Foster Mother Charged With Murder After 10-Year-Old Found Dead In NJ Car Trunk

Bruising and scarring on the body of 10-year-old Malayshia Alford indicated a history of physical abuse, according to Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. The injuries suggested a long-term pattern of harm prior to her death. Alford was last seen alive in West Philadelphia on Monday, October 26. Her foster mother, Caprice Williams, 36, faces charges of murder and abuse of a corpse. The investigation began after police issued a missing-person alert on Tuesday, October 27. Authorities warned that Alford was at special risk of harm.

Surveillance footage captured a bag being removed from the home where Alford lived with Williams. The bag was placed into a vehicle parked outside the residence. Investigators later tracked that bag to the trunk of a different car in New Jersey. Police identified the bag in the vehicle as the one seen in the video. The car was located outside the Stonington Court Apartments in Lindenwold, Camden County. The vehicle reportedly belonged to a relative of Williams. At least one other person is believed to have helped move the body, though authorities did not specify who that person was.

Alford was reported missing around 7:30 a.m. on October 26 near the 500 block of North Simpson Street. Police renewed their appeal for information on Sunday, November 1. A joint investigation involved Philadelphia police, the FBI, and the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office. On Wednesday, November 4, investigators searched a field in West Philadelphia and found only animal remains. By Thursday, authorities confirmed Alford’s death and announced the charges against Williams. Krasner stated that further details regarding the abuse and the circumstances of the death would be revealed in court documents.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker released a statement mourning the child’s death. “As a mother, this has shaken me to my core,” Parker wrote on Instagram. She said city officials and federal agents would work to uncover the facts. Kimberly Ali, the commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, confirmed Alford had been in city custody. Ali noted that state confidentiality laws prevented the department from sharing more information. The district attorney’s office corrected the child’s name on Thursday, noting that earlier releases had incorrectly identified her as Jalayshia Alford. Officials have not yet disclosed the official cause of death or a specific motive. Williams is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Counselors visited Alford’s school on Thursday and will return on Friday, November 6. The department said the support staff would help students and staff process the loss. Krasner declined to elaborate on the extent of the suspected abuse during the news conference. He explained that the legal team would handle the details in upcoming proceedings. The search for Alford ended with the discovery of her remains in the car trunk. The case remains open as prosecutors prepare for trial.