"Although nothing is being ruled out at this point, there have been details that have surfaced in the past 12 hours indicating that a stranger abduction is less likely than once anticipated," Hickory police said in a statement obtained by CNN on Sunday.
The girl's stepmother, Elisa Baker, has been arrested on charges unrelated to the child's disappearance, according to media reports.
Police have been looking for Zahra Clare Baker since Saturday afternoon, when her father, Adam Baker, and her stepmother reported her missing to police. Adam Baker reportedly told police he last saw his daughter sleeping in her bed at about 2:30 a.m. He said he and his wife slept in on Saturday and did not notice she was missing until about 2 p.m., The Associated Press reported.
Authorities immediately issued an Amber Alert and conducted an extensive search of the area, but they were unable to locate any sign of Zahra, according to the Charlotte Observer. Police say Zahra is hearing impaired and has an artificial left leg, as a result of bone cancer. The FBI has since been called to assist in the investigation.
"It is highly uncharacteristic for her to leave home without her hearing aids," Hickory police Capt. Thurman Whisnant told the Hickory Daily Record. "According to the interviews we've conducted, it's very unlikely for her to leave her house without her parents."
A small fire was reported at the Baker residence the morning Zahra went missing, further adding to the mystery surrounding the case, police say. Authorities have yet to comment on whether the two incidents are connected.
On Sunday, police arrested Elisa Baker on multiple charges, including writing worthless checks, larceny and failure to appear, and three counts of communicating threats.
Adam Baker told "Good Morning America" today that he hopes his wife is not involved in his daughter's disappearance.
"I wouldn't like to think so," Baker said. "[But], on what I've heard so far, it could be possible."
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Hickory police Chief Tom Adkins also appeared on "Good Morning America" today. He said he was not ready to rule out any suspects in the case."As the time progresses, we might be able to rule out folks. But right now, every possibility is out there," Adkins said.
Zahra is white, 5 feet, 1 inch tall and 85 pounds, according to reports. She has brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a camouflage T-shirt and black knee-length tights.
Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the Hickory Police Department at 828-328-5551.