CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — Dozens of people will search the woods north of Lenoir Thursday morning where turkey hunters found a human skull.
Wednesday’s rain prevented investigators from conducting a large search near the area where remains were found Tuesday.
Deputies were posted at the end of the roadway to protect the search area and keep people away.
From her front stoop, Joyce Maki could see the patrol cars near where the skull was found in the Patterson community of Caldwell County. Like nearly everyone Eyewitness News spoke with Wednesday, she wondered whether the remains are those of 10-year-old Zahra Baker.
“I wonder if it is because they were up the road,” she said. “But they'll find out if it is, because it could possibly be someone else.”
The Sheriff's Office is calling the area a crime scene. The sheriff was cautious about talking about the remains but confirmed to Channel 9 there are possibly other bone fragments that need to be examined.
“We all want to put closure on Zahra, but right now it is unknown,” Sheriff Alan Jones said. “We hope it is but we want to make sure.”
The skull was found 20 to 30 yards from a dirt road by someone who was turkey hunting.
The search on Thursday will involve as many as 50 people looking along a half-mile stretch of Winkler Way for more evidence.
An autopsy revealed much of Zahra's body wasn't recovered in the fall of 2010, including her skull.
Her stepmother, Elisa Baker, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last September after cooperating with police by leading them to some of Zahra's remains, including at a site a few miles away.
For now, everyone is waiting for the test to be completed.
“A lot of people are talking about it,” area resident Phyllis Coffey said. “A lot of people are in shock up in here that it is this close to them.”