Zahra Baker Case: Prosthetic Leg Discovered, Thought to Be Missing Girl's

Oct. 27, 2010— -- Investigators have discovered a prosthetic leg that matches the description of the one worn by missing disabled girl Zahra Baker, police announced today.

The leg was discovered in a "brushy area," but was not buried, off a road in Caldwell County, N.C., late Tuesday afternoon, Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said in a news conference. The find was made a few miles from a former home of Zahra's stepmother, Elisa Baker.

"The prosthetic leg is consistent with what Zahra's would be like," the chief said.

He said police were determined to find out what happened to the 10-year-old girl.

"We will continue to follow every lead and every tip we receive in hopes that we can come to some kind of conclusion to this investigation and bring peace to Zahra," Adkins told reporters.

Zahra, who was reported missing by her parents on Oct. 9, lost her left leg and hearing in a childhood battle with bone cancer. Elisa Baker was taken into custody on unrelated charges soon after police began searching for the little girl. A $1 million ransom note was discovered on the Bakers' property on Oct. 9, a note Elisa Baker later admitted to writing. She has since been charged with felony obstruction of justice.

The announcement concerning the leg came just hours after police said that Elisa Baker had begun providing them information in the search for Zahra.

Hickory police announced ealier today they had seized a mattress discovered in a Caldwell County landfill that they believe was used by Zahra. The mattress had DNA evidence investigators plan to test, police said in a statement.

Zahra's father, Adam Baker, was taken into custody on Monday on several charges unrelated to his daughter's disappearance.

After 17 days of wide-spread searching based on several leads, police have not publicly revealed any major clues about the girl's location until today.

Police are working to ensure the leg is the one used by the girl whom they believe is dead.

Police returned to the Bakers' home today, but Adkins would only say "information" led them back to the home where the mysterious case began.