A person has been charged in the murder of Jalayshia “Malayshia” Alford, a 10-year-old girl from West Philadelphia who was found dead in a car in New Jersey on Thursday, Nov. 5, after being missing for more than a week.
Officials have not yet revealed the identity of the suspect.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner will be joined by local elected officials and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel for a news conference on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to announce the murder charges. You can watch the live update on NBC10 and in the video embedded on top of this article.
Jalayshia was last seen alive around 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 26 along the 500 block of North Simpson Street in West Philadelphia.
Her disappearance prompted an investigation involving Philadelphia police, the FBI and the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office.
Before Jalayshia was found, investigators had expressed concern that she could be at risk of harm or injury.
On Wednesday night, police had focused their search efforts on a field in West Philadelphia, but only the body of an animal was found.
Then on Thursday, the girl’s body was found inside a car in Lindenwold, law enforcement sources told NBC10. Officials have not revealed a cause of death.
Neighbors told NBC10 that Jalayshia was a foster child living on the block. They said investigators had been questioning residents, reviewing home surveillance video and using search dogs at the home where she was believed to be living.
Jalayshia’s former teacher, Tashonna Moore, described the little girl as sweet and kind as she recalled her reaction to learning the child was missing.
“She was so sweet and kind. She didn’t do nothing to anybody,” Moore said. “I literally cried all day. I was not able to focus.”
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