Disturbing 911 Call Released After 10-Year-Old Girl Found on Arizona Highway; Father and Girlfriend Charged With Murder
Warning: This article contains details of child abuse that some readers may find upsetting.
Authorities in Arizona have charged a man and a woman with first-degree murder and child abuse following the death of 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste. Rebekah was found unresponsive on July 27 on a highway and passed away three days later.
Her father, 32-year-old Richard Baptiste, and his girlfriend, 29-year-old Anicia Woods, were arrested in connection with her death, according to Apache County court records.
A 911 call made on the day Rebekah was found has now been released. In the call, an unidentified woman—who sounded calm and unemotional—told dispatchers that Rebekah had “run away for the third time in a week” and that a neighbor had found her unresponsive. The caller stated she was performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while on the way to meet an ambulance.
Prosecutors allege that Rebekah had been “tortured” and bore signs of both physical and sexual abuse. Her uncle, Damon Hawkins, told local media that she was “black and blue from head to toe” with two black eyes when discovered. Investigators also believe a hemorrhage may have contributed to her death.
The Arizona Department of Child Safety confirmed it is collaborating with law enforcement on a joint investigation and emphasized its commitment to bringing those responsible to justice. Court documents describe the case as an extreme example of neglect and prolonged abuse.
Authorities have urged anyone with concerns about child welfare to contact the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). The hotline is available 24/7 in the U.S., Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
