Additional Coverage:
Murder Charges Filed in Death of Kada Scott; Keon King Identified as Suspect
Philadelphia prosecutors have officially ruled the death of 23-year-old Kada Scott a homicide, leading to the approval of murder charges against 21-year-old Keon King. King, who was previously arrested in connection with Scott’s disappearance, now faces a comprehensive list of charges.
District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office announced Wednesday that in addition to murder, King is charged with robbery, theft, violation of the Uniform Firearms Act, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and possessing an instrument of crime. Attempts to reach an attorney for King outside of normal business hours on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Scott’s body was discovered approximately two weeks after she was reported missing on October 4. The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to release the official cause of death.
A graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Scott was employed at an assisted living facility. Her father recounted that on October 4, after an evening with friends, she borrowed her mother’s car to go to her overnight shift, scheduled from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
However, her co-workers informed the family that she left early, around 10:30 p.m. When Scott did not return home the following morning, calls to her cellphone went directly to voicemail.
Police had been investigating reports from friends and family members that Scott had been receiving harassing calls from unknown individuals prior to her disappearance. Authorities stated that cellphone data indicated King and Scott were in communication before she went missing, and that King met Scott at her workplace shortly before she vanished.
Assistant District Attorney Ashley Toczylowski confirmed Monday that both video surveillance and cellphone data place King at relevant locations pertinent to the case. Scott’s body was located Saturday in a wooded area near an abandoned middle school, following a specific tip to police. Just days earlier, authorities had found what are believed to be Scott’s personal belongings at the same location.
Video evidence from a recreation center “directly” adjacent to the school is being extensively reviewed by investigators, according to Toczylowski. Prosecutors believe King used a stolen 2008 Hyundai Accent to transport Scott to the location where her body was eventually found.
This vehicle was also captured in the recreation center video. The Accent was later set on fire and recovered by authorities from a junkyard.
Investigators have also identified a gold Toyota Camry, seen at the recreation center, which they believe is connected to Scott’s death.
King initially turned himself in on October 14 and was charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment, stalking, criminal use of a communication facility, recklessly endangering another person, and tampering with evidence. Subsequently, additional charges of arson causing catastrophe, conspiracy, unauthorized use of an automobile, tampering with evidence, recklessly endangering another person, and receipt of stolen property were filed.
Court records indicate that King has not yet entered pleas to the charges.