Zahra Baker’s remains were given to Adam Baker, in care of a funeral home, on Nov. 21, according to the NC Medical Examiner’s Office.
“If a family member claims them, it’s our protocol to release them,” said Sharon Artis, case management supervisor with the Medical Examiner’s Office in Chapel Hill.
Baker’s remains were given to Drum Funeral Home in November, Artis said. The date was set by the medical examiner’s office.
“The district attorney had up until then to get a court order to hold the remains, and did not,” Artis said.
Drum Funeral Home picked up the remains, and later cremated them.
The funeral home said there would be no service for Zahra.
Zahra was a 10-year-old Australian cancer survivor who was reported missing in October 2010. Her dismembered remains were found later that fall. Her stepmother and Baker’s wife, Elisa, pleaded guilty to Zahra’s murder in September, and was sentenced to 14 to 18 years in prison. Baker was not charged in Zahra’s death.
Baker has said he would like to take Zahra back home to bury her. Before he can do so, however, he has charges of his own he must face. He has four misdemeanor charges in Caldwell County, as well as two felony charges in Catawba County for identity theft and obtaining property by false pretenses.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement