Girl, 10, 'dismembered, body parts scattered'

By MSN NZ
Tuesday 16 november 2010 8:00:00

The stepmother of murdered Australian girl Zahra Baker told police the girl was dead, dismembered and that her body parts had been scattered across different sites, court documents show.

The documents ask for a reduction in bail for Elisa Baker, saying she helped investigators by leading them to the remains of 10-year-old Zahra.

Baker has been jailed since last month, accused of trying to throw off investigators by writing a fake ransom note for another child.

The court papers were reported by Charlotte-area TV stations and posted on the website of WCNC-TV on Monday.

Baker told police on October 24 that Zahra "was deceased, that her body had been dismembered and that it would be recovered at different sites", according to the documents.

Police took Baker to the areas she suggested and recovered Zahra's prosthetic leg, which the 10-year-old needed after battling bone cancer five years ago.

A bone later identified as Zahra's was discovered at the same site.

On October 26, police escorted Baker to the Caldwell County landfill where they recovered a mattress that Baker said she had thrown out.

Baker, who remains in custody on obstruction of justice charges, then told investigators where the rest of Zahra's remains could be found, the documents state.

Up until the filing of the documents, it was known Baker was assisting police in their investigation but it was not clear what information she was supplying them with.

The documents come after the release of prison letters allegedly written by Baker which point to Zahra's biological father Adam Baker as being involved in her disappearance.

The letters, which proclaim her innocence, were published on a US website which has a history of communicating with inmates.

"We really didn't kill her but what he did after the fact is kinda horrifying," the letter states.

"Makes me scared of him."

Hickory Police said the handwriting matched Baker's but they did not confirm the letters were authentic.

Adam Baker is currently free on bail after he was charges with offences unrelated to Zahra's disappearance.

From: http://news.msn.co.nz/article/8141667/ten-year-old-girl-was-dismembered-body-parts-scattered