Foster mom is charged with murder after police find body of missing 10-year-old girl in trunk of car in South Jersey

The foster mother of 10-year-old Malayshia Alford, who had been missing from West Philadelphia for more than a week, was charged with murder after police found the girl’s remains inside the trunk of a car in South Jersey overnight, District Attorney Larry Krasner said Thursday.

Police found Malayshia’s body in the back of a Lincoln sedan, parked at an apartment complex on the 1800 block of Laurel Road in Lindenwold, Camden County, late Wednesday night, law enforcement officials said.

Malayshia’s foster mother, Carprice Williams, 36, has been charged with her death.

Williams works as a teacher for the Philadelphia School District, according to payroll records.

Police have questioned at least one other person who they believe helped her dispose of the girl’s remains, which were found in a car that belonged to one of Williams’ relatives, said the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.

Malayshia had been living with Williams on the 500 block of North Simpson Street for about two years, her aunt Yolanda Brown said in an interview this week. She was a shy, timid, smart little girl with three siblings, Brown said.

The discovery marked a tragic end to a 10-day search in which dozens of local police, FBI agents, and community members scoured West Philadelphia and nearby wooded areas in hopes of finding the missing child.

“She deserved safety. She deserved to be loved. She deserved a chance to grow up,” Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said.

During a news conference held by city officials, a small group of friends and family of the victim sat in two rows of chairs. One woman sat stoically in the back, her eyes slowly collecting tears. Two women in the front row embraced, one of them closely following Krasner’s words and nodding as he promised a “just and vigorous prosecution” in this case.

Off to the left of the podium, a projector displayed a photo of Malayshia giving a peace sign with her hand, wearing a Lilo and Stitch shirt and pink glasses.

In a statement posted on social media Thursday evening, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said Malayshia’s death has “shaken me to my core.”

“There are no words that I can employ to remove the unimaginable pain and suffering that the family of [Malayshia] Alford is experiencing with the tragic loss of their beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, and loved one,” Parker said.

“As a mother, this has shaken me to my core. I can’t stop thinking about this precious baby and the heartache and turmoil that her immediate village will endure,” the mayor said.

“As a praying mayor, who wholeheartedly believes in the power of God’s strength. I pray that God will give the family a certain peace that passes all understanding to meet this moment,” she said.

City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, in a statement Thursday, said the city must “take a hard look at the circumstances surrounding [Malayshia’s] disappearance and the systems entrusted with her care.”

The search for the child began Oct. 26, after Williams told police that Malayshia left her Simpson Street home to walk to the bus stop for school that morning, but did not return home that afternoon, officials said.

Brown, the aunt, said Williams had called her and said Malayshia’s biological mother had taken her — but Brown and police contacted the mother and did not find the child.

Brown said she was told Malayshia did not attend school Friday, Oct. 23, or the following Monday.

Williams did not report the child missing until the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 26, officials said.

But law enforcement sources said there were inconsistencies in Williams’ statement and timeline of events.

Assistant District Attorney Ashley Toczylowski said the last time Malayshia was seen alive was on video on Oct. 22 at her home.

On Wednesday, authorities recovered video showing what appeared to be Malayshia’s body being removed from her home in a bag.

Authorities traced the body to a vehicle and a person who provided witness evidence that led investigators around 11 p.m. Wednesday to Malayshia’s body in the trunk of a vehicle in New Jersey, Toczylowski said.

Malayshia’s body was taken to the medical examiner’s office, where a preliminary examination determined that the girl died from blunt force trauma and the manner was homicide, Toczylowski said.

Toczylowski declined to detail Malayshia’s injuries, but she did say that there were “instances of abuse” and that “items were used to carry out the abuse.”

Williams was charged with murder, endangering the welfare of a child, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and related crimes, Toczylowski said.

The investigation had intensified Wednesday night as officials surveyed Cobbs Creek Park believing she could be there, but did not find her.

Then came the discovery in Lindenwold.

“Every tip mattered, and your willingness to help made a difference,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office.

Krasner didn’t answer a question on whether other people may face charges in the case.

Monique Braxton, spokesperson for the School District of Philadelphia, said in an emailed statement that the district “is heartbroken to learn of the tragic death of 10-year old Robert E. Lamberton student, Malayshia Alford. We wish to extend our deepest condolences and sincerest sympathy to her family, friends and classmates.”

Braxton did not mention Williams and referred questions to the police.

Arthur G. Steinberg, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, said in a statement that it was “beyond devastating that in her short time on earth, Malayshia did not receive the care and support that every child deserves. We thank the Philadelphia Police Department and law enforcement partners for the work they have done to seek accountability thus far, and for the work still to be done.”

Steinberg added: “The PFT offers resources including counseling to members working in Lamberton School and throughout the District who are affected by this tragedy.”

Staff writers Kristen A. Graham and Andrew Kitchenman contributed to this article.