11-17-2010, 02:29 AM
Hickory, North Carolina (CNN) -- Residents of Hickory, North Carolina, held a candlelight vigil to celebrate the life of Zahra Baker, the freckle-faced girl authorities discovered dead more than a month after she was reported missing.
Zahra would have turned 11 on Tuesday, police said.
"Thirty-nine days ago, most of us did not know Zahra Baker. But over more than a month, we have all fallen in love with her and become better people because of her," said Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkin.
At the vigil, people lit candles and prayed. They sang "Happy Birthday" and released white balloons and balloons that said "Happy Birthday."
Adkins spoke about the young girl's strength of spirit, her bubbling personality and the desire she had to be just like any other child. He did not address the investigation into her death.
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER:
Balloons flew and people cheered as the song ended, but the celebration for the girl - who would have turned 11 on Tuesday - was quickly followed by a chant from the crowd: "We want justice!" Many are angry.
Although police are investigating the case as a homicide, no one has been charged.
Adam Baker, in an interview Tuesday with WBTV, said, "there is no way in the world I would ever hurt my daughter."
Baker did not attend the vigil because he said he was afraid of what people would say to him. Instead, he watched a broadcast of the event. The station reported that he said he had nothing to do with disposing of Zahra's body.
"It's very hard to try to grieve for my daughter with everything that's going on," he said. "It's hard to do stuff without people looking at you, saying things."
vigil, and Zahra, age 8, dressed up like a princess at Camp Quality:
Zahra would have turned 11 on Tuesday, police said.
"Thirty-nine days ago, most of us did not know Zahra Baker. But over more than a month, we have all fallen in love with her and become better people because of her," said Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkin.
At the vigil, people lit candles and prayed. They sang "Happy Birthday" and released white balloons and balloons that said "Happy Birthday."
Adkins spoke about the young girl's strength of spirit, her bubbling personality and the desire she had to be just like any other child. He did not address the investigation into her death.
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER:
Balloons flew and people cheered as the song ended, but the celebration for the girl - who would have turned 11 on Tuesday - was quickly followed by a chant from the crowd: "We want justice!" Many are angry.
Although police are investigating the case as a homicide, no one has been charged.
Adam Baker, in an interview Tuesday with WBTV, said, "there is no way in the world I would ever hurt my daughter."
Baker did not attend the vigil because he said he was afraid of what people would say to him. Instead, he watched a broadcast of the event. The station reported that he said he had nothing to do with disposing of Zahra's body.
"It's very hard to try to grieve for my daughter with everything that's going on," he said. "It's hard to do stuff without people looking at you, saying things."
vigil, and Zahra, age 8, dressed up like a princess at Camp Quality: