Investigators say 10-year-old Zahra Clare Baker, the disabled North Carolina girl who was reported missing Saturday, is dead.  Yesterday police cancelled the Amber Alert issued for her and started a body recovery.  Today, they are focusing on wooded areas and large piles of mulch at Real Tree Services, the company where Zahra’s dad, Adam Baker, works.

Zahra lost one of her legs and most of her hearing during intensive chemotherapy treatments while battling bone cancer five years ago.  Neighbors say they haven’t seen her outside for weeks.

Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins appeared to fight back tears during a press conference Tuesday when he announced that investigators are sure Zahra is dead.  He says her stepmother, Elisa Baker, admitted to writing a ransom note that was left on one of the Baker’s cars on Saturday.  She was originally arrested on unrelated charges.

“Outside the immediate family, we cannot confirm that anyone has seen Zahra within the last month.  We need the public to come forward if they think they  have seen Zahra in the time frame,” Adkins said.

Elisa Baker is now charged with felony obstruction of justice.  An initial court hearing is scheduled for this morning.  The note she admitted to writing was addressed to Adam Baker’s boss and it demanded a $1 million dollar ransom. She told police she last saw Zahra sleeping in her room very early Saturday morning, though Adkins say he doesn’t believe the statements the Bakers are giving to investigators.