Needy children gain from slain girl's memorial

The Hickory Police Department's Cops for Tots has seen an increase in donations of toys and money since the tragic story of Zahra Baker's disappearance surfaced, Capt. Gary Lee said. 

Zahra, 10, was reported missing Oct. 9. On Nov. 12, Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins announced that searchers had found her remains near Dudley Shoals Drive in Caldwell County.

Her stepmother, Elisa Baker, who was jailed for trying to throw off investigators with a bogus ransom note, led police to the areas where the remains were found, though she has not been charged in Zahra's death.

The owner of the home where Zahra lived with her father and stepmother donated stuffed animals and other toys left on the property in her memory to the Cops for Tots program. And he was not the only one.

Lee said the police department has had people ask to donate in memory of Zahra.