Newly released police records show 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste begged for help at a gas station in October 2024 and described being physically punished by her father's girlfriend. Officers documented injuries and she was treated at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, but that early abuse inquiry was closed after adults claimed the wounds were self-inflicted. Rebekah was found unresponsive near a Concho campsite on July 27, 2025; a 36‑page affidavit alleges escalating physical and sexual abuse. Both adults now face first‑degree murder and multiple child abuse charges while Arizona reviews prior DCS handling of reports.
‘Please Help’: Records Show Girl Begged For Aid Months Before Alleged Killing; Earlier Abuse Report Closed
Girl begged for help months before alleged killing by father, girlfriend — earlier abuse case closed: report
Newly released police records show 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste begged strangers for help months before she was later found unresponsive and died. The records reveal an earlier abuse inquiry was closed despite visible injuries and the child’s account of being physically punished.
October 2024: A Child Pleads For Help
According to a Phoenix police report obtained by Fox 10 Phoenix, a 911 call was placed from a gas station in October 2024 after Rebekah approached an attendant and asked for help. Responding officers wrote that she told them her father’s girlfriend, Anicia Woods, had struck her with a brush and a belt and forced her to run laps and endure other corporal punishment for "acting out." Officers documented a bloody lip and bruising to her hands and feet and took Rebekah to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for treatment.
Officers recorded that Rebekah said she had been hit with a brush and a belt and was seeking help.
Despite those statements and visible injuries, investigators later closed the case after Rebekah’s father, Richard Baptiste, and Woods told police the wounds were self-inflicted, according to the report.
July 2025: Found Unresponsive In Remote Campsite
Rebekah was found unresponsive on July 27, 2025, near a remote campsite outside Concho, Arizona, where investigators say the family had been living off-grid in a yurt without electricity or running water. Authorities described harsh living conditions: thin mattresses on the floor and water hauled in jugs from a convenience store about 15 miles away.
A 36-page probable-cause affidavit filed by the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office lays out what detectives described as escalating abuse and repeated attempts by Rebekah to flee. Records show she previously jumped from a window while living in Phoenix and made multiple escape attempts after the move to Concho.
Medical examinations documented extensive injuries, including a brain hemorrhage, burn marks, missing toenails and clumps of hair, and numerous cuts and bruises. Investigators said the child at times appeared too weak to drink from a straw. Woods, who told detectives she had a nursing background, reportedly said she believed Rebekah "would be fine" and did not seek immediate medical attention when the girl showed serious signs of illness.
Investigation, Charges And Community Response
When first questioned at the scene, both Woods and Baptiste suggested Rebekah may have fallen. Detectives later reported finding bloody clothing inside the family’s tent that had been changed before emergency services were contacted. Authorities say Baptiste admitted striking Rebekah with a belt as punishment for running away but denied causing her head injuries.
Both Richard Baptiste and Anicia Woods now face first-degree murder charges and multiple counts of child abuse, including allegations involving Rebekah’s two younger siblings. Prosecutors have alleged ongoing physical and sexual abuse.
Concerns about the children’s welfare had been raised repeatedly before Rebekah’s death: school officials at Empower College Prep reportedly contacted Arizona’s Department of Child Safety (DCS) at least a dozen times over two years. DCS has launched an internal review to determine whether the agency failed to protect Rebekah adequately. Governor Katie Hobbs has pledged a full investigation, and state lawmakers are weighing reforms to the child protection system.
The school where Rebekah attended for two years remembered her as intelligent, compassionate and a natural leader. In her honor, staff and students created a small memorial including a pink-flowering tree and a rock garden.
Fox News Digital reported it reached out to DCS and the Phoenix Police Department for comment.
