Newly Released Records Reveal 10-Year-Old Girl Pleaded for Help Months Before Alleged Murder
PHOENIX, Ariz. — Newly disclosed police records have shed light on the tragic case of 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste, who begged for help months before she was allegedly killed by her father and his girlfriend. The documents reveal a disturbing timeline of abuse and missed intervention opportunities that culminated in the girl’s death in July 2025.
According to a police report obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix, in October 2024, Rebekah approached a gas station clerk in Phoenix and pleaded for assistance. The report details that officers responding to the scene found the child visibly injured. She told them that Anicia Woods, her father’s girlfriend, had struck her with a brush and a belt as punishment and forced her to run laps and endure other physical discipline for “acting out.”
Officers documented bruising on her hands and feet and a bloody lip. Rebekah was transported to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for treatment. Despite these injuries and the child’s statements, the case was closed after her father, Richard Baptiste, and Woods claimed the injuries were self-inflicted. This decision has since raised concerns among child welfare advocates and law enforcement officials about the adequacy of protective responses in abuse cases.
Less than a year later, on July 27, 2025, Rebekah was found unresponsive near a remote campsite outside Concho, Arizona, where the family had relocated earlier that month. Investigators described the family’s living conditions as off-grid in a yurt without electricity or running water. They survived by hauling water in plastic jugs from a convenience store 15 miles away and slept on thin mattresses on the floor.
A 36-page probable-cause affidavit from the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office detailed escalating abuse and multiple escape attempts by Rebekah, including an incident where she jumped out of a window while still living in Phoenix. After moving to Concho, she made several attempts to flee, even on the day she was taken to the hospital.
Despite Rebekah’s visible physical decline, including being too weak to drink from a straw, Woods, who claimed to have nursing experience, reportedly told investigators she believed Rebekah “would be fine” and did not seek immediate medical care. Medical professionals later identified extensive signs of abuse, including a brain hemorrhage, burn marks, missing toenails and hair, and numbness.
Both Woods and Baptiste initially denied knowledge of what caused Rebekah’s condition, suggesting she might have fallen. However, the investigation revealed a pattern of severe neglect and physical abuse. The couple now faces murder charges in connection with Rebekah’s death.
This case has drawn attention to the challenges faced by child protective services and law enforcement in identifying and intervening in abuse situations. The earlier case closure, despite documented injuries and the child’s pleas for help, highlights potential gaps in the system.
Child welfare experts emphasize the importance of thorough investigations and follow-up in abuse reports. The Children’s Bureau under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides guidelines and oversight for state child protection agencies, aiming to prevent such tragedies.
As the investigation continues, authorities are reviewing protocols and responses to ensure better protection for vulnerable children. The community and child advocacy groups are calling for reforms to prevent similar cases in the future.
For more information on child abuse prevention and reporting, the Child Welfare Information Gateway offers resources and support.
The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and Phoenix Police Department continue to cooperate in the ongoing investigation, while prosecutors prepare for trial proceedings against Richard Baptiste and Anicia Woods.
This heartbreaking case serves as a somber reminder of the critical need for vigilance and responsiveness in child welfare and law enforcement efforts nationwide.
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