A 36-year-old Philadelphia teacher who served as foster mother to a missing 10-year-old girl has been charged with her murder, after the child’s body was discovered roughly 20 miles from home in Lindenwold, New Jersey, late Wednesday night.
Carprice Williams is accused of killing Malayshia Alford, who was last seen alive on Oct. 22 at the family’s West Philadelphia home. Investigators recovered surveillance footage appearing to show Malayshia’s body being moved from the home into a vehicle around 2 a.m. on Oct. 26 — the same day Williams reported her missing, according to WPVI.
Detectives tracked down the driver seen in the footage, who led them to the girl’s body in New Jersey. Assistant District Attorney Ashley Teslowski told reporters Thursday that the circumstances made clear how long the girl had been gone.
“It was immediately apparent that she had been there for a while.”
An autopsy by the local medical examiner’s office ruled Malayshia’s death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. Prosecutors say she had been abused, though they have not detailed what led to her killing.
“We do have an indication that there were instances of abuse happening, and that items were used to carry out that abuse.”
Ameer Barber, an activist with the Philadelphia community organization MOTIVATEYOUTH215, said he was shown images from inside Williams’ home.
“They showed me the pictures and videos, it was a dungeon. The backdoor was drilled shut, the basement door was drilled shut. Upstairs, it looked like there was a lot of foul play, I don’t know how the cops didn’t catch it. It didn’t look right.”
Williams initially told investigators that Malayshia had not returned home from school and was not answering her phone. But police said adults connected to the case gave conflicting accounts of what happened, according to WPVI.
Williams faces charges of murder, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of an instrument of crime, reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said she had no prior criminal record. Officials have not said whether additional arrests are expected.
A Community Mourns
Malayshia attended Robert E. Lamberton School, according to district officials. At a vigil held Thursday night, her friend Zayla recalled their last encounter.
“She was nice to everybody. She was friends with everybody. And the last time I saw her, I gave her a hug.”
Zayla’s mother, Ryenise Hodges of West Philadelphia, said Williams had also been her daughter’s teacher and described trying to explain the loss to her child.
“Just letting her know everything is going to be OK. She don’t really understand that was her teacher. And she just keeps asking a lot of questions. I don’t even have the answers.”
Williams was arraigned Thursday and ordered held without bail. She is due back in court Nov. 23. Krasner said his office has been in contact with the Philadelphia Department of Human Services and expects further discussions with the agency.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherrelle Parker offered condolences in a statement posted to social media.
“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. Our Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office and the FBI will cross every ‘T’ and dot every ‘I’ to uncover all of the facts associated with this heinous and horrific tragedy, and to seek justice for Malayshia.”
