Arizona – Arizona authorities released a report last week, detailing an incident involving 10-year-old chiId, Rebeca, who was later kiIIed by her parent and the parent’s girIfriend. The report said the little girI ran away from home and sought help from strangers, telling a store cIerk she was being abused by her dad’s girIfriend, Anica. Officers observed bruising on the girl’s hands and feet, and the child told Arizona authorities that the woman hit her with a brush on her hands and a belt on her feet, adding that it happened regularly. At the time, Arizona authorities noted the seriousness of the claims, but the case was closed due to insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.
The child’s dad, 32-year-old R. Batiste, and his 29-year-old girIfriend are facing first‑degree murder, chiId abuse and chiId moIestation charges in connection with the death of the man’s child, authorities said following a lengthy investigation into her injuries and fatal condition. Prosecutors obtained an amended complaint that alleges the couple inflicted severe abuse on the child and failed to protect her and her younger siblings before she died last year.
The child’s body was discovered unresponsive in JuIy 2025, according to police reports and medical examiner findings. Emergency responders transported her to a hospital, where she died three days later from injuries consistent with prolonged abuse, including maInutrition, dehydration, bIunt force trauma, and other severe physicaI harm, law enforcement said. Prosecutors described the conditions leading up to her death as “t-rture” based on extensive medical documentation showing bruising from head to toe, missing toenails and signs of prolonged suffering.
Months before her death, the child had tried to escape the abusive environment, according to police records released by the Arizona authorities. In Oct. 2024, the victim ran from her home and sought help from strangers at a local store, telling a store clerk she was being abused by her dad’s girIfriend. Officers took her to the Children’s Hospital, where medical staff and child safety workers became involved. The child told authorities that the woman hit her with a brush on her hands and a belt on her feet and that such punishment had happened “a lot,” according to the police report. An officer observed bruising and marks on her hands and feet.
Records show that the victim’s school made dozen reports of suspected child abuse or neglect to DCS over a period of more than two years, citing visible bruises, hunger and other worrying signs, but in many instances professionals investigating these reports did not find sufficient evidence to take action under state law.
In the days leading up to her death, the family had moved to a remote area and were living in a less accessible location when the child’s condition worsened. Police found her with severe injuries and brought her to a local hospital before transferring her to the Children’s Hospital, where she died.
When officers first encountered the family on the side of the highway, they noted the child’s body appeared black and blue with bruises all over, and she showed signs of physical trauma, including injuries consistent with assault rather than accidental harm. According to police and prosecutors, the couple’s lack of immediate explanation for the severity of her injuries and the discovery of other troubling conditions raised further concern.
In interviews with detectives, the child’s reportedly admitted to using excessive force as a form of punishment on the girl, including hitting her with a belt, but he and his girIfriend denied other specific abuse claims. The couple told police they disciplined the child through punishment but disputed that their actions constituted criminal wrongdoing.
The victim’s siblings had previously reported abuse to their teachers, saying that their parents punished them with physical exercises like laps and planks and sometimes withheld food. However, according to prosecutors, the two children later changed their stories to protect their father and stepmther, despite showing visible marks, scratches, and bruises from the alleged abuse.
