THE death of 10-year-old Wagga-born Zahra Baker has been shrouded in mystery ever since her father Adam Baker first reported her missing on October 9, 2010.
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As he prepares to re-enter Australia a free man, after being cleared of playing any role in her death, his former North Carolina neighbour Eddie Mitchell wants all of Australia to know the truth behind Mr Baker's past.
Speaking to the Advertiser yesterday from his home in the US, Mr Mitchell said in the three short months the Bakers lived opposite him in Hickory, Mr Baker had a string of serious allegations levelled against him.
"He is hoping to go back to Australia and this will all go away," Mr Mitchell said.
"People should know what this man is like."
He believes it is impossible that Mr Baker did not know his daughter was dead in the two weeks prior to when she was reported missing.
"I had a very similar-sized house to what they did," he said.
"I could give you a conducted tour of the house in 30 seconds.
"It seemed very odd to me that they were living in such a small house and he didn't know if Zahra was alive.
"You can't live that close and not know something happened.
"It just doesn't make sense."
Like many other Hickory residents, police searched below Mr Mitchell's house in the weeks following Zahra's death as the investigation swept through town.
He believes if the police had put more pressure on Mr Baker, the investigation may have unearthed the truth behind Zahra's final days.
"For some reason they (the police) have almost let him go," Mr Mitchell said.
"This woman, Elisa Baker, she is the woman from hell."
Mr Mitchell said that in the weeks following Zahra's death, Mr Baker appeared to have shown no remorse and was often seen standing out beside his mail box talking and laughing with a smile on his face.
"I was upset because of the way they both were."
