PHOENIX — The death of Rebekah Baptiste has sparked concern regarding the Arizona Department of Child Safety. ABC15 has been reaching out, trying to get records and information from the department involving the 10-year-old.
On Wednesday, DCS sent the ABC15 Investigators a list of cases involving the Baptiste family. DCS has had reports dating back to November 2023. But each time, the allegations were unsubstantiated, according to DCS.
The most recent report alleging "physical abuse" to Rebekah and her siblings by their dad's girlfriend, Anicia Woods, was received on May 19, 2025.
The specific allegation was that the children were "being spanked as a form of punishment."
"The Department made efforts to engage the family by visiting their home in Phoenix and the children’s school," said DCS in a statement.
"However, during the course of the investigation, the family moved to Concho, AZ, and the Department did not have updated contact information. The investigation was still ongoing when the near fatality report was received on July 27, 2025."
Richard Baptiste and Anicia Woods have been charged with murder and child abuse in Rebekah’s death.
The police body-cam video shows police meeting the family on July 27 at a highway intersection in Holbrook. Police found Rebekah unresponsive and severely injured. First responders detected a pulse, and took Rebekah was taken to a hospital in Winslow. She was later transported to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where she died three days later.
ABC15 recently visited the remote area in Apache County where the family moved. Court documents said the family made the move in early July.
The ABC15 Investigators continue to go through the information sent by DCS, which includes a dozen prior reports between 2015-2025 concerning the Baptiste family.
The department also included a lengthy statement in their response. A portion is included below:
"We acknowledge that over the years members of the community have contacted the DCS hotline in regards to the Baptiste family and have expressed frustration that some of their calls did not meet the legal criteria for an investigation or for removal of the children from the home. While we understand their frustrations, the Department is a statutory agency that is bound by Arizona law and codes. That means DCS cannot investigate any calls to our hotline that do not meet the strict legal criteria, and calls such as those reporting truancy or crimes committed against children by anyone other than a parent, guardian, or custodian. Similar strict legal standards apply to when DCS can remove a child from their parents.
“Like law enforcement agencies, DCS must have strong evidence before taking a child from their home. For example, law enforcement agencies investigated the Baptiste family at least five times, according to the Phoenix Police Department, yet no arrests for child abuse or neglect were ever made. The reason for this is because there was not sufficient evidence to support the allegations. Likewise, DCS investigated the Baptiste family multiple times, however, there was not sufficient evidence to support removing the children in most of the cases."
The reports released Wednesday by DCS say Rebekah and her siblings were removed from the parents because of the allegations the mother was exposing the children to drugs during her pregnancy. Then, three years later in 2022, the courts granted the father, Richard Baptiste, physical custody.
Just a year later, in November 2023, DCS received a report, alleging physical abuse by Rebekah’s father and his girlfriend, Anicia Woods. The allegation was Rebekah was scratched by Woods. An investigator, who visited the home, determined “the child was not in
present or imminent danger.” And DCS did not find any evidence to support the claim so it was unsubstantiated. That case was closed in December 28, 2023.
One month later, on January 30, 2024, the department received another report alleging neglect. DCS says Mesa Police conducted a forensic interview with the children in February 2024. DCS said the allegation was unsubstantiated.
One month later, another report came in on February 13, 2024, alleging physical abuse to a child by Woods. The report alleged the child had a scratch on the neck that was caused by Woods. The DCS investigator did not find evidence to support the allegation. The family was provided a list of resources, according to DCS, and the case was closed.
Six months later, in September 2024, there was another complaint alleging abuse. The report alleged the child had a scratch on the neck caused by Woods and a bump on the head. DCS did not find evidence to support the allegation.
One month later, in October 2024, the department received a report of neglect, alleging Rebekah was “ observed with marks on her hands and feet, and that the children were disciplined through exercise.” DCS conducted a home visit and did not find evidence to support the allegation.
Then, in January 2025, another allegation of neglect, saying Richard Baptiste would make his daughter run as a form of punishment and she was not allowed to use the bathroom or take water breaks. DCS did not find evidence to support the allegations.
Three months later, in May 2025, a call came to DCS saying the children were being punished by being spanked. The department said they tried to visit the family, but they had moved and DCS did not have updated contact information for them.
DCS said that investigation was still ongoing when the near-fatality report was received about Rebekah on July 27.
