In a devastating and brutal case, two teenage girls from South Carolina have been charged with the murder of 13-year-old Ka’Niyah Baker.
The teenager’s body was found after a fire in a vacant house on January 15, 2025, prompting a swift investigation that revealed the horrifying nature of her death.
At around 10:30 p.m., the Columbia Police Department responded to a call about a fire at a home on Cardamon Court in Capital Heights.
Firefighters arrived to find smoke billowing from the residence and soon discovered a deceased person inside.
Authorities initially couldn’t identify the victim, but further investigation confirmed it was Ka’Niyah, who had been reported missing on January 12, 2025.

Ka’Niyah’s death was ruled a homicide, with Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford confirming that the young girl had been “bludgeoned, stabbed, and burnt.”
The nature of her injuries was described as “heinous,” and the police chief referred to the crime as one of the most brutal they had encountered.
Ka’Niyah had recently entered foster care in Columbia and had a history of running away. According to police, the suspects, two girls aged 15 and 16, were identified after a detailed investigation.
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Both teenagers had been missing themselves and had histories of frequent runaway incidents. Police believe that the girls may have been involved in a violent confrontation with Ka’Niyah, though the exact details of the crime remain under investigation.

The two suspects, whose names have not been released due to their age, have been arrested and charged with the murder of Ka’Niyah.
They now face charges of first-degree murder, and authorities are continuing to piece together the circumstances that led to the tragic death.
Ka’Niyah’s case has shocked the local community, and authorities are working to ensure that justice is served for this young victim.