The case of a missing 10-year-old girl from North Carolina has now been centered on her stepmother, and an Amber Alert for Zahra Clare Brown has been canceled by police.
Law enforcement officials in the case admit that they are not very clear on exactly when Zahra, who suffered from bone cancer and used hearing aids that were found in her bedroom, disappeared. Her father and stepmother, Adam and Elisa Brown, claim the last time the girl was seen was around 2:30 am Sunday, and the couple say they “slept in” until 2pm the day they reported her missing. However, police say the child was homeschooled and that she has not been sighted by anyone other than her parents in approximately a month.
Elisa Baker has been arrested for charges of obstruction of justice in relation to the case, and members of the Baker family interviewed on the Early Show say the girl was withdrawn and fearful of returning to her home:
Brittany Bentley, who is married to Elisa Baker’s nephew, told CBS’ The Early Show that when Zahra stayed with her for a weekend the 10-year-old, who suffered from bone cancer and lost hearing in both ears from chemotherapy, grew upset when she had to return home.
“She was beat almost every time I was over there for just the smallest things,” Bentley told the morning show. “Elisa would get mad, she would take it out on Zahra, things the kid didn’t deserve. She just had a horrible home life.”
Police say they are now attempting to establish a “true timeline” in the case.
