Philadelphia foster mother charged with murder of 10-year-old girl

Carprice Williams, 36, has been arrested and charged with the murder of 10-year-old Malayshia Alford. Alford was reported missing from West Philadelphia on October 26 and was last seen alive on October 22. Her body was discovered on November 4 in the trunk of a vehicle at an apartment complex in Lindenwold, New Jersey. A preliminary examination by the New Jersey Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Alford died from blunt force trauma, and her death was ruled a homicide.

Williams faces multiple charges, including murder, endangering the welfare of a child, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse. Prosecutors allege that Williams abused Alford before her death by throwing her down stairs, denying her food and water, and forcing her to wear a weighted vest while walking stairs. It is also alleged that Williams attempted to cover up the crime by sending text messages from the child's phone after she had died.

Legal representatives noted that Williams had previously been accused of nearly fatal abuse and malnourishment involving a 4-year-old child in 2021. Despite state officials reportedly recommending that Williams not foster children again following that incident, she remained in a position to care for Alford. A lawsuit regarding the previous case was settled earlier this year.