NC stepmom gets up to 18 years in girl's murder

Criminal Law

A North Carolina woman will spend up to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday to murdering her disabled 10-year-old stepdaughter, nearly a year after freckle-faced Zahra Baker's disappearance and death shocked communities here and in her native Australia.

Elisa Baker, 43, entered the courtroom wearing a hot-pink jail jumpsuit and handcuffs. She sat between two defense attorneys and teared up before pleading guilty to second-degree murder, with aggravating factors that included desecrating the body of Zahra Baker, who used a prosthetic leg and hearing aids after a struggle with bone cancer.

Elisa Baker also pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in the case, and to charges unrelated to Zahra's death, including obtaining property by false pretenses, financial identity fraud and bigamy.

Adam Baker, Zahra's father and Elisa's husband, was present in the courtroom in Newton, about 60 miles northwest of Charlotte. Adam Baker, who came to the U.S. with his daughter after meeting Elisa online, faces multiple criminal charges of his own, although none are related to his daughter's death.

Zahra's biological mother, Emily Dietrich, flew in from Australia for the hearing. She cried when she heard details of her daughter's gruesome death.

Elisa Baker's guilty plea comes almost a year after Zahra was reported missing from her home in Hickory. Initially, she and Adam told police they believed their daughter had been kidnapped, but that story quickly unraveled as police arrested Elisa and charged her with forging a ransom note.

Related listings

  • Ex-Mormon bishop pleads guilty to child sex abuse

    Ex-Mormon bishop pleads guilty to child sex abuse

    Criminal Law 09/12/2011

    A former Mormon bishop and co-founder of a nonprofit group that helps women and children in Third World villages faces sentencing in November for sexually abusing children. Lon Harvey Kennard, 69, from Heber City, Utah, pleaded guilty this week to th...

  • NY jail guard pleads guilty to murders, kidnapping

    NY jail guard pleads guilty to murders, kidnapping

    Criminal Law 09/07/2011

    A New York jail guard has pleaded guilty to murder and other charges for killing her ex-girlfriend and uncle, and wounding her grandfather. Kim Wolfe entered the plea Wednesday to two counts of murder, one count of kidnapping, assault and a weapons c...

  • 3 African refugees plead not guilty in fake bomb

    3 African refugees plead not guilty in fake bomb

    Criminal Law 08/20/2011

    Three African refugees have pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from what police described as a fake bomb found at Phoenix's airport as new details emerged about the case and those who are charged. Luwiza Daman, Shullu Gorado, and Asa Shani pleade...

New Rochelle, New York Personal Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP, in New Rochelle, New York, immediately. We can answer all your questions and work with you to determine if you have the grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at our firm are determined to resolve even the most difficult of cases. We will work closely with you to determine the best course of action to get your claim or case resolved in the most efficient way possible. We will fight for your right to compensation! No one should have to suffer a financial burden from the result of another person’s carelessness. The attorneys at Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP will aggressively fight to ensure that justice is served on your behalf.

Business News

New York & New Jersey Family Law Matters We represent our clients in all types of proceedings that include termination of parental rights. >> read