HICKORY, N.C., Nov. 10 (UPI) -- The search for Zahra Baker is focused on woods in a North Carolina county as investigators say they await test results on a bone found last week.
A month after the 10-year-old Hickory girl was reported missing, the search is focused on a 1-square-mile area about 10 miles northwest of the site where investigators found a bone they believe may be related to Zahra, the Hickory (N.C.) Daily Record reported Wednesday.
The bone, found one week ago, has been sent it to the medical examiner's office in Chapel Hill for testing.
"A rush has been put on any evidence relating to this case," Capt. Thurman Whisnant of the Hickory Police Department said. "The bone is of key importance. I know they're working on it right now."
Whisnant said the public needs to be patient.
"Even with a rush, it's not what you see on 'CSI,'" he said. "We're looking for any kind of confirmation on whether it's a human bone, and if we can extract a DNA profile."
Zahra was reported missing by her father, Adam Baker, on Oct. 9.
Her stepmother, Elisa Baker, 42, is in jail for allegedly writing a false ransom note in which she demanded $1 million, and has been indicted on one count of felony obstruction of justice.
Adam Baker was also arrested for several charges unrelated to the case. He is free on bond.