors may face a daunting task in trying to prove that Elisa Baker killed her stepdaughter without clear evidence to show how the 10-year-old girl died.

In an autopsy revealed Monday, the N.C. Medical Examiner's Office concluded that Zahra died as a result of "undetermined homicidal violence."

"I've never heard that term before," Steve Ward, a Mecklenburg prosecutor for 25 years, told the Observer. "It means the medical examiner is saying the victim was killed, but they have no idea how it happened."

More at:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/02/23/109253/zahra-baker-case-might-be-complicated.html

 

[WhyaDuck?]

Zahra's murder hard to prove

Gary Wright and Franco Ordonez

February 24, 2011

On Tuesday the medical examiner's office would not talk about the autopsy or offer any more explanation of its finding of ''undetermined homicidal violence''.

The autopsy offers few clues to why medical examiners concluded a killing occurred. The report describes Zahra's medical history, including her battle with cancer, but said sparse recent records failed to reveal any major health problems.

''It'll be interesting to see how they prove it was a purposeful killing rather than a death by natural causes followed by dismemberment,'' Mr Ward said.

More at:
http://www.smh.com.au/world/zahras-murder-hard-to-prove-20110223-1b5pg.html

 

[Texas Mist]

Child advocates: Warning signs were there in Zahra Baker case

Posted on February 22, 2011 at 6:08 PM

Video here

http://www.wcnc.com/video?id=116692539&sec=552357

 

[Texas Mist]

Elisa Baker arraigned in stepdaughter's murder

Posted: Feb 20, 2011 10:46 PM CST
Updated: Feb 23, 2011 11:25 AM CST

HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - The woman indicted this week in the death and dismemberment of Zahra Baker was arraigned in court Tuesday afternoon.

On Monday, a grand jury indicted Elisa Baker for second-degree murder as the sole suspect in the death of her 10-year-old stepdaughter who was reported missing in October.

During the arraignment proceeding, the judge explained the charge against Baker. The court also appointed Attorney Scott Riley to represent her.

http://www.live5news.com/Global/story.asp?S=14067437

 

[Texas Mist]

Elisa Baker arraigned on murder charges

<snip>

Baker was brought up to the courtroom for her brief appearance before Superior Court Judge Robert Ervin, where she was given a new court date of April 4.

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2011/feb/23/elisa-baker-arraigned-murder-charges-ar-807086/

 

[Hickory Born]

According to Bogle, Ervin offered Baker a choice to be represented by one of her current attorneys Reilly or Lisa Dubs or a new attorney. Baker chose Reilly.


Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/02/23/2085692/elisa-baker-gets-same-lawyer.html#ixzz1Eode8TB3

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/02/23/2085692/elisa-baker-gets-same-lawyer.html

 

[Mountain_Kat]

Adam and Karen Baker leave town.

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14087686

 

[Hickory Born]

Ex-defense team in NC girl's death took evidence

Jeff Welty, criminal justice chairman for the North Carolina Bar Association, says there is a debate on when it's proper for lawyers to take possession of evidence.

http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/9168095/

 

[Hickory Born]

"Why the state is not pursuing a charge against Adam Baker? My answer to that is I have no earthly idea why," said Dubs.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Elis...ng-Death-Penalty-Off-the-Table-116869148.html

I think this is telling, but don't know what thread in which to discuss it.

 

[Hickory Born]

Death penalty off the table for Elisa Baker, defense attorney withdraws

Dubs also defended the actions of the defense team investigator who recovered what has been described as a key piece of evidence from the house in Hickory where Zahra lived.

She said it did not overstep the bounds of the defense. The item was turned over to police. Sources have told WBTV news that the item was a "cutting implement."


http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14138445

 

[Hickory Born]

Dubs speaks out on Baker case:

http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2011/feb/24/dubs-speaks-out-baker-case-ar-811373/

 

[Hickory Born]

I think this is the entire AP article. The one I posted at 5:08 seems to be just part of it.


Dubs declined to comment about what evidence her private investigator Steve Ehlers recovered, or how long they had it in their possession before they provided it to the Hickory Police Department.

Dubs said the evidence was significant, but wouldn't elaborate. She said that if she hadn't reached a deal with investigators, they would have tested the evidence and "put it back in the same place that we found it, then left it for law enforcement to find."

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/20...nse-team-in-nc-girls-death.html#ixzz1EwLF5VJq

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/02/24/2089405/ex-defense-team-in-nc-girls-death.html

 

[NoeticSoul]

Zahra: tortured by hand of evil

"ADAM Baker was a lonely guy, staying up late at night to roam the virtual world while his daughter, Zahra, was in hospital in Brisbane recovering from a serious cancer operation. Adam had connected with Elisa Fairchild - a woman in her early 40s who had a long history of passing worthless cheques, giving false names, fraud, making violent threats, investigations for beating her own children and, as would later be discovered, bigamy.

Adam's former wife, Emily, had suffered post-natal depression and left Zahra with Adam when Zahra was not quite two years old.
At five, Zahra developed bone cancer and required an above-knee amputation of her left leg.
In 2007, Zahra underwent a lung cancer operation in Brisbane, and her recovery was slow.

Elisa - or "gothic fairy" as she called herself on the IMVU social networking site - arrived in Queensland in 2008, with her travel paid for by Adam. She stayed with Adam and Zahra in Giru, south of Townsville, where Adam worked at a sugar mill."

MUCH more:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/zahra-tortured-by-hand-of-evil/story-fn6bfkm6-1226012206714

 

[NoeticSoul]

The Washington Post

Skull, open questions beset NC girl's murder case

"Complicating matters, her skull has not been found, along with her hands and other bones. If medical examiners had not been able to match DNA from some of her remains with a sample taken from a toothbrush, they wouldn't have been able to determine the sex, race or height of the remains that have been found so far.

....But people in the community say they can't understand how Adam could not have known that his daughter was missing for two weeks, and they have pressed police and the district attorney's office for answers.

"It's incredible they're saying no one else was involved than Elisa," said Eddie Mitchell, who lived across the street from the Bakers' last home in Hickory. "You're telling me he didn't know anything? That was a tiny house. How can you go more than two weeks without seeing your daughter in such a small house? The community is really upset about the way this case was handled."

more:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/25/AR2011022503615.html

 

[Hickory Born]

Many adults failed 10-year-old Zahra Baker


Only we adults can change that outcome for children such as Zahra. N.C. law requires all adults to report suspected child maltreatment. We must do so. You do not need proof that maltreatment has occurred; you only need reasonable cause to suspect maltreatment. We can also help parents or caregivers whom we suspect of being abusive. Talk to them about the children in their care, and refer them to resources that can help them provide a safe environment for their kids.



Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/20...-adults-failed-10-year-old.html#ixzz1F1eQIjT3

 

[dar107]

The case of Zahra Baker beyond belief

Snipped:

"Adam Baker, 33, told a local television station yesterday that he had been working long hours at his mulching job and was leaving for work and coming home when Zahra was in bed.

Mr Baker&#8217;s mother, Karen, 53, of Newcastle, has been in North Carolina with her son since her granddaughter&#8217;s partial remains were discovered in October. Yesterday, she backed up Adam&#8217;s story.

&#8220;Adam was working long hours,&#8221; she told News Ltd from the apartment where she is staying with Adam, just out of Hickory.

&#8220;He would go into Zahra&#8217;s room and she (Elisa) had made up the bed to make it look like she was in bed asleep.&#8221;

She agreed it sounded hard to believe. &#8220;Honestly, I don&#8217;t have all the answers,&#8221; she said. &#8220;He doesn&#8217;t either. I know it&#8217;s very hard to understand. A lot of it is still not to be talked about, because we have a trial coming up and there&#8217;s nothing we will do to damage that.&#8221;



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/the-case-of-zahra-baker-beyond-belief/story-fn6b3v4f-1226010270205

 

[Hickory Born]

Elisa Baker's Tuesday Court Appearance A Surprise


"Attorney Scott Reilly is already representing Baker on her other charges, including the lesser ones in Burke, Caldwell and Lincoln counties. He was appointed to represent Baker on the second-degree murder charge, after Baker requested him.

&#8220;I was told late Tuesday that I was appointed on this charge, as well,&#8221; Reilly said.

He has not seen Baker recently, but said he plans to talk with her this week."

http://www2.wspa.com/news/2011/feb/25/elisa-bakers-tuesday-court-appearance-surprise-ar-1507707/

 

[Hickory Born]

Elisa Baker hit with new indictments, bringing total charges to 21

Exactly one week after being indicted on second-degree murder charges, the stepmother of a dead Hickory girl was hit with more indictments.

Elisa Baker, 42, stepmother of Zahra Baker, was indicted Monday morning by a Caldwell County grand jury on two counts each of financial identity fraud and obtaining property by false pretenses, officials said.

Related: Follow the entire Zahra Baker case

The charges are related to Baker obtaining Duke Energy services and telephone service, according to the indictment.

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14155100

 

[ynotdivein]

Elisa Baker hit with new indictments, bringing total charges to 21

Exactly one week after being indicted on second-degree murder charges, the stepmother of a dead Hickory girl was hit with more indictments.

Elisa Baker, 42, stepmother of Zahra Baker, was indicted Monday morning by a Caldwell County grand jury on two counts each of financial identity fraud and obtaining property by false pretenses, officials said.

Related: Follow the entire Zahra Baker case

The charges are related to Baker obtaining Duke Energy services and telephone service, according to the indictment.

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14155100

Further quote, from end of story above:

"Meanwhile, Zahra's father, Adam Baker, who has not been charged in the case, left town last week. Sources told WBTV news Adam and his mother have gone out of state temporarily because they were being harassed."

 

[Hickory Born]

Attorney Herb Pearce, who has worked on high-profile murder cases as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney, is not connected to the Baker case but spoke to Channel 9 about the new charges on Monday.

&#8220;If she was convicted of these offenses, it might raise her level of culpability to as how much time she could get,&#8221; Pearce said.

A person convicted of second-degree murder without any previous convictions could face 12 years of jail time. But if other felony convictions are present, a judge could add time onto a sentence, up to 32 years.

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/27028245/detail.html