The Brief

PHOENIX - Arizona state lawmakers say changes are coming after a string of child deaths.

Focusing on recent cases with prior Department of Child Safety (DCS) contact and increasing scrutiny of the embattled agency, Arizona leaders believe these tragedies could have been prevented.

The backstory:

Discussions on DCS have intensified at the State Capitol in the aftermath of Zariah Dodd , Emily Pike , and Rebekah Baptiste's deaths.

In Baptiste's case, DCS received several reports of alleged abuse and neglect by her father, Richard Baptiste, and the father's girlfriend, Anicia Woods.

Both Richard and Anicia are charged with Baptiste's murder, but have pleaded not guilty. They are awaiting their trial while in Apache County Jail.

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