Two South Carolina teenagers have been arrested and charged with the brutal murder of 13-year-old Ka’Niyah Baker, whose body was found “bludgeoned, stabbed, and burned” in a vacant house. The horrific crime took place in Columbia, South Carolina, and has shocked the community.
The suspects, aged 15 and 16, are facing murder charges following the discovery of Ka’Niyah’s remains on Wednesday evening. She had been reported missing earlier, and when authorities found her, they determined she had suffered “traumatic injuries” across her face and body.
The incident unfolded when the Columbia-Richland Fire Department responded to a fire at an empty home on Cardamon Court at around 10:30 p.m. Upon entering the residence, they discovered Ka’Niyah’s lifeless body. Police were immediately called to the scene and later confirmed that the young girl had been severely burned, and her injuries appeared intentional.
Police Chief William “Skip” Holbrook described the case as “brutal, heinous, vicious, gruesome, monstrous and disturbing,” reflecting the brutal nature of the crime. He further explained that the fire department arrived to find smoke coming from the home, and after entering, they located Ka’Niyah’s body inside.
Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford confirmed that Ka’Niyah’s death was not accidental. “The manner of death was not an accident. Ka’Niyah was bludgeoned, stabbed, and burned,” she stated during a press conference. Chief Holbrook shared that Ka’Niyah, originally from Sumter, South Carolina, had recently been in foster care in Columbia WBTV reported.
He also provided details on the suspects, both of whom had run away from home in the past and had histories of trouble with the law. The 16-year-old female suspect had been missing since January 12 and had cut off her ankle monitor. The 15-year-old suspect had also been living in Columbia and had been enrolled in school until recently dropping out.
The police chief expressed his concern over the tragic case, stating, “This shocks the conscience to me. We’ve got some work to do with our system. We’ve got some work to do with our young people. There’s too much despair. And we’ve got to change that.” The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to understand the full scope of the tragedy and its impact on the community.