Task force launched to review child safety reporting laws after death of 10-year-old known to DCS

PHOENIX — The death of a 10-year-old Apache County girl has prompted an Arizona lawmaker to launch a new task force to review the state’s child safety reporting laws, officials announced Wednesday.

Republican state Sen. Carine Werner announced the creation of the task force after a meeting with Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell last week that was focused on the death of Rebekah Baptiste.

Baptiste was found unconscious and severely beaten on July 27 in Holbrook. She died three days later at Phoenix Children’s.

Her father, Richard Baptiste, and his girlfriend, Anicia Wood, are facing first-degree murder, child abuse and kidnapping charges in connection with her death.

What will be the goal of the new task force?

The task force will be comprised of child welfare experts, law enforcement, prosecutors and legislators. It will be focused on strengthening Arizona’s child safety reporting laws and will also examine Baptiste’s case and other similar cases to see if proper protocols were followed.

The goal will be to create reform recommendations for legislators ahead of the 2026 legislative session, which is scheduled to begin in January.

“If the laws and protocols are written to prevent authorities from acting when children are in clear danger, then those laws and protocols must change,” Werner said in a press release. “This is a first step in making our state’s child safety system effective with protecting vulnerable kids from harm.”

Rebekah’s death came after her school told ABC15 that it had contacted the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) multiple times to report suspected abuse.

The family had been investigated at least five times by Phoenix Police, but neither Richard Baptiste nor Wood was ever taken into custody, according to DCS.

DCS also confirmed to KTAR News 92.3 FM that it had received multiple reports of abuse or neglect regarding Richard Baptiste and Anicia Wood starting in 2015.

However, only once was a report substantiated. A report about neglect in 2019 resulted in Rebekah Baptiste and her siblings being removed from their father’s custody and placed in out-of-home care.

Richard Baptiste regained custody of Rebekah and her siblings in 2022, according to DCS.

The department said it is working with law enforcement as Rebekah Baptiste’s death is investigated.

An independent review is also underway to determine what factors, if any, could have altered the result of this case.

Committee probing DCS after deaths of three children

Earlier this month, state lawmakers also created the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on the Department of Child Safety. This came after the deaths of Baptiste, 14-year-old Emily Pike and 16-year-old Zariah Dodd, who all had prior contact with DCS.

This committee will review state protocols for licensed group homes and child welfare oversight.

The first stakeholder meeting for the committee will be held on Sept. 3.

The new task force will use information from the committee to help craft its reform recommendations.

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