In a tragic and shocking case, two teenage girls, aged 15 and 16, have been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of 13-year-old Ka’Niyah Baker in Columbia, South Carolina. The Columbia Police Department announced the arrests following the discovery of Ka’Niyah’s body in a vacant home, 20 miles from where she was reported missing.
Ka’Niyah Baker, originally from Sumter, was living in a foster care home in Columbia. Her body was found severely burned after a fire at the vacant property. Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford confirmed the cause of death as blunt force trauma, describing the attack as “horrible” and “vicious.” She revealed Ka’Niyah had been bludgeoned, stabbed, and burned.
Both suspects, identified as frequent runaways and school dropouts, have a history of troubled behavior. One of the suspects was already wanted by the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and had removed her ankle monitor prior to the incident. Authorities intend to petition for the two teens to be charged as adults.
Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook expressed deep concern about the case, emphasizing the lack of parental involvement in the suspects’ lives as a significant factor in the city’s ongoing issues with youth violence. He called the murder “gut-wrenching” and highlighted the urgent need for systemic changes to support at-risk youth.
The investigation revealed that Ka’Niyah was reported missing on January 13. Despite her body being found two days later, a missing persons flyer was circulated posthumously due to difficulties in immediately identifying her remains. An Amber Alert was not issued due to the absence of a vehicle associated with her disappearance.
As the community mourns this loss, authorities vow to seek justice for Ka’Niyah and address the underlying issues contributing to such senseless acts of violence.
