AZ - Rebekah Baptiste, 10, killed by father and girlfriend - Holbrook, 27 July 2025

[tlcya]

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/video/1716186

the cases of the to defendants have now been combined. The judge allowed Baptiste's attorney to be removed as counsel because of an unexplained conflict. They return to court in November. A new attorney was assigned to defendant Baptiste.

 

[tlcya]

Court records show a client of Baptiste's original counsel was listed on a witness list.

Those documents said the person was ultimately removed from the list, but Brewer believed this was still a conflict.

"Usually, you look and see if you have any conflicts before you take a case," said Attorney Ben Taylor. "But sometimes conflicts arise in the middle of the case, and you have to go to the Judge and ask to withdraw from the case."
Trial date not yet set, new attorney appointed in Rebekah Baptiste murder case

 

[tlcya]

Rebekah Baptiste | Arizona Department of Child Safety

Hoping whoever prepared Rebekah's fatality summary report put more care, time and effort into the report than whoever prepared the one in Parker Scholtes case.

 

[tlcya]

In a recent one-on-one with ABC15, Werner expressed that legislation would be influenced by ongoing investigations, particularly noting the case of Rebekah Baptiste. "I did meet with DCS this week, and we went over some reports that have come back related to the investigations around the Rebekah Baptiste case
[snip]
"The deaths of Emily Pike, Zariah Dodd, and Rebekah Baptiste should be a wake-up call for us all." She continued to lay bare the tragic consequences of system failures in a news release, "These tragedies make it painfully clear that when our child protection systems–both state and tribal–fail, the consequences can be horrific. We cannot allow these failures to repeat."

Arizona Lawmakers to Scrutinize Child Welfare System After Tragic Deaths, Senator Werner Leads Reform Efforts

 

[tlcya]

The Arizona Superior Court on Monday set the June 2, 2026, trial date for Richard Baptiste, Rebekah’s father, and his girlfriend Anicia Woods.

All parties in the case agreed to the June 2 date. However, their next scheduled court appearance is set for January.
Trial date set for 2 accused in Rebekah Baptiste murder case

In court on Monday, the parties involved discussed developments, including disclosure and the lack of an autopsy.

"We still don't have that and that's holding up you know the stance of our defense and everything until we know what the cause of death was," said Wood's attorney R. John Lee.
[snip]
Despite this, a trial date of June 2, 2026, was set. The trial is set to run through July 31, but could run shorter.
Trial date set for suspects in young girl's murder in Apache County

good heavens, what is the hold up on the autopsy report? It's been 3.5 months

 

[TMich6811]

The Arizona Superior Court on Monday set the June 2, 2026, trial date for Richard Baptiste, Rebekah’s father, and his girlfriend Anicia Woods.

All parties in the case agreed to the June 2 date. However, their next scheduled court appearance is set for January.
Trial date set for 2 accused in Rebekah Baptiste murder case

In court on Monday, the parties involved discussed developments, including disclosure and the lack of an autopsy.

"We still don't have that and that's holding up you know the stance of our defense and everything until we know what the cause of death was," said Wood's attorney R. John Lee.
[snip]
Despite this, a trial date of June 2, 2026, was set. The trial is set to run through July 31, but could run shorter.
Trial date set for suspects in young girl's murder in Apache County

good heavens, what is the hold up on the autopsy report? It's been 3.5 months

Wow what in the world

 

[TwinkieDefense]

Nov 20, 2025 article

Exclusive: Arizona DCS director promises changes to agency after girl’s murder

The Arizona Department of Child Safety is implementing reforms following the murders of three children known to the system this year, including 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste.

www.azfamily.com

[…]

DCS Director Katie Ptak, who took the position in January, said in an exclusive interview with Arizona’s Family Investigates that a review of Baptiste’s case identified “systemic factors that contributed to challenges in the Department’s decision-making and case management.”

[…]