PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia judge has upheld murder charges against a woman accused of killing a toddler in her care and hiding the body last summer. The boy’s father told the judge his son’s last words were "I love you. Come get me."
Prosecutors say Tianna Parks, a friend of the boy’s father, was caring for 2-year-old King Hill in late June when he suddenly went missing, dropping out of view from witnesses and surveillance video.
The father, who told the judge he was the primary caretaker, believed he may have had COVID-19 and paid Parks to take care of Hill. He said he checked in on the boy with video chats and text messages.
The boy's mother reported Hill missing on July 7. Parks had said she dropped the boy off with his mother, but she has said she never knew Parks or had any contact information.
An FBI agent testified to surveillance video of Parks placing what looked like a heavy red suitcase in the trunk of her car. And he said phone records showed Parks drove around near the Schuylkill River, where she parked for 20 minutes. She then drove to Penn Street in Germantown, where authorities say video shows a trash bag appearing on the sidewalk.
Prosecutors believe the body of the boy was inside that bag.
The agent also testified to finding evidence of searches on Parks’ phone including "how to treat a skull fracture," "what does raccoon eyes mean" and "how to treat black eyes fast."
Parks appeared to be crying a few times throughout the preliminary hearing.
A close friend of Parks told the judge she was a kind, caring, nurturing person who treated Hill like her own son.
Authorities believe Hill’s body was picked up with the trash, and his body has never been found.