After 10-Year-Old Rebekah’s Death, Arizona Lawmakers Confront a Broken Child Welfare System

Arizona State Senator, Carine Werner, who in July, announced the formation of a new task force aimed at strengthening the state’s child abuse reporting laws; via Wikipedia.

As a family law firm based in Arizona, we at Harmony Law are heartbroken by the tragedy of 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste’s death. She was found unresponsive on July 27 near a highway in Holbrook, AZ. She passed away three days later at a hospital. Authorities later arrested her father and his girlfriend; they now face charges of first-degree murder and child abuse.

School staff told authorities they reported seeing bruises and signs of neglect. Despite this, child protection services did not intervene effectively, even after as many as 12 or 13 concerns were raised over time.

As reported by KOLD News Channel 13, Rebekah’s tragic story has become a painful wake-up call for our state and a powerful motivator for reform. In response, Arizona lawmakers are now taking a closer look at the systemic failures that may have allowed Rebekah, and other children like her, to fall through the cracks.

On July 16, Arizona State Senator Carine Werner announced the formation of a new task force aimed at strengthening the state’s child abuse reporting laws. The task force will include child welfare experts, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and fellow legislators. It is set to begin work immediately, with recommendations expected for the 2026 legislative session.

“This is a first step in making our state’s child safety system effective with protecting vulnerable kids from harm,” Senator Werner said in a prepared statement. “Our task force will work urgently to ensure Arizona’s laws and protocols are followed to protect children first, not bureaucracy.”

This announcement follows plans for a legislative oversight committee scheduled to examine the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) on September 3. Senator Werner has publicly criticized Arizona agencies for failing to effectively communicate and share information, particularly in cases involving at-risk children and tribal jurisdictions.

“There’s currently not a sharing of information between the tribes, CPS and DCS, which is one of the goals we hope to attain,” she explained in a recent interview.

The task force was created not only in Rebekah’s memory, but also in response to other recent cases where red flags were ignored or mishandled. “Rebekah’s death is the most painful reminder that when red flags are raised, they must never be ignored,” Werner stated. “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.”

Advocates Demand More Than Words

Despite the urgency of the task force’s mission, not everyone is convinced it will lead to real change. Anika Robinson, a longtime foster parent and child advocate, expressed skepticism about whether new legislation will make a difference without strong enforcement.

“Coming in and writing more legislation without teeth, without checks and balances and without oversight is repeating what we’ve been doing,” Robinson said.

She cited the case of Zariah Dodd as another example of systemic failure, noting that the teenager told the department she had been raped at gunpoint and later became pregnant. “We know Zariah was threatened and held at gunpoint and that’s how she became pregnant. That’s called rape. I know she told the department that it occurred and I don’t know why or how we failed to investigate,” Robinson added.

Robinson also raised concerns about compliance within foster care itself. “There are over 800 kids missing in the state of Arizona. We know the department is required to, within 90 days of a child coming into foster care, to have a photo. 80% don’t have a photo,” she said.

A bill passed last year aimed to improve child protection oversight by requiring DCS to submit reports, but Robinson says that isn’t happening in practice. “When I ask them [foster staff], ‘Are you required to for a law that passed last year to submit a quarterly drug test?’ They say no, it might be a new vendor contract. They haven’t been asked by the department [DCS] to submit it, so what good is it adding more laws if we are not willing to have the oversight?”

Family Courts Also Under the Microscope

Meanwhile, the state’s Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on Family Court Orders is preparing for its final public hearing, scheduled for August 27. Arizona State Senator Mark Finchem invited families who have been “negatively impacted by the family court system” to testify in person at the Arizona State Senate’s Hearing Room #1.

“The final hearing is one you won’t want to miss,” said Senator Finchem. “If you have been impacted by the family court system or a judge has threatened you with a gag order, I strongly encourage you to come forward and share your story.”

The committee is also expected to hear from DCS representatives and a special guest with experience shaping federal family court reform.

“Together, with the voices of families, oversight of agencies, and guidance from national reform efforts, we will build the solutions Arizona’s children and families deserve,” Finchem said.

Our Take

At Harmony Law, we support meaningful child welfare reform. However, we also know that change takes more than committees and press conferences. It takes courage from families to speak up, accountability from agencies, and constant vigilance from lawmakers, attorneys, and advocates.

Our hearts are with the families mourning Rebekah Baptiste and other children lost due to preventable system failures. Arizona must—and can—do better. The upcoming hearings and task force recommendations will be a crucial test of whether our state is finally ready to put children first.

Need a Trusted AZ Family Law Attorney?

If you or your loved ones have been harmed by the Arizona family court system or child welfare agencies, you are not alone. At Harmony Law, we are here to listen and help.

We believe families deserve more than apologies after tragedy. They deserve action, accountability, and a legal ally who will fight for justice.

Contact Harmony Law today at (888) 427-1280 to schedule a confidential consultation and safeguard your family’s future.