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Marker bearing Zahra's name completes memorial

CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — The last part of a memorial built for Zahra Baker has arrived in Caldwell County.

A 300-pound piece of granite bearing Zahra’s name and the dates of her birth and death was brought to the memorial along Christy Road on Thursday morning.

The 10-year-old’s remains were found in November 2010, about a month after she was reported missing. Zahra’s stepmother, Elisa Baker, later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the girl’s death.

Jake Icenhour and his wife have led efforts to build the memorial for Zahra on their land.

“What happened to her is a nightmare gone bad, and if what we're doing here -- everyone involved in this is just thinking about somebody else's kid,” Icenhour said.

More than a dozen businesses across the county donated their time and money to build the memorial. Pam Teague helped with the guttering.

“You hate to see what happened with her right under our noses. Right here in our own community,” Teague said. “My prayer would be that the Lord open the eyes of the people in the community and let them protect the little children.”

The Icenhours wanted the memorial to last. It has a roof and sits on a concrete floor.

“Everybody comes by and stops. Nobody is forgetting about this little girl,” Priscilla Icenhour said. “And we're just hoping it will help other children.”

The Icenhours’ goal to have it completed by Christmas came to fruition, but they don't want any credit for the work.

“The Lord has blessed us with people who know what they are doing and done this for us -- for all the little girls out there and boys in the same boat Zahra was in,” Jake Icenhour said.