Foster Mother Charged in Trunk Death of 10-Year-Old in New Jersey

Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney Ashley Toczylowski announced the murder charge against Caprice Williams on Thursday. The 36-year-old woman was caring for 10-year-old Malayshia Alford, who vanished from a West Philadelphia home on October 22. Alford’s body was recovered in Lindenwold, New Jersey, on Wednesday evening after a two-week search involving local police, the FBI, and community volunteers.

The investigation turned on video footage recorded during the early morning hours of October 26. Toczylowski stated that the surveillance showed what authorities believe was Alford’s body being moved out of the residence in a bag. That visual evidence directed investigators to a specific witness. After interviewing that person, officers located a suspect vehicle and found Alford’s remains in the trunk at approximately 11 p.m. on Wednesday. Toczylowski noted that it was immediately apparent the body had been in the vehicle for a considerable period.

Williams faces seven counts, including 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. Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner confirmed that Williams had no prior criminal record. Toczylowski indicated that the charges stem from the physical evidence and the testimony provided by the witness identified through the video trail.

Officials said the cause of death was blunt force trauma and ruled the manner of death a homicide. Toczylowski added that indicators suggest instances of abuse occurred and that specific items were used during those incidents. The Philadelphia Department of Human Services, the county’s child welfare agency, will now review its records. Krasner said his office expects to speak further with the department regarding the case.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel addressed the public at the news conference, stating that Alford deserved safety and the opportunity to grow up. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker issued a statement describing the tragedy as a personal shock, saying she could not stop thinking about the child and the pain her community would endure. Wayne Jacobs, the FBI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge, described the investigation as an around-the-clock effort that included digital evidence review and witness interviews.

Alford’s family attended the news conference and expressed their grief, telling reporters they are going through a very hard time. Neighbors gathered in front of a memorial site where they placed pink balloons and teddy bears. Jacobs observed that losing a child in a place where she should have been safe is nearly impossible to comprehend. The search began four days after Alford was last seen, triggered by a missing person report filed by her foster mother.