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  • il y a 7 semaines
C'est une horreur absolue...Une petite fille de 10 ans a été retrouvée inconsciente, abandonnée sur une aire d’autoroute de l’Arizona, aux États-Unis. Souffrant de « graves blessures », elle a été transportée d’urgences à l’hôpital, où elle est morte trois jours plus tard, mercredi 30 juillet.

Entre-temps, les médecins n’ont pu que constater que cette enfant avait été « torturée ».

« Elle était entièrement noire et bleue de la tête aux pieds » en raison des ecchymoses qui lui recouvraient le corps, a rapporté son oncle, Damon Hawkins, à AZ Family.

Selon le procureur, la petite Rebekah souffrait de malnutrition et de déshydratation à son arrivée à l’hôpital. Elle avait perdu des ongles de pieds et présentait un « œil au beurre noir ».

« Les conclusions du médecin sont très préoccupantes en matière de maltraitance physique, d’abus sexuel et de torture sur enfant, un terme étonnamment fort et choquant pour un médecin », a insisté le procureur tandis que l’oncle de la petite fille a expliqué que la cause probable du décès était « une hémorragie » causée par ces coups.

Des coups qui lui auraient été portés par son propre père, Richard Baptiste, 32 ans, et sa nouvelle compagne, Anicia Woods, 29 ans. Tous deux ont été arrêtés et placés en détention provisoire. Ils sont poursuivis pour « meurtre », mais aussi « maltraitance infantile » sur la petite Rebekah et ses petits frères jumeaux.

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00:00But first, new details in a disturbing case out of Apache County.
00:04A 10-year-old girl murdered her father, one of two people arrested in connection to her death.
00:10He and his girlfriend appearing in court this morning.
00:13ABC 15's Ashley Holden listened in and heard from those who knew this little girl,
00:18calling her death preventable.
00:20Ashley, some of these details are just tough to hear.
00:23And that includes her former school administrators.
00:25There are the ones that are calling 10-year-old Rebecca Baptiste's death preventable.
00:30We want to warn you, some of these details in this story may be tough to hear.
00:35Over a long period of time, this child was subjected to some horrendous condition.
00:42In court, Apache County prosecutors describing the injuries of 10-year-old Rebecca Baptiste.
00:46I have marked, for the court's consideration, exhibits two, three, and four,
00:52which are excerpts from some of the hospital records regarding Rebecca, the victim who died,
00:59indicating both acute, so some very recent significant injuries that she sustains.
01:06Subdural hematomas, bruising up and down her entire body, missing toenails,
01:12and then also long-term care issues.
01:16While we still don't know her cause of death, a newly obtained police report says on July 27th,
01:21it was Rebecca's dad, Richard Baptiste, and his girlfriend, Anicia Woods, who called 911,
01:27saying Rebecca was not breathing, telling police she had run away and had been found by a neighbor.
01:32But both Richard and Woods were arrested.
01:34The little girl was taken to Phoenix Children's, where she died three days later.
01:38An actual medical diagnosis said that the above findings are highly concerning for child physical abuse,
01:45child sexual abuse, and torture.
01:47Prosecutors allege two other children in the home also had injuries.
01:50A new complaint says Rebecca's dad and Woods are now charged with first-degree murder and child abuse.
01:56Rebecca was an absolutely beautiful human.
02:01She was one of our best students.
02:03The Empower College Prep community left grieving.
02:06ABC 15 was told Rebecca and two of her siblings were students there
02:10until family says they recently moved out of the valley.
02:14Administrators say staff reported suspected abuse or neglect
02:17to the Arizona Department of Child Safety 12 times in the last year.
02:22In terms of what you guys did see, what kind of prompted you to report?
02:28On more than one occasion, and more than one of the Baptiste scholars shared that they felt unsafe
02:35or that they did not want to return home, they would make allegations and have markings on them
02:41that were evident, that aligned with the allegations that they made.
02:45Administrators say DCS told them the case had been assigned to an investigator at least four times,
02:51but now they want answers.
02:53Do you feel like the state let these kids down?
02:57Absolutely, we believe that the lack of absolute follow-through or investigation
03:04to support these kids and keep them safe both physically, psychologically, mentally, emotionally was not done.
03:13Richard Baptiste and Anicia Woods were granted a $1 million bond.
03:17They are set to be back in court for a preliminary hearing in early September.
03:22Back to you.
03:23Ashley, thanks.
03:23Our team coverage on this big story continues with ABC 15's Senior Investigator Melissa Blazius
03:28pressing the Department of Child Safety for answers.
03:31Melissa?
03:32Faye, there are so many questions tonight about who could have intervened
03:36and what more could have been done to prevent the horrible end to Rebecca Baptiste's life.
03:41Tonight, the Arizona Department of Child Safety is acknowledging
03:45that their workers did know the murdered 10-year-old and her family.
03:48We asked specifically about how many times they got complaints of abuse involving this little girl
03:53and the outcome of those investigations, but DCS is not yet giving us details of the extent of its involvement.
04:01However, DCS is promising a thorough review, issuing a statement saying,
04:05the goal is to identify and understand any systemic barriers that may have influenced the outcome
04:12and to implement data-driven systemic changes to prevent such tragedies in the future.
04:17Despite our expertise in child safety, DCS says we cannot predict the future
04:22and must operate within the boundaries of our legal authority.
04:27DCS also saying the department is collaborating with law enforcement on a joint investigation
04:32to ensure the people responsible for this heinous act are brought to justice.
04:36The Child Protection Agency is also saying,
04:39tragically, those who intend to harm children can sometimes evade even the most robust systems designed to protect them.
04:48And as Ashley Holden mentioned in her report just a few minutes ago,
04:51this family had been living in Phoenix for years,
04:53and then they abruptly moved to rural Apache County within the last few months.
04:58I'm Senior Investigator Melissa Balazius, ABC 15, Arizona.
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