Zahra Baker's Father Calls Murder Charge Against Wife 'Justice'

Feb. 22, 2011 — -- Zahra Baker's father has maintained his innocence in the death and dismemberment of his daughter after prosecutors Monday charged his wife, Elisa Baker, with the girl's death.

"I had no involvement with Zahra's death or dismemberment ...," Adam Baker told CBS News' North Carolina affiliate WBTV. "Elisa's very manipulative, abusive ... very controlling.

"I would have never gotten her involved in Zahra and my life. That's the biggest mistake I've ever made. I'll regret that for the rest of my life."

After the initial report of Zahra's disappearance in October, Elisa Baker wrote in jailhouse letters that her husband did something "horrifying" to Zahra after she was dead.

Catawba County District Attorney James Gaither Jr. Monday said "the state has no credible evidence to suggest anyone other than Elisa Baker was involved," apparently ruling out possible charges against the girl's father.

Elisa Baker, 42, is accused of abusing, murdering and desecrating the body of stepdaughter Zahra, Gaither said.

The head of Zahra has never been recovered. Gaither declined to discuss the cause of death and the coroner's report stated only that Zahra died as a result of "undetermined homicidal violence."

Adam Baker said that he didn't know Zahra was missing initially because he thought she was sleeping whenever he got home from work. A walk to her bedroom revealed what looked like a sleeping body, he said.

"I was gone first thing in the morning, didn't get home until late, was told that Zahra was in bed because Zahra normally went to bed early," he told WBTV Monday. "I checked every night, from what I could tell she was in bed. It looked like she was in bed, there was something in bed."

That "something" was not the 10-year-old, disabled girl. Adam Baker said he cried when he heard about the indictment.

"Justice, finally. She [Zahra] will finally get the justice that everyone's been waiting for. ... It's been a long time coming and I hope that Elisa gets everything she deserves," he said.