ZAHRA BAKER INVESTIGATION: DA to fight lower bond on stepmom

HICKORY, N.C. (AP) – A North Carolina district attorney says he’ll fight a bid to reduce bail for a disabled girl’s stepmother, whose attorneys say helped detectives find parts of the 10-year-old’s dismembered body.

District Attorney James Gaither Jr. told The Associated Press on Tuesday his office will oppose the effort by lawyers for Elisa Baker to have her bond reduced. Gaither says if necessary he would present evidence to prevent a lower bond.

The woman’s attorneys argued in court papers that she gave police crucial help because 10-year-old Zahra Baker’s body was dismembered and scattered in remote locations.

Elisa Baker is not charged in the girl’s death. She’s been held since the day after Zahra was reported missing last month, charged with writing a fake ransom note to throw off investigators.

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