Zahra Clare Baker Update: Memorial at Former Home of 10-Year-Old N.C. Girl Feared Murdered
HICKORY (CBS/WBTV) A steady stream of mourners, some from miles away, have been flocking to a memorial outside Zahra Clare Baker's Hickory home to pay their respects to the 10-year-old girl who is believed to be dead.
Many of those who visited the site left letters, flowers, cards, balloons, and stuffed animals for the young girl who was supposed to celebrate her 11th birthday Tuesday.
The Children Protection Council of Catawba County said it would like to hold a vigil Tuesday evening in Hickory to celebrate the young life that was cut short, reports CBS affiliate WBTV.
Police announced Friday afternoon that the bone found during a search did in fact belong to Zahra, who was reported missing Oct. 9, 2010.
"We have recovered enough physical evidence to believe we have found Zahra," police Chief Tom Adkins said in an emotional press conference, that he said he did "with great regret."
According to WBTV, police were searching for clues Wednesday when they came across "possible human remains" which were later matched to DNA found inside the home where Zahra used to live.
A police source also told WBTV that "the bone has evidence of cut marks on it."
"This case isn't over and we won't rest until we have all the information we need to bring the people to justice who hurt Zahra," Adkins told WBTV.
Although no one has been charged with Zahra's murder, the young girl's stepmother Elisa Baker is currently jailed on obstruction of justice charges, and allegedly gave clues to the police in order to help them locate her stepdaughter.
Zahra's biological father Adam Baker was also arrested on unrelated charges and released from jail, but continues to be a person of interest in the case.
The investigation into Zahra Clare Baker's disappearance in Catawba County, N.C. is continuing. Authorities are asking anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact the Hickory Police Department at 828-328-5551.
COMPLETE COVERAGE OF ZAHRA CLARE BAKER ON CRIMESIDER
