Bone Found in Search for Missing North Carolina Girl

Published November 03, 2010

| Associated Press

HICKORY, N.C. -- Police in Hickory say they've recovered a bone that may be related to the case of a missing 10-year-old girl.

A police statement issued Wednesday said the bone is being sent to the state medical examiner's office to see if it's linked to Zahra Baker, whose father reported her missing Oct. 9. The bone was recovered in neighboring Caldwell County, where the family lived until mid-September.

Police have already found a prosthetic leg identified as Zahra's.

Authorities say they believe the girl is dead. No one is charged in her disappearance.

The girl's stepmother, 42-year-old Elisa Baker, is jailed on an obstruction of justice charge. She admitted writing a bogus ransom note found at the scene of a fire in the family's backyard on the day Zahra was reported missing.

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U.S. Men Among 3 Accused in al-Shabab Terror-Funding Plot

Published November 03, 2010

| Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- A Missouri man and a Minnesotan are among three facing charges in a plot to funnel money to a Somalia terror group.

An indictment unsealed Wednesday accuses Mohamud Abdi Yusuf of St. Louis of providing material support to al-Shabab. Yusuf and Abdi Mahdi Hussein of Minneapolis also are accused of conspiring to structure financial transactions.

A third man, Duane Mohamed Diriye, is also charged and remains at-large.

The U.S. government alleges that from 2008 through at least July 2009, Yusuf used aliases in wiring funds to al-Shabab supporters in Somalia. Hussein allegedly worked a money-transferring businesses.

Both men made court appearances Tuesday. Yusuf's public defender declined comment, and it wasn't known if Hussein had an attorney.

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