(CNN) -- Elisa Baker, the stepmother of 10-year-old Zahra Baker, was indicted Monday on second-degree murder charges in the girl's death, a Catawba County, North Carolina, court clerk told CNN.
Zahra was reported missing from her Hickory, North Carolina, home in October, and some of her dismembered remains were found a month later.
Elisa Baker, 42, "desecrated the victim's body to hinder detection, investigation and prosecution of the offense," the indictment said.
The stepmother already was charged with obstruction of justice after police said she admitted to planting a fake ransom note. She told police the girl was killed two weeks before she was reported missing, according to search warrants.
"The defendant had a history and pattern of physical, verbal and psychological abuse of the victim," the indictment said. The indictment described Zahra as "very young, physically infirm, or handicapped."
The girl lost part of her left leg at age 5 and lost hearing in both ears while being treated for cancer.
"The defendant took advantage of a position of trust or confidence, including a domestic relationship, to commit the offense," the indictment said.
District Attorney Jay Gaither said Monday that the state "has no credible evidence to suggest that anyone other than Elisa Baker" was involved in the killing.
