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…
It appears the prosthetic leg belonging to Zahra Baker may have been found down a country road in North Carolina. Authorities confirm they have found a leg, but they cannot say for certain that it belongs to the missing 10-year-old. Authorities were back on location at the home where Zahra was living with her father and step-mother doing another extensive search and dig in the area. Last week, authorities were digging at a local landfill for “evidence” it appears from cameras on the scene that investigators were zoning in on a mattress.
Yesterday, Zahra’s father Adam Baker, was bonded out. He was arrested earlier this week for writing bad checks.
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.
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.
A brand new website Bring Kyron Homehas launched to help find missing 7-year-old Kyron Horman. The goal is to continue to raise awareness of the case, spread the word, download and distribute fliers in various languages and report strange or suspicious activity. Kyron went missing on June 4, 2010 in Portland, Oregon. He was last seen at the Skyline Elementary school where he attended a morning science fair with his step-mother, Terri Moulton Horman.
The case has had many bizarre twists and turns since then, but to date investigators have not named a suspect or person of interest. A grand jury has been behind doors for weeks hearing testimony and information from people who knew Terri, or who may have information about Kyron. Investigators told me they’ve received thousands of leads in this case, but none have led them to Kyron.
If you have any information, please contact the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Tipline: (503) 261-2847
UPDATE: Investigators in Arizona found skeletal remains about two miles away from where toddler Sylar Newton went missing. Authorities have not released the identity or cause of death, but the remains are believed to be those of the missing 2-year-old. More to come on this case…
Sylar Newton Missing (family photo)
Sylar Newton mysteriously vanished out of his sleeping bag on July 25th at the Beaver Creek Campgrounds in Arizona. The area is about an hour south of Flagstaff. Since then, authorities from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office have poured more than 4,000 man hours into finding the child. Deputies have received additional help from the FBI and forensic specialists,and this is a 24/7 operation. Officials announced today that the case is no longer a missing person investigation, but similar to the Kyron Horman case out of Oregon, it is now an official criminal investigation. Unlike Kyron’s case, authorities have come out publicly and stated that they don’t believe Sylar wandered away from the campground, and they presume he is dead.
UPDATE – 4:38 p.m. Oregon State Police officials say Issak Glenn was thankfully found safe about 20 minutes ago by two men driving on a dirt road near Big Creek. He has been reunited with his family members who were on the ground searching for him since yesterday. Authorities say he quickly ate a sandwich and drank water.
Investigators in Florence, Oregon are actively searching for 5-year-old Isaak Benjamin Glenn. Isaak was reported missing yesterday afternoon at the Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park. He vanished around 5 p.m. and hasn’t been seen since. Searchers are currently on foot canvassing the area where the child went missing and are interviewing anyone who was staying at the park last night. The area was chocked to capacity with campers. Local investigators and members from the fire department are also assisting with the efforts.
Sylar Newton mysteriously vanished out of his sleeping bag nine days ago at the Beaver Creek Campgrounds in Arizona. The area is about an hour south of Flagstaff. Since then, authorities from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office have poured more than 4,000 man hours into finding the child. Deputies have received additional help from the FBI and forensic specialists,and this is a 24/7 operation. Officials announced today that the case is no longer a missing person investigation, but similar to the Kyron Horman case out of Oregon, it is now an official criminal investigation. Unlike Kyron’s case, authorities have come out publicly and stated that they don’t believe Sylar wandered away from the campground, and they presume he is dead.
Sylar was reported missing around 1:45 a.m. on July 25, 2010. Since then, crews have not only combed the area where he went missing, but have dug through hundreds of tons of waste at the Gray Wolf Landfill. Sylar was camping with his custodial mother, Christian Priem.
Sylar was last seen wearing a diaper without shoes.
If you have any information, please contact: Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office at 978-771-3260
UPDATE:I just spoke with Sgt. Bill Goodin, and he did confirm to me that Amber was found in the middle of the night. He says a tip came in that she was at a local gas station and when police arrived on location, she was gone. I spoke with Amber’s father, James White, and he did tell me that his daughter called him directly and said, “they decided to let me go.” He raced to the store where Amber called from and picked her up. White says Amber is extremely tired, she is resting right now, and he is “relieved” that his daughter was found alive. He cannot talk about the specifics of the case or where his daughter may have been held over the last few days, but he did tell me that more arrests may be made in this case. White also said that Amber was found in white pajama pants.
Tomorrow will mark the six week anniversary since Kyron Horman went missing, and every single day there is a new development. Usually when a child goes missing, within a week or two the case falls out of the spotlight, but this family’s personal and bizarre life has kept this case alive and the public wanting more. Over the last couple of days investigators in Portland have been seen searching on the ground for clues and re-interviewing witnesses at the school from where the 7-year-old went missing. Desiree Young, Kyron’s mother, spoke out and said she thinks her son’s disappearance was planned and executed by his step-mother Terri Moulton-Horman.
For the first time in five weeks the public is beginning to have a little insight into the Kyron Horman case and his step-mother Terri Moulton-Horman. Investigators say Terri may have been the last person to see her step-son before he vanished on June 4, 2010 from Skyline Elementary school in Portland, Oregon.
Yesterday a judge released the sealed restraining order that Kaine Horman sought against his wife Terri. In his own words and handwriting Kaine Horman wrote, “I believe respondent (Terri Moulton-Horman) is involved in the disappearance of my son Kyron who has been missing since June 4, 2010. I also recently learned that respondent attempted to hire someone to murder me. The police have provided me with probable cause to believe the above two statements to be true.” The key phrase in the order is “police have provided me with probable cause.” This is important to the public in this case because it gives everyone an idea as to where investigators may possibly stand. For weeks authorities have said that Terri is not a suspect and/or person of interest in this case, and although that may appear to be the case, there seems to be enough evidence that a judge would restrict Terri from coming into contact with her own 19-month-old child. Yesterday Kaine asked the judge to amend the petition to allow himself and his daughter back in their home. Kaine wants Terri removed so Kiara and Kyron can come back to their house and not feel any kind of disconnect.
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....
