Topline: Two people were charged with murder and child abuse following the death of 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste.
Published: August 12, 2025 7:30 am ET
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Photo of Rebekah Baptiste courtesy of Apache County Sheriff’s Department
APACHE COUNTY, AZ — Rebekah Baptiste, 10, died on July 30, a few days after she was found unresponsive on an Arizona highway. Her death has led to questions about several reports made to child services.
The Apache County Sheriff’s Office says Rebekah’s father, Richard Baptiste, and his girlfriend, Anicia Woods, face charges of first-degree murder and child abuse in the case.
Rebekah was found on July 27 at the intersection of two highways, according to reporting by AZ Family. She was dehydrated, malnourished, and had bruises on her body. The child was also missing her toenails.
Prosecutors told a court on August 4 that medical staff determined the child had been tortured, with signs of physical and sexual abuse.
The child’s uncle, Damon Hawkins, reported to AZ Family that Rebekah had two black eyes and was covered in bruises from head to toe.
Rebekah’s school, Empower College Prep, stated to ABC 15 that staff contacted the Department of Child Safety (DCS) on her behalf 12 times between November 2023 and January 2025. This included three calls within one week in January.
According to PEOPLE Magazine, a DCS official reported that the agency received five calls from the school over the past year. The agency said only one of these five calls met the standards for a formal report. The department did not say why the other four allegations did not meet the legal requirements for abuse or neglect. DCS also stated that no relatives had called the hotline since 2019 to report abuse.
The case against Baptiste and Woods proceeds in court, where both face charges of first-degree murder and child abuse. Records from Apache County do not yet list pleas or attorneys for the accused.
Arizona’s Department of Child Safety has begun a review of the case. The agency’s Safety Analysis Review Team will look for any systemic issues that may have affected the outcome and will seek to make changes to prevent future tragedies.
If you suspect child abuse, you can contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline. The number is 1-800-422-4453. The hotline is toll-free and confidential. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in more than 170 languages.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Arizona Child’s Death Follows School’s Repeated Calls to Child Services
Two people were charged with murder and child abuse following the death of 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste.
By Kate Byrd
Published: August 12, 2025 7:30 am ET
Photo of Rebekah Baptiste courtesy of Apache County Sheriff’s Department
APACHE COUNTY, AZ — Rebekah Baptiste, 10, died on July 30, a few days after she was found unresponsive on an Arizona highway. Her death has led to questions about several reports made to child services.
The Apache County Sheriff’s Office says Rebekah’s father, Richard Baptiste, and his girlfriend, Anicia Woods, face charges of first-degree murder and child abuse in the case.
Rebekah was found on July 27 at the intersection of two highways, according to reporting by AZ Family. She was dehydrated, malnourished, and had bruises on her body. The child was also missing her toenails.
Prosecutors told a court on August 4 that medical staff determined the child had been tortured, with signs of physical and sexual abuse.
The child’s uncle, Damon Hawkins, reported to AZ Family that Rebekah had two black eyes and was covered in bruises from head to toe.
Rebekah’s school, Empower College Prep, stated to ABC 15 that staff contacted the Department of Child Safety (DCS) on her behalf 12 times between November 2023 and January 2025. This included three calls within one week in January.
According to PEOPLE Magazine, a DCS official reported that the agency received five calls from the school over the past year. The agency said only one of these five calls met the standards for a formal report. The department did not say why the other four allegations did not meet the legal requirements for abuse or neglect. DCS also stated that no relatives had called the hotline since 2019 to report abuse.
The case against Baptiste and Woods proceeds in court, where both face charges of first-degree murder and child abuse. Records from Apache County do not yet list pleas or attorneys for the accused.
Arizona’s Department of Child Safety has begun a review of the case. The agency’s Safety Analysis Review Team will look for any systemic issues that may have affected the outcome and will seek to make changes to prevent future tragedies.
If you suspect child abuse, you can contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline. The number is 1-800-422-4453. The hotline is toll-free and confidential. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in more than 170 languages.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Arizona Child’s Death Follows School’s Repeated Calls to Child Services
Two people were charged with murder and child abuse following the death of 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste.
By Kate Byrd
Published: August 12, 2025 7:30 am ET
Photo of Rebekah Baptiste courtesy of Apache County Sheriff’s Department
APACHE COUNTY, AZ — Rebekah Baptiste, 10, died on July 30, a few days after she was found unresponsive on an Arizona highway. Her death has led to questions about several reports made to child services.
The Apache County Sheriff’s Office says Rebekah’s father, Richard Baptiste, and his girlfriend, Anicia Woods, face charges of first-degree murder and child abuse in the case.
Rebekah was found on July 27 at the intersection of two highways, according to reporting by AZ Family. She was dehydrated, malnourished, and had bruises on her body. The child was also missing her toenails.
Prosecutors told a court on August 4 that medical staff determined the child had been tortured, with signs of physical and sexual abuse.
The child’s uncle, Damon Hawkins, reported to AZ Family that Rebekah had two black eyes and was covered in bruises from head to toe.
Rebekah’s school, Empower College Prep, stated to ABC 15 that staff contacted the Department of Child Safety (DCS) on her behalf 12 times between November 2023 and January 2025. This included three calls within one week in January.
According to PEOPLE Magazine, a DCS official reported that the agency received five calls from the school over the past year. The agency said only one of these five calls met the standards for a formal report. The department did not say why the other four allegations did not meet the legal requirements for abuse or neglect. DCS also stated that no relatives had called the hotline since 2019 to report abuse.
The case against Baptiste and Woods proceeds in court, where both face charges of first-degree murder and child abuse. Records from Apache County do not yet list pleas or attorneys for the accused.
Arizona’s Department of Child Safety has begun a review of the case. The agency’s Safety Analysis Review Team will look for any systemic issues that may have affected the outcome and will seek to make changes to prevent future tragedies.
If you suspect child abuse, you can contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline. The number is 1-800-422-4453. The hotline is toll-free and confidential. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in more than 170 languages.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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