HICKORY, N.C.,None — Hundreds of people gathered on Tuesday night in Hickory in honor of Zahra Baker, who would have turned 11 that day.
• VIDEO: Hundreds Gather For Vigil On Zahra's Birthday
Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins and Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright both addressed the crowd, focusing their words more on Zahra's life than her death.
"Thirty-nine days ago, most of us did not know Zahra Baker," Adkins said. "In more than a month, we've fallen in love with her and become better people because of her."
The crowd sang "Happy Birthday" before releasing balloons and lighting candles in Zahra's honor.
"She just seemed like such a sweet little girl," said Tina Anderson as tears streamed down her face.
• SLIDESHOW: Candlelight Vigil Marks Zahra 11th Birthday
YouTube Tribute To Zahra
Toward the end of the vigil, some people in the crowd began to chant, "We want justice."
"We all want to know the rest of the story, and if there's any lesson to be learned there," Mayor Wright said.
• RAW VIDEO: Zahra At Speedway Children's Charities Event In May
• SLIDESHOW: Photos Of Zahra Baker
The vigil comes the day after court documents were filed that say Zahra's body was dismembered and the remains hidden in several remote locations. Attorneys for Zahra's stepmother, Elisa Baker, argued the woman's bond should be lessened because she helped police locate the remains and cooperated in the investigation into Zahra's disappearance.
• PDF: Bond Reduction Motion For Elisa Baker
Elisa Baker led police to the Dudley Shoals area, where the remains thought to be Zahra's were found, and to the Christie Road area, where the prosthetic leg Zahra needed after an amputation because of her bone cancer was found, the documents say.
• RAW VIDEO: Hickory Chief Announces Finding Remains
Elisa Baker has been in custody since the day after Zahra was reported missing, and she is accused of trying to throw off investigators by writing a fake ransom note for another child.
• Timeline In Zahra's Disappearance
• MAP: Key Locations In Zahra's Disappearance
Elisa Baker's younger sister, April Fairchild, attended Tuesday's vigil and said the family had been dealing with a wide range of emotions and had hoped that Zahra would be found alive. Fairchild also said the death and alleged dismemberment of Zahra could not be justified and that the family no longer fully supports Elisa Baker.
• RAW INTERVIEW: Elisa Baker's Sister: Family Does Not Support Her
District Attorney Jay Gaither said his office will oppose efforts to reduce Elisa Baker's bond.
• VIDEO: D.A.: Recovery Of Remains Critical, But Investigation Not Complete
No one has been charged in Zahra's death, but police have cast doubt on her parents' claims that they last saw her alive Oct. 9. Police said Tuesday that the investigation is still very active. Some evidence still needs to be collected, other evidence is being tested and interviews are still being done, they said.