Girl, 9, Jumped Out Window and Begged for Help Escaping Stepmom. Months Later, She Was Found Dead on a Highway

Girl, 9, Jumped Out Window and Begged for Help Escaping Stepmom. Months Later, She Was Found Dead on a Highway

Police reports allege Rebekah Baptiste suffered abuse for months leading up to her July murder

Samira Asma-Sadeque

Wed, December 31, 2025 at 10:36 PM UTC

2 min read

Apache County Sheriff's Office Rebekah Baptiste — Apache County Sheriff's Office
Rebekah Baptiste

NEED TO KNOW

Rebekah Baptiste was found with signs of severe signs of torture, burn marks and signs of abuse to her genitals in July
Her father and stepmother have been charged with murder in connection to her killing
Months beforehand, she allegedly tried to escape from her home, according to published reports

A slain Arizona child who was found unresponsive on a highway in July had tried to escape her allegedly abusive household a few months prior, according to newly released reports.

Rebekah Baptiste, 10, died on July 30, three days after she was found unresponsive by Holbrook, Ariz. police at the intersection of two highways, according to the Apache County Sheriff's Office, AZ Family, ABC 15 and 12 News reported at the time.

Her father Richard Baptiste and stepmother Anicia Woods were arrested in connection with Rebekah's death.

Apache County Sheriff's Office Anicia Woods (left); and Richard Baptiste. — Apache County Sheriff's Office
Anicia Woods (left); and Richard Baptiste.

Authorities say their investigation soon found a documented history of alleged violence towards Rebekah in the family home, but child services had allegedly failed to take any action.

During one such instance, in October 2024, Rebekah, then 9, jumped out the window of the second floor of her residence, fled to a nearby gas station and begged for help, alleging to a manager that she was being abused by her stepmother, AZ Family and FOX 10 Phoenix reported this week, citing authorities.

When authorities responded to the incident, Richard and Woods allegedly told them her injuries were self-inflicted, per police records cited by FOX 10 Phoenix.

She was returned to their custody.

Less than a year later, she was found unresponsive on the highway, her toenails removed and exhibiting signs of severe torture, prosecutors said in court in August, AZ Family and ABC 15 reported at the time. She was severely malnourished, per authorities.

“She had bruises from head to toe. There were injuries to her vaginal and anus area," Kole Soderquist of the Apache County Sheriff’s Office said in court in September, per AZ Family.

Rebekah's school had contacted child services 12 times before she was killed, but the calls resulted in no meaningful actions, AZ Family previously reported.

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Richard and Woods have each been charged with murder and several counts of child molestation and child abuse, per online court records reviewed by PEOPLE.

Online records did not indicate plea or attorney information for either of them.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

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