Archive - Nov 13, 2010 - News Article
Another boat owner is a victim of a three-week crime spree in Sherrills Ford.
Todd Christopher Goodykoontz, 40, of Sherrills Ford, reported Nov. 8 that an unknown suspect stole 25 gallons of gasoline from his boat. The vehicle was docked in a community area in the 2300 block of North View Harbor in Sherrills Ford.
According to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office incident report, the victim discovered the larceny Oct. 15.
2:30 a.m. Oct. 9
Elisa Baker, Zahra's stepmother, claims she saw Zahra sleeping in her bed.
5:30 a.m. Oct. 9
A brush fire is reported in the backyard of the Zahra's residence, located at 21 21st Ave. NW in Hickory.
A Hickory Police officer notices the smell of gasoline coming from a Chevrolet Tahoe parked on the property and finds a hand-written ransom note demanding $1 million in unmarked bills.
2 p.m. Oct. 9
Zahra is reported missing, and police issue an Amber Alert.
12:45 p.m. Oct. 10
It was the outcome no one wanted but everyone expected.
Police recovered enough physical evidence to believe they located the remains of Zahra Baker, the 10-year-old girl reported missing more than a month ago.
Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins announced Friday during a brief press conference that a bone located last week on Christie Road in Caldwell County matches a DNA sample taken from inside Zahra Baker's home.
The holiday punch bowl was always a source of struggle for Owen "Buddy" Shoup.
Shoup struggled with alcoholism and addiction, and his family's punch bowl tempted him to start drinking again. To help encourage Shoup's sobriety, his mother made a nonalcoholic beverage for Shoup and placed the beverage in a smaller bowl beside the family punch bowl.
Shoup battled his alcoholism step by step and day by day.
"That little dish eventually became the whole punch bowl," he said.
Police have enough evidence to confirm Zahra Baker's death.
During a press conference Friday, Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins said, "with great regret," investigators recovered enough evidence to constitute the recovery of Zahra, a 10-year-old girl who was reported missing Oct. 9.
DNA evidence from a bone found days ago on Christie Road matched a DNA sample taken from Zahra's belongings at her home in Hickory.
Check the Saturday edition of The O-N-E for more details on this breaking news story.
