CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. -- A source close to the Zahra Baker investigation says that crews found human remains while searching in Caldwell County Wednesday.
Hickory police have not confirmed the discovery of human remains, but released a statement Thursday saying, "Search teams in Caldwell County yesterday located evidence that could provide valuable information in the Zahra Baker case. This evidence will be analyzed at the NC State Bureau of Investigation's lab. We understand the concern and interest in this case by the public but we must be cautious in prematurely releasing information so it will not jeopardize any future criminal proceedings."
A team of nearly 40 people searched along Gunpowder Creek off Dudley Shoals Road in Caldwell County Wednesday. On Thursday, only a hole and some evidence markers remained at that search area. A number of people stopped by the site to see what was left.
“I think all of our hearts have gone through this and are hoping that some closure can be put on this,” said Cheryl Berry, from Hickory.
“We came here because the whole world and Hickory and Hudson, we just want to know what happened to that little girl,” said Chrystal Summerland, who lives nearby in Hudson.
Police haven't revealed exactly why they returned to the Dudley Shoals search site.
"An area that's high priority to us right now, we are doing 3-foot spacing so our guys are basically shoulder to shoulder going through there," emergency management coordinator Tommy Courtner said Wednesday. "We're moving the brush out. We look at every piece of that ground."
Around noon Wednesday, investigators mysteriously ordered the media out, closing the road and the airspace without explaining why.
A medical examiner from Chapel Hill was on hand to help crews because, investigators say, there are bones in the area -- many of them from deer.
Meanwhile, NewsChannel 36 has learned that Emily Dietrich, Zahra's biological mother, is in Hickory. Dietrich has not had contact with Zahra since she was a baby. She told Australia's Channel 7 News that she was trying to find Zahra when she learned she had disappeared.
Police have made several significant finds in Zahra Baker's case in the last few weeks.
- On Oct. 25, a mattress was found in the Caldwell County landfill. It's still being tested for DNA, but police it belonged to Zahra.
- On Oct. 27, investigators uncovered the girl's prosthetic leg in the brush off Christie Road in Caldwell County.
- On Nov. 3, investigators discovered a bone at another search site. The bone is still being tested to determine if it belonged to Zahra.
Map: Search sites in Zahra Baker case
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