According to Catawba County District Attorney James Gaither, Jr., Elisa Baker, 42, had demonstrated a "history and pattern of physical, verbal and psychological abuse" against Zahra. He accused the woman of taking "advantage of a position of trust and confidence" in order kill Zahra and then "desecrated her body to hinder detection and prosecution."
On Nov. 3, cops found Zahra's remains in several locations. Police allege that in the hours after Zahra's parents reported her missing, Elisa Baker allegedly penned a bogus $1 million ransom note.