'There is not a day that goes by': Teachers remember Rebekah Baptiste as DCS faces lawsuit
Mother files wrongful death suit against AZ DCS
A new wrongful death lawsuit targets the Arizona Department of Child Safety a year after 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste died following severe abuse. FOX 10's Nicole Krasean has the details.
PHOENIX - A year after 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste died following severe abuse, a new wrongful death lawsuit is targeting the Arizona Department of Child Safety.
Her father and his girlfriend face murder charges, but the suit claims inaction by DCS contributed to her death.
This lawsuit was filed on behalf of Rebekah's biological mother – it's important to note that she did not have custody of Rebekah. A 2019 report to DCS says she exposed a child to substances during pregnancy.
Rebekah and her siblings were removed from the home while a custody battle played out. The children were returned to their father in 2022.
Richard Baptiste and his girlfriend face first-degree murder charges in the death of 10-year-old Rebekah.
What they're saying:
In this whole ordeal, it was Rebekah's teachers who repeatedly called in to report concerns about her wellbeing.
"There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about Rebecca," said Penny Roubison, Rebekah Baptiste's third grade teacher.
One year after Rebekah's death, her former teachers at Empower College Prep in Phoenix say she is missed by everyone at the school.
"Rebekah's with all of us still," said Phenicia Swalley, Rebekah Baptiste's fourth grade teacher. "She's present in the classroom, she's kind of here in the room with us sometimes, so I have a little memorial in the room for her."
Richard Baptiste, and his girlfriend, Anicia Woods
Baptiste's father, Richard Baptiste, and his girlfriend, Anicia Woods, are both facing first-degree murder charges in connection with her death.
Educators at Rebekah's school made 12 different reports to DCS regarding concerns over her safety. DCS was criticized for the inaction in a newly filed wrongful death lawsuit.
Dig deeper:
Meanwhile, Arizona Sen. Carine Werner says Rebekah's case was an integral part of DCS reform legislation passed at the Arizona Capitol this past session.
"One of the things that we've talked about multiple times is that 12 phone calls that came in to DCS from her school and what we learned is that the people that were making the phone calls did not have the answers, they could not answer DCS the questions when they asked because they hadn't seen it, the information had been passed along, and so we worked on that, and we changed the legislation, so the individual with direct knowledge has to be the one making the phone call," Werner said.
Sen. Werner also penned legislation regarding how repeated reports are handled within the agency.
Rebekah Baptiste: DCS gives timeline of reports made before girl's death
After Rebekah Baptiste's death on July 30, the Arizona Department of Child Safety released a timeline of its involvement with her family, which dates back to 2015.
"If there are four or more calls in less than 12 months on any individual child, it gets moved to someone with two or years of experience, somebody with advanced forensic interview training, so we're getting a fresh set of eyes on those cases," Werner said.
Educators who love Rebekah are grateful for the chance to see these changes made in her honor.
"There were some things that took place, some positive things that came out of this in terms of systems and procedures. Obviously, we want to just continue to protect all kids, everybody deserves it, they're children," said Becky Jones, K-8 school director at Empower College Prep.
Rebekah Baptiste begged for help months before alleged murder, report says
Newly released police records show 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste sought help at a gas station nine months before her death, but investigators closed the abuse probe after her father and his girlfriend claimed her injuries were self-inflicted.