Kada Scott Killed by Gunshot; King Charged

The Philadelphia Medical Examiner has ruled 23-year-old Kada Scott’s death a homicide, finding she died of a gunshot wound to the head and listing her date of death as Oct. 18, 2025. Her remains were found Oct. 18 in a shallow grave behind the abandoned Ada H. Lewis Middle School near the Awbury Arboretum after a tip prompted investigators to search the site again. The Philadelphia District Attorney approved murder charges Wednesday against 21-year-old Keon King, who faces additional counts including robbery, theft, firearm violations, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, conspiracy and obstruction; he is being held amid reports of a $2.5 million bail and other reports that he is being held without bail. Investigators and court records say phone data and surveillance place King with Scott after they met at her workplace the night she vanished Oct. 4, that a text exchange included the phrase “kidnap me again,” and that Scott’s phone went dark after they were together. Authorities allege King used a stolen Hyundai Accent to transport Scott — the vehicle was later burned and compacted — and say at least one other person may have helped move and bury the body; prosecutors have reopened an earlier assault case linked to King and the investigation and preparations for arraignment are ongoing.