Philadelphia Foster Mother Charged After 10-Year-old Found Dead in Trunk
WHO:
CNN - Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner said Carprice Williams did not have a criminal record.
CNN - Malayshia Alford’s family said they were grieving and described the period as a “very hard time.”
6abc Philadelphia - Nafeesa Cannon said Williams continued working and held a classroom pizza party and attended a trunk-or-treat event while Malayshia was missing.
6abc Philadelphia - The School District of Philadelphia said Malayshia was a student at Robert E. Lamberton School and expressed condolences to her family, friends, and classmates.
CNN - Malayshia Alford, age 10, was in the foster care of Carprice Williams, age 36.
CNN - Williams was charged with murder, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of an instrument of crime, recklessly endangering another person, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse.
CNN - Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney Ashley Toczylowski described the investigation; District Attorney Lawrence Krasner, Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, and FBI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs commented on the case.
NY Post - Williams was described as a 36-year-old teacher; police alleged Malayshia was abused in a “dungeon” before she was killed.
6abc Philadelphia - Williams was identified as a fifth-grade teacher at Lewis C. Cassidy School and was listed as “Dr. Williams” in a Philadelphia School District roster. Her LinkedIn profile said she had previously worked as a special education English and language arts teacher.
6abc Philadelphia - Malayshia attended Robert E. Lamberton School. Her friend Zayla said Malayshia was “nice to everybody” and that she had given her a hug the last time they met.
6abc Philadelphia - Biological uncle Nafis Horne asked for support without judgment and said he believed more people were involved in his niece’s death.
WHAT:
CNN - Malayshia’s body was found in a car trunk, and the medical examiner determined she died from blunt force trauma; her death was ruled a homicide.
CNN - Toczylowski said authorities had indications of abuse and that objects may have been used to carry it out.
6abc Philadelphia - Williams was held without bail and was scheduled to return to court November 23.
WHERE:
CNN - Malayshia was last seen at her home in West Philadelphia. Her body was found in a car in Lindenwold, New Jersey, about 20 miles away.
6abc Philadelphia - The body was found at the Stonington Court Apartments in Lindenwold. Surveillance footage appeared to show a body being removed from a home on the 600 block of North Simpson Street in West Philadelphia.
WHEN:
CNN - Authorities said Malayshia was last seen alive October 22; she was reported missing four days later. Footage from October 26 showed a body being moved from the home. Her body was discovered around 11 p.m. Wednesday.
6abc Philadelphia - The surveillance footage was recorded at approximately 1:53 a.m. on October 26; the search lasted 10 days.
HOW:
CNN - Krasner said his office would contact Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services, the county child welfare agency, to discuss the case further.
CNN - The search involved Philadelphia police, the FBI, and community members, with witness interviews and digital-evidence review. Surveillance footage led investigators to a vehicle and witness, whose information led them to Malayshia’s body.
CNN - Toczylowski said Malayshia was believed to have been removed from her home, placed in one car, and later transferred to another.
6abc Philadelphia - Police said Williams reported that Malayshia had not returned from school and was not answering her phone; investigators later found conflicting accounts from adults connected to the case.
6abc Philadelphia - Philadelphia police asked anyone with information to call or text 215-686-TIPS (8477) or submit an anonymous tip online.
(UPDATED November 6, 2026 20:02 UTC)
Ten-year-old Malayshia Alford was found dead in a car trunk in New Jersey. Her foster caregiver, teacher Carprice Williams, faces murder and several other charges. Investigators say surveillance footage and witness information led them to Malayshia’s body.
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(UPDATED November 6, 2026 19:04 UTC)
Ten-year-old Malayshia Alford was found dead in a car trunk in New Jersey after a ten-day search. Authorities ruled her death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. Her foster caregiver, teacher Carprice Williams, faces murder and other charges and is being held without bail.