10-Year-Old Foster Girl Found Dead in Car Trunk as Foster Mother Faces Murder Charges — New Details Emerge in Philadelphia Case

A heartbreaking search for a missing 10-year-old girl ended in tragedy after authorities discovered her body inside the trunk of a car in New Jersey. Malayshia Alford, who had been living with a foster family in West Philadelphia, was found dead after more than a week of searching by relatives, police and federal investigators. Her foster mother, Carprice Williams, 36, has since been arrested and charged with murder and several other offenses as investigators work to establish exactly what happened to the little girl.

Malayshia was last believed to have been seen alive entering her home on North Simpson Street in Philadelphia on October 22, 2026. Four days later, on October 26, Williams reported the child missing, claiming she had failed to return home from school. Investigators later determined that Malayshia had not been seen outside the home after October 22. The disappearance prompted a major search involving Philadelphia police, the FBI and investigators from New Jersey.

A crucial breakthrough came when authorities obtained surveillance footage showing a person removing what investigators believe was Malayshia’s body from the home shortly before 2 a.m. on October 26. The footage helped police identify a vehicle and locate someone they wanted to question. Information obtained during that investigation eventually led authorities to a car parked at an apartment complex in Lindenwold, New Jersey. At approximately 11 p.m. on November 4, officers discovered Malayshia’s body inside its trunk. Prosecutors said two vehicles were involved in moving her remains, and notably clarified that the person seen removing the body from the Philadelphia home was not Williams.

An autopsy conducted on November 5 determined that Malayshia died from blunt force trauma, and her death was classified as a homicide. During a press conference, Assistant District Attorney Ashley Toczylowski said investigators had found indications that the child had suffered abuse and that objects had allegedly been used to carry it out. Authorities have not publicly disclosed every detail of the alleged abuse or identified all individuals who may have been involved. The investigation remains active as detectives examine surveillance footage, witness statements and other evidence.

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. She was arraigned on November 6 and ordered held without bail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for November 23. Prosecutors have emphasized that the case will be pursued vigorously, while Williams remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The discovery has also raised broader questions about the foster-care system responsible for protecting children placed outside their biological families. Malayshia’s death has devastated relatives and members of her Philadelphia community, who had spent days hoping she would be found alive. Her family has asked for privacy as they grieve, while authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding her final days. For a child who depended on adults for safety and care, the tragedy has left an entire community demanding answers.