A chilling 911 call reveals the final moments of 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste, found unresponsive on a highway in Holbrook, Arizona, on July 27. She died three days later at Phoenix Children’s Hospital after enduring severe abuse by her father, Richard Baptiste, 32, and his girlfriend, Anicia Woods, 29.
Investigators found evidence of prolonged torture: brain hemorrhage, burn marks, missing toenails and hair, cuts, and bruises. Both adults face first-degree murder, kidnapping, and multiple child abuse charges. Rebekah’s younger siblings are now in state custody.
Family members and her school repeatedly reported co
ncerns to Arizona’s Department of Child Safety (DCS), but records indicate that many complaints were ignored or mishandled. Her uncle, Damon Hawkins, called the system’s failure “devastating” and warned that it may have contributed to her death.
The heartbreaking 911 recording captures the desperation of Rebekah’s final moments, highlighting urgent questions about systemic child protection and whether reforms can prevent similar tragedies.
