UPDATE:Investigators confirm they have found Zahra Baker’s remains in North Carolina. Authorities found the bones earlier this week in an isolated location, dug beneath the earth in a large grave. A “no fly” zone was erected above the area where investigators were searching, that zone would not allow news choppers above.
Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said earlier today at a press conference, “I’ve been dreading this moment [since] early on in this investigation. As investigators we are trained to follow leads, but never give up the hope the evidence may take us in the wrong direction and the outcome may be different. We have recovered enough physical evidence to believe we have found Zahra.” Chief Adkins continued to say that he and his staff are devastated.
Zahra’s mother has arrived in the United States from Australia. Stay tuned for updates on this case…
Today is Susan Powell’s 29th birthday. Her friends and family will honor the day with a massive two state balloon release, one in Utah and the other in Washington. Everyone from the public is welcome to attend.
Winter is approaching quickly, summer has come and gone and Susan Powell has not been found. Over the last ten months since she went missing on December 7, 2009, many bodies have been found in the desert. When her family and close friends would get word, they simply held their breath and waited.
Over the summer a couple of searches took place in the area where Susan’s husband Josh Powell says he went camping the night she disappeared. Josh is still officially a “person of interest” in this case, but investigators have not moved forward with any official charges. When Susan went missing last December Josh told investigators he took his two small children out in the middle of the night in the West Desert. Since then many searches have been executed, but unfortunately nothing has been uncovered.
Investigators announced the Amber Alert initially activated for a missing 10-year-old girl has been canceled. The investigation has now shifted to a homicide investigation. Zahra Clare Baker was just reported missing over the weekend, but authorities indicate there is a chance she hasn’t been seen over the last month.
This story has captured national attention for a number of reasons. The Amber Alert is initially what drew the nation into this case, but Zahra’s medical conditions made many hearts break. Zahra is a bone cancer survivor, uses hearing aids and has a prosthetic leg to walk. This child has endured enough in her lifetime and to think that she may have been killed is a lot for her family, community and folks who have never met her to understand.
Zahra’s stepmother, Elisa Baker, is currently behind bars; not for Zahra’s disappearance, but for obstruction of justice in this case. She had a court appearance earlier today. Authorities say Baker admitted to writing a ransom note found inside the family home after Zahra was reported missing. Burke County Sheriff John McDevitt and his team are working to figure out exactly how long Zahra has been missing by closing in a timeline.
It’s been nearly a month since 10-month-old Lauryn Dickens went missing in Memphis, Tennessee. Police say Shakara Dickens reported her daughter missing one week after she claims that she gave the child to a stranger on Sept. 7. Dickens, 19, was arrested and charged with aggravated child neglect and endangerment and filing a false police report. She appeared in court again on Friday with her attorney Murray Wells and a preliminary hearing is set for October 21, 2010. On that date the state will have to show probable cause. Investigators have executed search warrants and have searched her apartment numerous times looking for clues that would hopefully lead to answers, but sadly the child has not yet been found. Everyone wants to keep the faith that the child is still alive, but investigators admit based on the information they have they are fearing the worst.
The search for Kyron Horman was back on today as dozens of professional searchers and volunteers combed Sauvie Island for the child. This is a place investigators focused on for weeks after he went missing on June 4.
Desiree Young spoke out yesterday at the Kyron Horman Wall of Hope begging the public to raise the reward to find her son. Terri feels that her son is being held against his will and a boost in reward funds may prompt the right person to call with information. Currently the reward sits at $50,000.
More fundraisers are underway to help find Kyron and add to that reward. On October 9 and 10, 50 percent of all nursery sales at the Sleepy Ridge Farms in Mulino will go toward the Kyron Horman Foundation fund. Kyron was last seen by his step-mother Terri Moulton-Horman at the Skyline Elementary School in Portland, Oregon. Although no suspects or persons of interest have been named in the case have been announced, Kyron’s step-mother Terri Horman continues to be in the spotlight. She was the last person to see Kyron that morning.
More fundraisers are underway to help find missing 8-year-old Kyron Horman. On October 9 and 10, 50 percent of all nursery sales at the Sleepy Ridge Farms in Mulino will go toward the Kyron Horman Foundation fund. A large portion of the money raised will go towards the actual search efforts to finding the child. Kyron has been missing since June 4 when he was last seen at the Skyline Elementary School in Portland, Oregon. Although no suspects or persons of interest have been named in the case have been announced, Kyron’s step-mother Terri Horman continues to be in the spotlight. She was the last person to see Kyron that morning.
A baby in Memphis, Tennessee has been missing for two weeks and authorities fear the worst. Investigators are trying to figure out where 9-month-old Lauryn Dickens could be with the limited information they have on the case. Shakara Dickens reported her daughter missing one week after she claims that she gave the child to a stranger on Sept. 7. Dickens, 19, was arrested this week and charged with aggravated child neglect and endangerment and filing a false police report. Investigators have executed search warrants and have searched her apartment numerous times looking for clues that would hopefully lead to answers, but sadly the child has not yet been found.
This case is disturbing because it reminds me of a couple of other cases involving mothers who have reported their child missing, and either the child has not been found or horrific endings have taken place. You may remember little Shaniya Davis, a beautiful girl who was reported missing by her mother Antoinette Davis in North Carolina. A search went on for days before Shaniya’s body was found last November on the side of the road. The investigation uncovered that Davis most likely sold her child as a prostitute to a man for money. Shaniya was found raped and murdered. Davis is charged with human trafficking, child abuse involving prostitution and filing a false police report. Mario McNeill is charged with first degree rape and first degree murder. The court cases are currently on-going.
Today marks the 12th annual Florida Missing Children’s Day. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and hundreds of families gathered this morning for the 2010 ceremony. The event honors missing children throughout the state, highlights new efforts underway to help protect the youth and honors adults who make a difference in the lives of children.
Many kids participated in abduction prevention activities across the state including fingerprinting and watching educational videos. Over the weekend, citizens may have noticed electronic billboards lighting up with information about the awareness campaign.
The United States Department of Justice reports about 797,500 children were reported missing within a one-year period of time. That’s roughly 2,185 children that go missing every single day. 115 of those are victims of stereotypical kidnapping.
Kyron Horman is 8-years-old today, and sadly his family hasn’t seen him in more than three months. The child vanished on June 4 from the Skyline elementary school in Portland, Oregon and hasn’t been seen since. A fundraiser recently with the Godfather’s Pizza restaurants raised money to help aide the search efforts, and another fundraiser is planned for this Sunday at the Family Fun Center and Bullwinkle’s Restaurant. The goal of the event is not only to raise money for the efforts to find Kyron, but also to celebrate his birthday. The cost for a wristband is only $15 which includes unlimited rides and games.
Tonight Kyron’s family, along with members of the community, are holding a balloon release at 7 p.m. People will gather at the West main Church in Medford.
To keep up-to-date with everything surrounding this case, please become a fan of the “Missing Kyron Horman” Facebook page. Volunteers help to keep the page updated with the latest information.
No one has been charged with Kyron’s disappearance. If you have any information, please contact the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office: 503-261-2847
It’s been three years since Jaliek Rainwalker disappeared from his home in Greenwich, NY and today a search for the 12-year-old will resume. Divers will descend on an area of the Battenkill River in Middle Falls that they had not previously been able to search. This is the first the time this portion of the body of water has been deemed safe, and it is possibly an area Jaliek’s father mentioned when he was working with authorities.
The last 34 months have been a roller coaster ride for investigators as they have conducted numerous searches, followed hundreds of leads and have tried to work with Jaliek’s adopted parents. Reportedly, police say his mother and father are no longer cooperating with the investigation, Jaliek has not been seen, and they fear the worst. Barbara Reeley, Jaliek’s adopted grandmother, has not given up hope. She is well known by the community and is doing everything she can to help investigators find her grandson. Reeley was even charged with burglary when she allegedly broke into her daughter’s home to look for evidence in this case. Police say she uncovered the yellow pullover fleece Jaliek was last seen wearing, but still no one has been charged with any crimes in this case.In March 2010, investigators released a new age enhanced photo of what Jaliek would look like today, hoping the image and the attention would jog the memories of those who may have information.
If you know anything, please contact investiagtors: (518) 692-9332
Michelle Sigona is a crime fighting, victims advocate extraordinaire, but for Michelle -- the good fight doesn't stop there. In her spare time, she is a volunteer firefighter -- and now, she is tackling the issues and cases that mean the most to her....
