PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Keon King, the man charged in the disappearance of Kada Scott, is now charged with murder, after a medical examiner’s report ruled Scott’s death a homicide.
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office approved the charge on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore revealed the medical examiner’s findings on social media.
Scott, 23, disappeared from her nursing home job in Chestnut Hill on Oct. 4. Her body was recovered near a vacant middle school in the city’s Germantown section on Saturday.
King, 27, was initially charged with kidnapping in connection with her disappearance. He was charged additionally with arson, conspiracy, unauthorized use of a vehicle, tampering with evidence, recklessly endangering another person, and related offenses after Scott’s body was found and identified.
The latest developments came hours after new details emerged about how investigators linked King to Scott’s disappearance.
According to court records, there were a dozen calls between Kada Scott and Keon King on Oct. 4 — the day Scott 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.
A co-worker of Scott’s told detectives Scott was upset and said over the phone, “I can’t believe you’re calling me about this.” She then walked towards a dark-colored car parked outside the nursing home in Chestnut Hill where she worked just before 10:15 p.m. Scott’s phone then went dead nine minutes later.
Detectives said King was at the rec center near Ada Lewis Middle School in Germantown less than 15 minutes later and they believe Scott was likely dead at that point.
They said surveillance video showed King getting out of the black car — which was a stolen Hyundai Accent — and walking away.
The next night, investigators said King drove back to the rec center in a gold Toyota Camry with someone else. The two seemed to remove something heavy from the Hyundai towards the place where Scott’s remains were eventually found.
They said the pair was seen on video walking away. On Oct. 7, just before 3 a.m., King reportedly went back 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.
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.