Zahra Baker's Remains Have Been Found by All Indications

The investigation into the Zahra Baker missing child case has come to a likely conclusion today according to CBS News. The Hickory North Carolina police called a press conference on November 12, 2010 to formally announce to the press that, "We have recovered enough physical evidence to believe we have found Zahra."

Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins went on to state that the police believe they have a solid DNA match to Zahra Baker with a bone found during the investigation. On site personnel and the medical examiner have stated that the additional remains found at the site were "consistent'" with Zahra's profile.

In the case of Zahra Baker, for the police to state this it is to be logically presumed that this is definitely Zahra's body as it would be easily identified based on her amputated leg, even if a degree of deterioration had already occurred. A prosthetic leg found in the area had been previously confirmed on Monday, November 8, 2010 as belonging to Zahra.

From the beginning of the Zahra Baker missing child investigation, it has been a common public assumption that the young girl was dead prior to having been reported missing to the police though everyone, police included, hoped against hope that she would somehow be found alive.

The death of Zahra Baker, as many have pointed out, is only one in a long line of stories to be found in the news featuring the death of young children. However, Zahra has become a vivid part of the public psyche based on the circumstances in her life in the years leading up to her disappearance. Zahra had suffered from bone cancer which led to part of her leg being amputated and the loss of much of her hearing. When Zahra was reported missing, her hearing aid was found at the home.

No one who reads these facts can separate themselves from speculating about the way the crime happened, and any variation is completely cruel and heart-wrenching. An innocent young girl spent the last minutes of her life without the ability to hear and without the ability to walk properly and had her remains left alongside the road side. Not only was this crime as senseless as any vicious action taken against a child, but it was particularly inhumane to take one who had suffered so much already in life and end that life so maniacally. The murderer of Zahra truly crushed a miracle. Unwittingly, however, this murderer also created a light that will hopefully inspire more people to speak out when they suspect injustices are being done to children.

As of today, her stepmother and biological father remain the prime suspects in her disappearance.

Sources:

"Zahra Clare Baker Biography, Case and Picture." The Times of India.
"Missing Girl's Mother Said to Blame Zahra's Father." CNN.
Yunji Denies and Lee Ferran. "Zahra Baker Search Uncovers Human Remains." ABC News.