Foster mother charged with murder after missing 10-year-old girl found dead

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia officials announced Thursday that the foster mother of a 10-year-old girl who went missing last month has been charged with murder.

Caprice Williams, 36, the foster mother of Malayshia Alford, is charged with murder, abuse of a corpse and several related offenses, authorities said. Authorities said Alford was found dead in New Jersey late Wednesday night.

Search and discovery

Alford was last seen at her Philadelphia home Oct. 22. Her disappearance led to a search by locals, the police department and the FBI.

On Wednesday, law enforcement found surveillance video from the early morning hours of Oct. 26.

“There was video that shows what we believe to be her body being moved out of the home. It was that video that then led law enforcement officials to a suspect vehicle,” said Ashley Toczylowski, assistant district attorney with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

Investigators found Alford’s body late Wednesday night in the trunk of a car in New Jersey.

“It was immediately apparent that she had been there for a while,” Toczylowski said.

Officials said Alford’s cause of death is believed to be blunt force trauma.

Community reaction

A community in Philadelphia reacted with shock and grief after authorities said Alford was found dead.

Malcolm Jordan, who helped search for Alford, said, “I wanted to cry. I wanted to cry.”

“It’s just so heartbreaking that this is the end result. I just wish it was a different result, man, and uh we just got to do what we can to prevent this stuff from happening,” Jordan said.

A neighbor, who was not named, said, “Everybody failed this baby. Everybody.”

Alford’s uncle, Nafis Horne, spoke Thursday.

“I need everybody held accountable, from the foster parents who were picked to take care of my niece. I want you held accountable,” Horne said.

CNN is working to determine whether Williams has legal representation.