North Carolina child protective services investigated tips disabled Australian girl Zahra Baker was being abused four times in the nine months before her murder and dismemberment, an investigation has found.
The State Child Fatality Review by the North Carolina Division of Social Services points to a number of flaws in the system that failed to save 10-year-old Zahra.
Zahra's father, Adam Baker, reported her missing on October 11, 2010, from the family's Hickory home and her dismembered remains were found scattered in bushland soon after.
Zahra's American stepmother, Elisa Baker, was arrested and jailed for 18 years after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in 2011.
"There were important pieces of information missing at the time case decisions were made at the completion of the assessment," the report released on Wednesday states.
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The information could have been obtained by photographing the physical injury that was reported, checking prescription drug usage by parents and caretakers, and a face-to-face interview with Mr Baker, the report finds.
"During the July 28, 2010 assessment, additional actions were needed to ensure that all relevant information was secured, including ... conducting adequate research on the origin of the bruises on the child," the report states.
However, the report concludes it could not be known what impact its recommendations could have had if they had been in place before Zahra's murder.
Mr Baker has returned to Australia.
Wagga Wagga-born Zahra had a tough life, including having her left leg amputated at the age of five because of bone cancer.
Mr Baker decided to move to the US with Zahra in 2008 after he met Elisa Baker online.
