Evil child-killer leaves veteran journalist Liz Hayes stunned
Liz Hayes has sat across from some of the world's biggest superstars in her role on 60 Minutes.
She's also sat down with some of Australia's worst criminals – murderers, rapists and con-artists – and for the most part, nothing much ruffles the feathers of the down-to-earth girl from Taree.
Yet in the latest episode of Gary Jubelin's I Catch Killers podcast, Hayes admits there was one interview that left her virtually speechless, so depraved was the person she was speaking with.
'Elisa Baker was the stepmother of Zahra Baker,' she begins.
Zahra Baker was a 10-year-old Australian girl who made headlines around the world back in 2010 when her father's new wife – with whom she and her dad lived in North Carolina, USA – reported her missing.
Watch the video in the player above
Zahra's life had been a challenging one. Born in Wagga Wagga in 1999, Zahra's mum Emily gave up full custody to her father Adam when she was just eight months old, after a battle with post-partum depression.
Five years later, Zahra was diagnosed with cancer, and as a result of treatment had a leg amputated and required hearing aids. Shortly after her cancer went into remission in 2008, her father Adam moved Zahra to the US, to live with his new partner Elisa – whom he'd met online.
Just two years later, little Zahra would be dead – murdered by her stepmother who pleaded guilty in 2011 to second-degree murder and dismemberment, having discarded parts of the disabled schoolgirl's body in surrounding bushland.
'I interviewed her and I swear to God, that woman … wow,' Hayes exclaims.
'I did come away going, wow, there's no part of her that's taking responsibility for this, even though she pleaded guilty. She's not taking responsibility for this at all. She kept going on about how she didn't do it, and she's so sad, and she misses Zahra. Ugh.'
Baker, who has claimed since pleading guilty that she only did so to avoid the death penalty and in fact is innocent of Zahra's murder, is currently serving a 28-year sentence and may walk free before her 70th birthday.
'Her own lawyer told her: 'the evidence is so overwhelming that there's not a chance for you here,'' says Hayes.
'But I was shocked at how hard she was going to go, claiming 'I didn't do this' … well then who did?' Hayes continues.
'I just thought at the time – my God, I just don't know if I can listen to this. I came away at the time just going … ugh. I just don't understand how anyone could do that to a little girl. Killing is one thing but mutilating them, cutting them up, hiding the pieces in the bush … I just can't get my head around that stuff.'
Hayes admits that she was also shocked that a woman had been able to commit such a grisly crime, in spite of understanding that she shouldn't be.
'It's a big step for a woman,' she says, while Jubelin responds 'it's a big step for anyone I think, cutting a body up like that.'
'I think there's a misconception that women can't commit those kinds of violent crimes,' he continues, 'but they can't because I've seen enough of it myself. But even a jury finds it difficult to convict a person who's sitting there looking like their mum.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
13 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Family of alleged murder victim Trevor Doyle hold candlelight vigil
The family of an Aboriginal man found dead in a public park in Brisbane's south have paid tribute to the 29-year-old, remembering him as a 'kind, sassy and selfless' man. The body of Trevor Doyle was found on a path in Reserve Park on Gunungai Dr by a local resident on Wednesday last week, sparking a major police investigation. Police allege he was killed by another man who met up with Mr Doyle at the park. The 28-year-old man has been charged with murder, and domestic violence and drug offences. On Tuesday, the family of the slain Brisbane man held a candlelight vigil to celebrate his life, gathering to share stories and play Mr Doyle's favourite songs. His cousin Suzanne Musson told Seven News: ' (He was) a proud gay man. A proud Aboriginal man. A proud Australian man'. 'He'd belt out Beyonce with confidence like no one else,' she said, despite not being able to 'sing to save himself'. Mr Doyle's sister Zoey said she would miss 'not having the rest of (her) life with my brother'. 'He's not going to know my children, and my children won't know him,' she said. A GoFundMe fundraiser which has been set up in the wake of Mr Doyle's death, in order to raise money for his family to lay him to rest. It has so far raised almost $2000. The family also thanked the Queensland Police Service for their efforts and compassion. Investigations into Mr Doyle's death are ongoing, police said on Sunday.
News.com.au
36 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Entice victims with rapid wealth': Scammers' celebrity tactic to steal millions
Australians are falling victim to a particular type of scam that has already cost those being duped in one state $10m since the start of the year. WA ScamNet figure shows Australians are increasingly being scammed by fake celebrity endorsements. Since the start of 2024, there have been 76 West Australian victims who have reported handing over nearly $19.4m to fake scams. In 2025, scammers have siphoned $10.8m from 48 WA people who have been fooled. Consumer Protection commissioner Trish Blake pointed out that scammers were getting better at using celebrity images to dupe vulnerable Australians. 'The use of celebrity images, increasingly in deepfake videos, to endorse investment schemes is a deliberate tactic by scammers to fabricate legitimacy and entice victims with promises of rapid wealth,' Ms Blake said. From there, they ask for small payments and a few personal identification details to set up an account. The scammers will give small returns and gifts to gain the trust of the target. Once they have gained the victim's trust, the scammers demand larger and larger payments through cryptocurrencies and direct bank transfers to pay for fictitious fees and taxes. 'Being told to deposit more money to access your funds, citing taxes or other fees is a major red flag of an investment scam, so too are pressure tactics like being told your account will be frozen if you don't invest more,' Ms Blake said. Ms Blake warned that scammers were also returning for a second strike on victims. 'After falling victim to an investment scam, many are again approached by so-called 'recovery experts', claiming they can retrieve lost funds,' she said. 'These follow-up scams prey on hope and desperation and can lead to even greater losses.' Another way scammers are ripping off WA victims is through fake cryptocurrency trading, which is sold as low risk and high returns. 'Crypto scammers thrive on market complexity, using confusion and fake 'insider knowledge' to trick you,' Ms Blake said. 'By posing as trusted advisers, they call their victims regularly, offering to set up their trading profiles to gain access to devices while manipulating them into handing over their superannuation to invest. 'If you're curious about crypto, protect yourself by conducting thorough independent research – investigate tokens and exchanges online, read websites critically, and be highly suspicious of promises of high returns with low risk.'
News.com.au
36 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Perth family accused of squatting in $2m Shenton Park home
A multimillion-dollar home in the leafy western suburbs of Perth has become big news after its owners claimed the young family living there were actually squatters. The one-storey brick cottage on Keightley Rd, Shenton Park has been renovated since its most recent occupiers moved in. But the family of its elderly owner say schoolteacher Jeremy Hubbard and musician Rachel Savage have been living in the $2 million property rent free and without any agreement. 'At no time has she authorised anybody to live in this property, period,' the owner's nephew Greg Preston told 7News. 'No rent's being paid, they're not authorised, she's never met them. There's no lease.' Local weekly newspaper The Post broke the story in its August 9 edition, revealing the couple and their baby was allegedly living there without the knowledge of owner Marliyn Watson. The paper reported a woman told its reporter 'we are renting' during a brief exchange at the house in November. According to social media posts that now appear deleted, Mr Hubbard was employed as the head of Year 9 at The King's College in Wellard last year. The school has been contacted for comment. His wife described herself on a website as a pop singer/songwriter who has performed in Nashville and Los Angeles. MORE: Half of renters experiencing financial difficulties It is believed they are no longer living in the 107-year-old home, after removalists reportedly were seen there on Saturday following media coverage of the situation. Ms Watson, now 81, moved out of the home due to hail damage in 2010, with Google street view images showing the property's front garden fell into a state of disrepair over the years. Between March 2022 and March 2024, a new white picket fence appears to have been installed along with plants and fresh licks of paint on the veranda posts. Neighbour Mitchell McArthur told 7News he had assumed those living in the property were its owners. 'I park on this street all the time and we've never really seen much activity at the house in terms of visitors or lights on,' he said. Mr Preston claimed to have found a letter sent to Ms Watson at her Mandurah home, which was allegedly written by Ms Savage in 2022. 'I would like to buy your house in Shenton Park,' it read, The Post reported. 'I think it would be a beautiful home and I would be honoured to acquire it and care for it.' Mr Preston claimed that 'instead of buying the house they just thought they'd move into the house without any rent, or any purchase agreement'. Neighbours told The Post that while vacant the property had previously attracted undesirables and there had been some 'scary situations'. They said Mr Hubbard and Ms Savage 'have been peaceful neighbours since they occupied the property'. 'The property has been cared for and the garden looked after.' Movers were seen removing furniture from the property over the weekend, before cleaners arrived. An older man seen at the property declined to answer questions when approached by 7News. The story has attracted widespread interest in Perth and sparked debate about the issue of vacant homes during the nation's housing crisis. 'Not saying they're in the right, but the house would have been vacant for 15 years if they didn't move in. At least a family is getting a home,' one person wrote on The Post's Facebook page. 'Good on the squatters for filling (and looking after!) an empty house in this housing crisis,' another commenter said. Others said it was the owner's right to leave a home vacant. Under West Australian law a person can claim legal ownership of land if they have occupied it for at least 12 years.
