Two teenagers have been charged with murder in South Carolina for allegedly bludgeoning, stabbing, and burning a 13-year-old girl inside a vacant house.
Columbia police found Ka’Niyah Baker dead in a structure fire at a home on Cardamon Court last Wednesday night. She had been missing since January 12, and witnesses last saw her about 20 miles from where police discovered her body.
“Brutal, heinous, vicious, gruesome, monstrous and disturbing. These are the words I’d use to describe this murder investigation,” Columbia Police Chief William “Skip” Holbrook said during a press conference Saturday.
Ka’Niyah, originally from Sumter, had recently entered foster care in Columbia and had a history of running away.
Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford confirmed at the news conference that Baker died from blunt force trauma.
Police have since arrested two female suspects, ages 15 and 16, in connection with her death.
The 16-year-old suspect was reported missing by her mother on January 12. The Department of Juvenile Justice said she cut off her ankle monitor and has a history of disorderly conduct. She last attended high school in January 2024 and is known to frequently run away.
The 15-year-old suspect was last enrolled in high school in December 2024 and is also a reported runaway. According to police, both suspects had their last known addresses in Columbia.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the victim had significant injuries to her face and body and had been severely burned, making an identification difficult.
“Even the pictures that they sent of her just did not seem to match up due to severe trauma to her head, face and body,” Rutherford said.
Using DNA from dirty clothing at Baker’s foster home and dental records, they were able to positively identify the victim as the missing girl.
The names I’d the suspects have not yet been released. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo via Columbia PD]
