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

YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Rebekah Baptiste was found in July with signs of severe torture, burn marks and signs of abuse on her genitals.

• Her father and stepmother were charged with murder in her death

• According to published reports, it is claimed that he tried to escape from his home months ago.

A murdered Arizona boy who was found unresponsive on a highway in July had tried to run away from his home where he was allegedly abusive several months earlier, according to newly released reports.

Rebekah Baptiste, The 10-year-old died July 30, three days after he was found unresponsive by Holbrook, Arizona police at the intersection of two highways, according to the Apache County Sheriff’s Office. AZ Family, ABC 15 And 12 News was reported at the time.

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

Authorities claimed the investigation quickly found a documented history of allegations of violence against Rebekah in the family home, but children’s services took no action.

In one such incident, in October 2024, Rebekah, then 9 years old, jumped from the second-story window of her home, fled to a nearby gas station, and begged a manager for help, claiming she was being abused by her stepmother. AZ Family And FOX 10 Phoenix he reported this week, citing officials.

When authorities responded, Richard and Woods allegedly said the injuries were their own doing, according to police records cited by FOX 10 Phoenix.

He was returned to their custody.

At his trial in August, prosecutors said he was found unresponsive on a highway less than a year later, with his toenails removed and showing signs of severe torture: AZ Family And ABC 15 was reported at the time. According to authorities, he was severely malnourished.

“There were bruises from head to toe. There were injuries to the vaginal and anal area,” Kole Soderquist of the Apache County Sheriff’s Office said in court in September. he said. AZ Family.

Rebekah’s school had contacted child services 12 times before her murder, but the calls did not result in anything meaningful. AZ Family has been reported previously.

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Richard and Woods were each charged with murder and multiple counts of child molestation and child exploitation, according to online court records reviewed by PEOPLE.

Online records did not contain defense or attorney information for either.

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

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

Read the original article People