Kada Scott’s parents say their ‘hearts are shattered’ by her death

The man accused of kidnapping the East Mount Airy woman is facing new charges for burning a car used in the alleged abduction, prosecutors say.

The parents of Kada Scott said Monday they are heartbroken by the death of their 23-year-old daughter, whose body was found buried at a shuttered school in East Germantown on Saturday.

“Our hearts are shattered, yet we are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, support and prayers from people across the nation and around the world,” Scott’s parents said in a statement read at a press update on the case.

Keon King, the 21-year-old man charged with kidnapping Scott on Oct. 4, is now also facing arson, tampering with evidence and related charges for allegedly burning a stolen Hyundai Accent used in the abduction, prosecutors said.

Surveillance footage shows King parking the Hyundai in a lot to Awbury Recreation Center, which borders Ada H.H. Middle School, on Oct 4. — the night Scott was last seen. He allegedly left the the car there, but returned on Oct. 6 to retrieve the vehicle and set fire to it on Oct. 7 on 2300 block of 74th Avenue.

King allegedly removed King’s body from the car on Oct. 6, the Inquirer reported Sunday, citing law enforcement sources.

The Hyundai was reported stolen on Oct. 3 from the area around 6600 Sprague St. in East Mount Airy. Investigators originally asked the public for help finding a gold Toyota Camry, which Assistant District Attorney Ashley Toczylowski said Monday was also seen on video at the rec center parking lot. Investigators believe people in both vehicles were working together.

Investigators returned to the school, near Awbury Arboretum, on Friday after receiving an anonymous tip. They had searched the area two days earlier and found Scott’s debit card and phone case, but the tip urged them to “go back” and included specific details about where to look.

Scott’s body was found in a shallow grave along a wooden fence that separates the school from the recreation center. DNA testing matched the remains to Scott’s parents.

Scott, of East Mount Airy, disappeared Oct. 4, when she reported for work at a Chestnut Hill assisted living facility around 9:45 p.m. Her car was found in the parking lot, but she never finished her shift.

King is believed to be the last person who had contact with her, but investigators have not shared how he knew her. On Tuesday, he was arrested and charged with kidnapping and reckless endangerment.

Toczylowski said King’s cell phone data shows he was at all the locations involved in the investigation, but she added that there’s reason to believe other people may be involved.

Prosecutors said additional charges likely will be filed in the case, but they are unsure when that will happen. District Attorney Larry Krasner and a representative from the medical examiner’s office said homicide charges are likely.

In April, King was arrested for allegedly kidnapping and strangling another woman. It was the second time he was taken into custody this year due to an incident involving the woman. But the charges were dropped after the alleged victim and eyewitnesses did not appear in court on two occasions. The charges were refiled after Scott’s disappearance, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 4.

On Friday, Krasner, who is running for his third term against Republican Pat Dugan in November’s general election, blamed King’s release on the cash bail system. He said King had the cash on hand to pay for his release “almost immediately.” Krasner said that can make it intimidating for witnesses to appear in court, because they know the defendant is not in custody.

Krasner said prosecutors could have moved forward with the case by relying on TikTok videos that allegedly show King approaching the woman’s house in January and looking inside while she says to call police and urges him to go away. But he called that a “sophisticated approach” that is “not usually an easy thing to do.”

King remains in custody with bail set at 10% of $2.5 million. A preliminary hearing date will likely be set Monday afternoon.

Councilmember Anthony Phillips, who represents the Ninth district, said his office is collecting toiletries, self-care items and gift cards for the Scott family.