This is the thing to remember about Zahra Baker: She can't be hurt anymore. The only ones who suffer if justice is delayed are the rest of us.
And the truth is, we don't matter.
It was more than four months ago that Adam Baker first reported his 10-year-old daughter missing. Only on Monday did Hickory police charge Elisa Baker - Zahra's stepmother - with second-degree murder.
All this time we lacked for charges, but we didn't lack for details.
Elisa Baker confessed to fabricating a ransom note. Relatives said she abused the girl. Police found Zahra's prosthetic leg. Then they found bones. Court documents described how Zahra's body might have been hidden, and the stories are something out of the darkest corners of horror.
We the people had heard all we needed. The police couldn't arrest Elisa Baker fast enough. The trial couldn't be quick enough. The punishment couldn't be harsh enough. Do to the stepmom what she did to that little girl. And worse.
To read the complete column, visit .
Comments