WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather & Sports Zahra's biological mom is fighting to get her remains back

WAGGA WAGGA, AUSTRALIA (WBTV) - Adam Baker's fight for a "proper burial" for his daughter Zahra isn't over - even though he was deported back to his homeland with her remains.

According to an Australian news outlet, Zahra Baker's biological mother is now fighting to get the murdered and dismembered 10-year-old girl's remains back from her ex-husband.

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Emily Dietrich, Zahra's biological mother, told 7News in Australia that she wants to get Zahra's remains from Adam Baker so she can "conduct a formal farewell."

"Knowing that she's been in a medical examiner's office for so long was terrible, but to know that she's been put to rest somewhere that we are not aware of is," she paused, "I see it as callous."

On Monday, WBTV learned that Adam Baker had been deported by federal immigration authorities nearly two weeks ago.

His attorney, Shell Pearce, said that Baker had been held on an immigration detainer while he was in court on various charges.

Adam Baker was being held because he was needed to testify in the case against his wife, Elisa Baker, who was convicted of murdering Zahra.

Adam Baker was facing several felony charges, not related to the death of his daughter, in Catawba County which were recently down-graded to misdemeanors.

Previous article: Adam Baker deported to Australia with Zahra's remains

When he plead guilty to those misdemeanor charges, immigration decided to deport him, his attorney told WBTV on Monday.

Adam Baker still has pending court cases on misdemeanor charges in Caldwell County, but his attorney told WBTV that while those charges still remain, Baker will not be coming back to North Carolina to face them.

Emily Dietrich told 7News that her daughter's remains might have been buried in Australia without her knowledge. She said some have suggested that she split the ashes with Baker. Dietrich dismissed the idea.

"There's not much of her there to start with," she said, "the way that her murder was carried out, splitting her ashes seemed so tasteless and she's already in pieces. I've just got to hope that maybe if they do eventually find the rest of her that maybe I might have a chance of getting the rights to that so I have something."

Dietrich gave Adam Baker custody Zahra as an infant because she was suffering post-natal depression.

During a 2010 interview, Dietrich said Baker disappeared with Zahra shortly after getting custody and every time she found him, he disappeared again.

Previous article: Zahra's biological mom travels from Australia, visits memorial

She visited the memorial for Zahra for the first time back in November 2010. She returned to North Carolina in September 2011 for the trial of Elisa Baker.

Dietrich told 7News there were suggestions to split Zahra's ashes, an idea she rejected.

Hickory police concluded that Zahra was dismembered after dying of causes that are still undetermined.

Baker's attorney, Shell Pearce, said he didn't want to reveal Baker's exact location in Australia.

Dietrich and Zahra's grandmother, Joy Box, just want to know where Zahra's remains are so they can see her again.

"It's decent. It's what any compassionate human being would do," Box said through tears.

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