The stepmother of a 10-year-old disabled girl was charged on Monday with murder in the child's death in the U.S. state of North Carolina.
Zahra Baker, who lost hearing and part of her left leg at the age of five during cancer treating, was reported missing last October, according to media reports.
Officials on Monday released the latest detail in the case of Zahra: her head was missing. Since Zahra's reported missing, police have found some of her body parts in various locations, but never the skull.
An autopsy concluded some bones had "cut marks", indicating the little girl was dismembered by at "least two different cutting instruments."
The violent death sparked plenty of theories and colourful stories involving many family members and associates, but District Attorney Jay Gaither said all the credible evidence pointed to the stepmother Elisa Baker as Zahra's killer.
"At this time the state has no credible evidence to suggest that anyone other than Elisa Baker was involved in the murder of Zahra Baker," Mr. Gaither told reporters.
Authorities said Elisa desecrated Zahra's remains to cover up the slaying.