PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Medical Examiner’s office has ruled 23-year-old Kada Scott’s death a homicide, and the man at the center of the case has been charged with her murder.
Scott went missing the night of Oct. 4 while she was working an overnight shift at a nursing home in Chestnut Hill.
Police believe the last person to see Scott alive is her coworker, who said Scott had just started her shift when she got a phone call. They said she seemed upset and said, “I can’t believe you’re calling about this,” before walking off to a dark-colored car in the parking lot. She never returned to work, and her phone went dead about nine minutes later.
According to court records, there were a dozen calls between Scott and King the day she went missing. The filing also revealed some texts between Scott and King. One from Scott read, “Kidnap me again,” with King allegedly replying, “better be up to,” followed by Scott telling him to call her when he got to her.
Authorities believe Scott was killed moments after she got into that dark car — a stolen black Hyundai — with 21-year-old Keon King. They say King shot her in the head, and she died instantly. A forensic anthropologist assisted with the autopsy report, which ruled her death a homicide.
Her remains were found nearly three weeks later, behind Ada H. Lewis Middle School, where King was seen on surveillance video just 15 minutes after Scott’s disappearance from work, getting out of the stolen Hyundai Accent and walking away.
The next night, investigators said King drove back to the Awbury Arboretum recreation center, a wooded area by the school, in a gold Toyota Camry with someone else. The two seemed to remove something heavy from the Hyundai toward the shallow grave where Scott was found behind the middle school, which has been vacant since 2008. Many residents are now calling for it to be demolished.
On Oct. 7, just before 3 a.m., King reportedly returned to the Hyundai and drove off. About 45 minutes later, the Hyundai was found set on fire in West Oak Lane.
Officials said surveillance video matched with King’s cell phone activity. As for that possible second suspect, authorities said they are still investigating. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said detectives are pursuing anyone who may have helped King.
“We continue to pursue anyone who helped, who concealed, who participated in this act. We will not stop," he said.
In the court filing, detectives described interviews with two women King allegedly lived with and detailed a search at their home where several items were recovered, including gloves, contractor bags and ammunition. None were said to be connected to where Scott’s body was found.
King, initially charged with kidnapping in connection with her disappearance, now faces additional charges of murder, abuse of a corpse, and gun offenses. He also faces charges of arson, conspiracy, unauthorized use of a vehicle, tampering with evidence, recklessly endangering another person, and related offenses.
Scott’s death has shaken her family and community. Mayor Cherelle Parker and city officials hosted a town hall at Truth Light Fellowship Church in Mt. Airy on Wednesday, where they heard from the public about safety concerns.
“The best that we can do as a city is to do everything within our power to be of support to this family," Parker said.