Overview
- On Oct. 17, 2024, the then 9-year-old fled to a Phoenix gas station, reported abuse by her father’s girlfriend, and was examined at Phoenix Children’s Hospital with a bloody lip and bruising.
- The police report says she described being hit with a brush and belt and forced to run laps, but investigators closed the case citing inconsistent accounts, no witnesses, and claims of self-harm.
- After the family moved to an off-grid yurt in Apache County in July 2025, Rebekah was found unresponsive and later died as prosecutors documented signs of long-term abuse and neglect.
- Richard Baptiste and Anicia Woods are jailed on first-degree murder and multiple child-abuse charges; both pleaded not guilty, are due back in court in January, and have a trial set for June.
- Arizona’s child-welfare agency has opened a review as lawmakers weigh reforms, and records reflect at least 12 prior reports raising concerns about the child’s safety.