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Stepmom Charged in Death of Zahra Baker

NC officials allege Elisa Baker had 'history of abuse'

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 21, 2011 5:34 PM CST

(Newser) – North Carolina today charged Elisa Baker with second-degree murder, alleging that she alone brutally killed and dismembered her freckle-faced stepdaughter, Zahra Baker. Autopsy results released today show the 10-year-old died of "undetermined homicidal violence," and the Charlotte Observer reports that several bones had not been recovered, including her head.

Today's grand jury indictment pointed to Elisa Baker's "history and pattern of physical, verbal and psychological abuse of the victim," and child services officials acknowledged for the first time they had investigated four complaints of abuse against Zahra, the last of which was closed six weeks before Zahra's Sept. 24 murder. The girl was reported missing Oct. 9. Father Adam Baker, whom Elisa Baker had claimed dismembered the girl, said today he was "extremely grateful" to investigators and that they'd "come to the conclusion they should have come to." Click for more on Zahra's tragic case.

In this Oct. 13, 2010 file photo, Elisa Baker, center, stepmother of Zahra Clare Baker, appears before District Court Judge Gregory Hayes on an obstruction of justice charge in Newrton, NC.
In this Oct. 13, 2010 file photo, Elisa Baker, center, stepmother of Zahra Clare Baker, appears before District Court Judge Gregory Hayes on an obstruction of justice charge in Newrton, NC.   (AP Photo/The Daily Record, Robert C. Reed, File)
In this Friday Nov. 19, 2010 file photo, Adam Baker, father of Zahra Clare Baker, sits in Catawba County District Court with his mother Karen Baker, in Hickory, NC.
In this Friday Nov. 19, 2010 file photo, Adam Baker, father of Zahra Clare Baker, sits in Catawba County District Court with his mother Karen Baker, in Hickory, NC.   (AP Photo/The Hickory Daily Record, Robert C. Reed, File)
This undated file photo provided by the Hickory Police Department, shows Adam Baker, the father of Zahra Baker.
This undated file photo provided by the Hickory Police Department, shows Adam Baker, the father of Zahra Baker.   (AP Photo/Hickory Police Department, File)
Elisa Baker, the stepmother of 10-year-old Zahra Clare Baker.
Elisa Baker, the stepmother of 10-year-old Zahra Clare Baker.   (AP Photo/Hickory Police Department, File)
This May 2010 file photo shows Zahra Baker, 10, getting a hearing aid in Hickory, NC. Elisa Baker , stepmother of Zahra Baker, was indicted Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 on a second-degree murder charge.
This May 2010 file photo shows Zahra Baker, 10, getting a hearing aid in Hickory, NC. Elisa Baker , stepmother of Zahra Baker, was indicted Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 on a second-degree murder charge.   (AP Photo/The Independent Tribune, James Nix, File)
A May 2010 file photo shows Zahra Clare Baker, 10, waiting to get a hearing aid at an event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Hickory, NC.
A May 2010 file photo shows Zahra Clare Baker, 10, waiting to get a hearing aid at an event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Hickory, NC.   (AP Photo/Independent Tribune, James Nix, File)
District Attorney Jay Gaither reads the indictment charging Elisa Baker with murder in the death of Zahra Baker during a news conference in Hickory, NC, Monday, Feb. 21, 2011.
District Attorney Jay Gaither reads the indictment charging Elisa Baker with murder in the death of Zahra Baker during a news conference in Hickory, NC, Monday, Feb. 21, 2011.   (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Hickory police chief Tom Adkins walks into a news conference in Hickory, NC, Monday, Feb. 21, 2011. A grand jury charged Elisa Baker with second-degree murder in the death of Zahra Baker.
Hickory police chief Tom Adkins walks into a news conference in Hickory, NC, Monday, Feb. 21, 2011. A grand jury charged Elisa Baker with second-degree murder in the death of Zahra Baker.   (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
UmbrellaExecutive
Feb 21, 2011 10:38 PM CST
Just when you bash other countries for barbaric practices like stoning...
nantsy3
Feb 21, 2011 8:32 PM CST
First of all, why SECOND degree murder? Second, I agree with stormy7 that the father was involved. He would have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to know what was happening. And what about his wife AND him visiting websites regarding "Chainsaw Massacres"? I think that they should both be convicted of FIRST degree murder and sentenced to death. Not your typical "humane" death procedure. Slowly cutting off limbs with a very dull serrated knife while having the crap beaten out of them. This poor girl endured enough with her illness, let alone the abuse from her step-mother. May she rest in the arms of the angels and may her step-mother and father and any others involved burn in hell for eternity.
AmTed27
Feb 21, 2011 7:27 PM CST
Sometimes I really think we should punish those who commit crimes against children with the same violence they inflicted on the child involved. Also, I really hate reading stories where a child was subjected to abuse that had been previously investigated-Come on CPS do your damn Job, you are supposed to be protecting these children.

 
crime • murder • child murder • Zahra Baker • Elisa Baker • Adam Baker

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