HICKORY, N.C. (AP) -- Authorities were trying to determine whether a prosthetic leg investigators have found is that of a missing North Carolina girl, police said Wednesday.

Hickory Police Maj. Clyde Deal said searchers found the leg at a home where the stepmother of 10-year-old Zahra Clare Baker's once lived. The girl had an artificial leg because she lost hers to bone cancer. Zahra, who also uses hearing aids, was reported missing Oct. 9 and authorities believe she is dead.

Deal said the prosthetic leg was discovered Tuesday afternoon near some brush in Caldwell County.

Zahra's stepmother, Elisa Baker, 42, has been charged with obstruction of justice. Police said she acknowledged to writing a bogus ransom note found at the scene of a fire in the family's back yard on the day her stepdaughter was reported missing.

The girl's father, Adam Baker, 33, was arrested Monday. He is facing one count each of assault with a deadly weapon and failure to return rental property, two counts of communicating threats and five counts of writing worthless checks, authorities said. They are not related to his missing daughter's case.

Authorities in recent weeks have combed wooded areas and a landfill for evidence or her body.

Deal said Tuesday that Elisa Baker was taken earlier this week to a home where she once lived. At the time, he did not elaborate.

Hickory police also said Tuesday that investigators seized a mattress found by workers at a Caldwell County landfill. Deal said the mattress will be tested for DNA evidence.


AUDIO | Listen To Zahra Baker 911 Call

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Tuesday, investigators seized a mattress at the Foothills Environmental (Caldwell County Landfill) after employees discovered the mattress when they were regrading the area that was searched last week. This mattress possessed DNA evidence that will be tested in the future to confirm if it is involved in the Zahra Baker case.

Hickory Deputy Chief Major Clyde Deal said Tuesday that Elisa Baker has been talking to investigators, and earlier this week was taken to a home in Caldwell County where she once lived. Deal would not elaborate, but said police were approached by her lawyer that she wanted to help.

The 42-year-old Baker has been charged with obstruction of justice. Police say she admitted writing a bogus ransom note found at the scene of a fire in the family's back yard on the day Zahra Clare Baker was reported missing.

Authorities think the girl is dead.

The girl's father, 33-year-old Adam Baker, was arrested Monday on unrelated charges.