10-Year-Old Rebecca Baptiste Sought Help Months Before Alleged Murder

Recent police records reveal that Rebecca Baptiste, a 10-year-old girl believed to have been killed by her father and his girlfriend in Arizona, sought assistance months prior, raising alarms about her situation. An earlier report of abuse had been closed even though it documented her injuries.

A Phoenix police report outlines a 911 call made from a local gas station in October 2024, around nine months before Rebecca was discovered unresponsive. The girl had approached an attendant for help, prompting a police response.

According to the police report, Rebecca alleged she was physically punished by her father’s girlfriend, Anisia Woods, who used a brush and belt. Officers observed visible injuries, and she was transported to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for treatment of a bloody lip and bruises on her hands and feet.

However, despite this evidence and Rebecca’s account, the investigation was closed after her father, Richard Baptiste, and Woods claimed the injuries were self-inflicted.

Rebecca was later found unresponsive near a remote campsite outside Concho, Arizona, on July 27, 2025. Investigators reported that the family had been living off the grid in a yurt without electricity or running water, having moved from Phoenix earlier that month. They lived with minimal comforts, using thin mattresses and hauling water from a distant convenience store.

A detailed affidavit noted a history of escalating abuse and Rebecca’s attempts to escape. Records indicated she had jumped out of a window in Phoenix and made several attempts to flee after moving to Concho—one that even resulted in hospitalization.

Despite her deteriorating condition, Woods, who claimed to have nursing experience, insisted that Rebecca would be fine and delayed medical treatment. This, quite frankly, raises the question—what if she had acted sooner?

When first questioned, Woods and Baptiste denied knowing what caused Rebecca’s condition, suggesting she might have fallen. Yet medical professionals later observed severe abuse signs, including brain bleeding, burns, and numerous bruises and cuts.

During a desperate 911 call on July 27, Woods referred to Rebecca as his daughter and claimed he was administering life-saving breathing techniques; however, the dispatcher noted that critical chest compressions were not being performed as emergency services arrived, and the child was unable to be saved.

Investigators later reported Baptiste expressed no emotion when shown graphic images of the child’s injuries. The detective stressed that it seemed impossible for the parents to overlook the severity of Rebecca’s condition.

Baptiste eventually confessed to striking Rebecca with a belt as punishment but denied causing any head injuries. Authorities also discovered blood-stained clothing in the family’s tent, suggesting attempts to conceal evidence before calling for help.

Both Baptiste and Woods are facing first-degree murder charges along with multiple counts of child abuse that also involve Rebecca’s two younger brothers. Prosecutors have alleged ongoing physical and even sexual mistreatment.

Concerns about the welfare of the children had been expressed numerous times before Rebecca’s tragic passing. Reports indicate that Empower College Prep school officials reached out to the Arizona Department of Child Safety at least 12 times over a two-year span following instances like Rebecca’s unexplained absences.

Rebecca’s school honored her with a tribute on Facebook after her passing, highlighting her intelligence, kindness, and leadership qualities. They planted a tree in her memory within a rock garden, allowing students and staff to reflect on her life.

The Department of Child Safety has launched an investigation to determine whether sufficient measures were taken to protect Rebecca. Governor Katie Hobbs has vowed to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the case amid public outcry.

State Senator Karine Werner pointed to Rebecca’s situation as indicative of larger systemic failures within Arizona’s child protection framework. She described various instances of neglect and emphasized the necessity for reforms.