The tragic case of 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste, who died under harrowing and abusive circumstances, has triggered a closer examination into the system meant to protect her. FOX 10 Phoenix revealed that repeated reports to the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) and police visitations preceded the girl’s death, with her father, Richard Baptiste, and his girlfriend, Anicia Woods, now facing first-degree murder charges.
Empower College Prep in Phoenix, where Rebekah was enrolled, became the center of an Apache County Sheriff’s Office investigation on Aug. 12. A doctor from Phoenix Children’s Hospital described the girl’s injuries as “torture,” and a 140-page report detailed her body covered with bruises. Empower College Prep’s director of student social services, Natalina Mariscal, stated, “Kiddos had shared that they didn’t feel safe going home,” reflective of reports and calls for help that went unheard. On campus, emotions run deep with anger, grief, and a determination for justice, “and while Rebekah was alive, her voice did not result in the protection that she needed,” Empower College Prep’s founder Brian Holman told FOX 10 Phoenix.
A separate report by Arizona’s Family paints a more granular picture of the abuse leading up to Rebekah’s death. Interviews conducted by the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office with the accused revealed disturbing instances of violence and neglect. Richard Baptiste purportedly spanked Rebekah with a belt after runaway attempts, described the use of restrictive discipline methods as a common practice, and deflected blame for her wide array of injuries claiming they were caused by falls or accidents, instead of abuse…