N.C. woman pleads guilty to killing, dismembering stepdaughter

By the CNN Wire Staff

September 15, 2011 -- Updated 1515 GMT (2315 HKT)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Elisa Baker will spend between 14 and 18 years in prison, the judge says
• She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Zahra Baker
• Zahra was reported missing in October 2010

(CNN) -- A North Carolina woman will serve at least 14 years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday to second-degree murder in the death last year of her 10-year-old stepdaughter.
As part of a plea agreement, Elisa Baker admitted killing Zahra Baker and attempting to thwart investigators by planting a fake ransom note at the family's Hickory, North Carolina, home in October 2010. Zahra's body was dismembered, and some of the remains were found a month later.
The freckle-faced girl's disappearance and search drew national attention. Zahra had lost part of her left leg at age 5 and lost hearing in both her ears while undergoing treatment for cancer.
Dressed in a pink jail jumpsuit, Baker answered Judge Timothy Kincaid's questions in a soft voice during her plea hearing Thursday. Kincaid advised her that she will face between 14 years, nine months, and 18 years, six months in prison.
Kincaid had already agreed to move Baker's murder trial out of Catawba County because of pretrial publicity in the case. The judge was supposed to announce Monday where the trial would be held, according to CNN affiliate WCNC, but that hearing was put on hold because of a pending plea deal.
Baker also pleaded guilty to charges of obstruction of justice, bigamy, obtaining property by false pretenses, and identity fraud. Under questioning Thursday, she admitted to aggravating factors including "a history or pattern of physical abuse of the victim" and taking advantage of "a position of trust or confidence."
Court documents in the case show that Baker told authorities Zahra was killed two weeks before she was reported missing. Authorities found the fake ransom note at the home.
Investigations have no "credible evidence" to suggest that anyone other than Elisa Baker was involved in Zahra's death, District Attorney Jay Gaither said in February.
Baker was accused of marrying Zahra's father, Adam Baker, before divorcing her previous husband, authorities said.

Prosecutors called several witnesses at Thursday's hearing. One criminal investigator testified that Baker told authorities she found Zahra not breathing on September 24, 2010, according to WCNC.