Human remains were discovered during the search for missing 10 year old Zahra Baker on Wednesday according to sources close to the investigation.
Police have not confirmed that the evidence found was the remains being reported, however they did admit that evidence was located that could provide valuable information on the case. The evidence has been sent to the NC State Bureau of Investigation’s lab to be analyzed further.
Authorities have noted that they understand the concern of the people but want to be cautious of revealing too much so as not to jeopardize future criminal proceedings.
On Wednesday afternoon during a search of Gunpowder Creek in Caldwell County, investigators came across something that led to shutting down the area and closing it off to media and others.
Crews are focused on the one-half mile stretch of the creek with divers in the water and investigators along the banks. They have previously searched in the area and returned due to wanting a more thorough search.
Meanwhile, Zahra’s biological mother is on her way to North Carolina from Australia. Emily Dietrich has not seen Zahra since she was a baby. She suffered from postpartum depression that led to the father receiving custody. Dietrich later decided she wanted to see Zahra and spent most of the last decade trying to locate her daughter. She had tracked her to NC only days before the girl was reported missing.
Zahra was reported missing on October 9, although no one outside of family has seen her since September 25. On October 12 police canceled the Amber Alert and started a homicide investigation.
Zahra’s stepmother, Elisa Baker, has been in jail since October 10. She is currently under a $97,200 bond for several unrelated charges and a felony obstruction of justice charge for writing a fake ransom note in the case.
Zahra’s father, Adam Baker, was arrested October 25 on unrelated charges. He posted bail two days later.
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