Fifth-grade teacher accused of killing foster daughter
Prosecutors say the 36-year-old teacher kept the 10-year-old's body in a car trunk in New Jersey for days.
By Aaron Foster ·
Carprice Williams, a fifth-grade teacher at Lewis C. Cassidy School, faces charges for the murder of Malayshia Allford, a 10-year-old former student. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner described the killing as a "brutal murder." Williams is currently held without bail following the discovery of Allford's body in South Jersey.
Allford disappeared from her West Philadelphia foster home in late October. Police launched a 10-day search that drew hundreds of local residents. Investigators determined that the girl was last alive on October 22. Her body was located around 11 p.m. on Wednesday inside a vehicle at the Stonington Court Apartments in Lindenwold, New Jersey. The site was roughly 20 miles from her previous residence.
A medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. Assistant District Attorney Ashley Toczylowski stated that investigators believe objects were used to inflict injuries. Authorities declined to release further details on the extent of the abuse. The investigation began after Williams told police that Allford did not return from school and was not answering her phone.
Surveillance footage from October 26 at 1:53 a.m. shows a body being removed from a home on the 600 block of North Simpson Street. That video led officers to a suspect vehicle and eventually to a witness who pointed them to the body. Officials said the girl was likely moved to a different car before being found in New Jersey.
Neighbors expressed shock that Williams continued teaching during the time Allford was missing. Nafeesa Cannon recalled that Williams held a pizza party for her class and participated in a trunk-or-treat event on Friday. Cannon said, "Inside the classroom or in front of the parents, nobody would have never probably thought in a million years that she was going to murder a child."
Zayla, a friend of Allford, visited the memorial vigil with a poster from her classroom. Zayla’s parent, Ryenise Hodges, noted that Williams was also Zayla’s teacher. Hodges said her daughter keeps asking questions about the situation. "I don't even have the answers," Hodges said.
Nafis Horne, Allford’s biological uncle, urged the public to avoid judgment while the family copes. He stated he believes more people were involved in the death. Williams is scheduled to appear in court on November 23.
