10-Year-Old West Philadelphia Girl Found Dead in South Jersey Car Trunk

a small makeshift memorial consisting of a weathered teddy bear and a few bouquets of wrapped flowers resting on the concrete steps of a traditional red brick r

AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.

Remains of Missing Girl Discovered

The remains of Jalayshia Alford, a 10-year-old girl from West Philadelphia, were found in the trunk of a car in Lindenwold, New Jersey, on Wednesday night. Alford, who was last seen alive at her home on the 500 block of North Simpson Street on Thursday, October 22, was reported missing more than a week before the discovery of her body.

Foster Mother Charged with Murder

Carprice Williams, Alford's foster mother, has been charged with murder, endangering the welfare of a child, and other related offenses. The charges were announced by Assistant District Attorney Ashley Margaret Toczylowski at a news conference held on Thursday following the grim discovery.

Timeline Leading to the Discovery

According to law enforcement officials, Alford was last seen alive on October 22. She did not attend school on Friday, October 23, or Monday, October 26, though she was not reported missing until that Monday afternoon. Surveillance footage from October 26 allegedly shows her body being moved from her home in a bag. This evidence, combined with information from a witness, led investigators to the vehicle in South Jersey where her body was found.

Cause of Death and Investigation Efforts

Medical examiners have ruled the death of Jalayshia Alford a homicide, citing blunt force trauma as the cause. In the days following her disappearance, police officers, FBI agents, and community members joined efforts to search for the missing child in West Philadelphia.

Calls for Systemic Review

City Council President Kenyatta Johnson issued a statement on Thursday, emphasizing the importance of protecting children and the need to examine the systems responsible for their care. "Our children are among our most precious responsibilities, and we must do everything in our power to protect them," Johnson said. "We must also take a hard look at the circumstances surrounding Jalayshia's disappearance and the systems entrusted with her care."

Ongoing Investigation

The case remains under investigation as authorities continue to gather details about the circumstances leading up to Jalayshia Alford's death. The District Attorney's Office, Philadelphia Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies are working in coordination following the charges against Carprice Williams.