Police Confirm They've Found Remains of Zahra Baker

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by FOX Charlotte

Story Created: Nov 12, 2010 at 1:45 PM EDT

Story Updated: Nov 12, 2010 at 6:24 PM EDT

HICKORY, NC - Investigators with the Hickory Police Department have recovered enough physical evidence to believe they have found Zahra Baker who was reported missing from her home in Hickory on October 9, 2010.

DNA evidence from the bone found on Christie Road matched a DNA sample taken from the home on 21st Ave NW.  The sample from the home was taken from personal items believed to be Zahra’s.  A known DNA profile for Zahra will be created from cheek swabs that have been collected from her biological mother and father.  These swabs have been sent to the NC State Bureau of Investigation lab to build that profile.

PHOTO GALLERY - See Area Where Human Remains Were Found

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos of the Baker Home During Investigation

PHOTO GALLERY - Personal Photos of Zahra Baker


Remains found at the Dudley Shoals Road location have been sent to the NC Medical Examiner’s Office and will be forwarded to the NC State Bureau of Investigation lab for positive identification.  According to Medical Examiner’s Office staff on site when recovered, the remains are consistent with a child.  Until those tests are completed, we cannot officially confirm they are Zahra’s remains.  The timetable for those results is not known at this time.

 “We have been hoping since we first got a call about Zahra being missing that this case would have a different outcome.  Any case involving a child is disturbing, and this one is even more so for this community,” said Chief Tom Adkins.  “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.”

 Zahra Baker was reported missing from her home at 21 21st Ave. NW in Hickory, NC on October 9, 2010 by her father, Adam Baker.  Zahra lost a portion of her left leg battling bone cancer and lost her hearing in both ears during the treatment for that cancer. 

 Hickory Police was assisted by the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, Burke County Sheriff’s Office and the Hickory Fire Department.  Also, the City of Hickory Public Works Department, Caldwell County Office of Emergency Services and their volunteers, NC State Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Marshals Service, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s “Team Adam”.  All the agencies involved in the search for Zahra Baker dedicated time and resources to a difficult case. 

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