Missing NC Girl's Stepmother Held on Bond

(Oct. 13) -- The stepmother of a 10-year-old disabled girl who is missing and feared slain appeared in court today to face a felony obstruction-of-justice charge in the case.

Police say Elisa Baker, 42, of Hickory, N.C., has admitted writing a phony ransom note in the disappearance of 10-year-old Zahra Clare Baker. Zahra was reported missing Saturday, and authorities said Tuesday they believe she is dead. The case is now being treated as a homicide investigation.

Dressed in a pink jumpsuit, with her wrists and legs shackled, Elisa Baker said very little during the brief proceeding today in the Catawba County courthouse.

When asked by Judge Gregory Hayes whether she understood the charges against her, Baker replied, "Yes." When asked whether she had any questions, Baker answered, "No," the Charlotte Observer reported.


Hayes ordered Baker held on a $40,000 bond. Baker's attorney, D. Scott Reilly, called the bond amount "excessive" and said he planned to file a motion to have the amount reduced, the Observer reported.

She was scheduled to appear in court again on Nov. 3 for a probable cause hearing. If she is convicted on the felony obstruction charge, she could spend up to 30 months in prison.

After the court hearing, Catawba County District Attorney Jay Gaither Jr. told reporters the facts in the case are "disturbing."

"We want the best, but we fear the worst," Gaither said, according to CNN.

Reilly did not return calls for comment from AOL News. During an interview with WSOC-TV, Reilly said Baker is "scared to death" and "worried" about her family.

"It's scary coming out here and seeing all the court reporters and courtroom of people who are so much against her right now," Reilly said.

Reilly declined to talk about Zahra's disappearance, saying that he was "not at liberty" to discuss it.

Adam Baker, Elisa's husband, told police he last saw his daughter sleeping in her bed about 2:30 a.m. Saturday. He said that he and his wife slept in on Saturday and did not notice Zahra was missing until about 2 p.m.

However, Hickory Chief of Police Tom Adkins has said police don't know when Zahra was last seen. Neighbors reportedly have told police it has been more than a month since they last saw the hearing-impaired little girl who has bone cancer and uses a prosthetic leg.

On Monday, police executed a search warrant on cars belonging to the father and stepmother, during which specially trained dogs detected the scent of human remains, The Associated Press reported. It was during that search that authorities also found the ransom note.

"We have your daughter and your son is next," the note read. "Unless you do what is asked. $1,000,000 in unmarked bills. Will be in touch soon."

On Tuesday, Adkins announced that authorities believe Zahra has been killed. Adkins also announced Elisa Baker's arrest on the obstruction-of-justice charge.

The stepmother had previously been arrested on charges unrelated to the child's disappearance. Those charges include writing fraudulent checks, larceny and failure to appear, and three counts of communicating threats.

Zahra's body has not been found and no one has been charged with her murder. Adkins has said he has not ruled out anyone as a suspect.

Also on Tuesday, more than two dozen law enforcement officers spent hours searching a Morganton property that reportedly belongs to Fred Causby, a foreman for Real Tree Services. The tree-trimming company stores heavy equipment and mulch on the property. According to the Hickory Daily Record, the company has employed Zahra's father for about the past six months.

Alvin Webb, a retired police officer who lives next door to the property, told AOL News today that he was asked by the local sheriff to observe the search.

"I went up there and stayed till 12 o'clock [this morning]," said Webb, a 30-year veteran of the Morganton Police Department. "I just sat there and watched [and] ... the [cadaver] dog hit on a pile of mulch and the wood chipper."

Contacted by AOL News today, authorities said they could not comment on the search or the alleged activity by the cadaver dog.

"We're not confirming anything right now," Hickory police spokeswoman Libby Grigg said. "This is an active investigation."

According to WSOC-TV, the search of the Morganton property has been called off, but the news station has indicated that detectives are still following up on leads and may return to the area.

From the onset of the investigation into Zahra's disappearance, friends, former neighbors and a relative of the Baker family have alleged that Elisa Baker was a strict stepparent and that Zahra had a "miserable" home life.

"Elisa had something to do with it. I just think this is something for a long time that we knew was going to happen -- everybody that was close to the family," Brittany Bentley, who is married to Elisa Baker's nephew, said Tuesday on CBS's "The Early Show."

"[Zahra] was locked in her room, allowed five minutes to eat; that was it," Bentley continued. "She was beaten almost every time I was over there for just -- just the smallest things. Lisa would get mad and take it out on Zahra -- things the kid didn't deserve. She just had a horrible home life."

Earlier today, ABC News obtained an exclusive photo of Zahra that was reportedly taken on Aug. 9 by a neighbor of the Bakers, Brandy Stapleton. The photo shows the child with what appears to be a bruise under her eye. Stapleton said she took the photo to cheer the little girl up. She also said that Zahra often had bruises, but that Elisa Baker said the girl was clumsy.

Bentley told CBS the alleged abuse was reported to the North Carolina Division of Social Services but she did not know the outcome. Officials with social services have declined to comment on the case.

A candlelight vigil was to be held for Zahra this evening at East Hickory Baptist Church.