PHOENIX — The death of a 10-year-old Apache County girl has prompted an Arizona senator to launch a new task force to review the state’s child safety reporting laws, officials announced Wednesday.
Republican 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 and child abuse charges in connection with her death.
The girl’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.
“Rebekah’s death is the most painful reminder that when red flags are raised, they must never be ignored,” Werner said in a press release.
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 the release. “This is a first step in making our state’s child safety system effective with protecting vulnerable kids from harm.”
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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