Philly teacher, foster mother charged with 10-year-old girl’s murder

A tragic ending tonight in the search for a 10-year-old missing girl in Philadelphia. The body of Malaysia Alford found inside the trunk of a car in New Jersey, and her foster mother is now charged with her murder. It's 11 o'clock. I'm Jason Martinez. I'm Sheba Russell. 36-year-old Caprice Williams is facing numerous charges tonight as the community tries to make sense of how all of this happened. We have team coverage for you tonight. Shawnette Wilson is at a growing memorial outside Malaysia's foster home in West Philadelphia. Let's start with Dawn Timoney to explain what we know about the investigation. Philadelphia police, the district attorney's office, and the FBI all working countless hours to find this missing little girl. The community joining in on the search. Everyone hoping it would have a different outcome. And tonight, the woman entrusted to care for her, her foster mom, is charged with taking her young life. I want to be very clear that there will be a just and And there will be a vigorous... Prosecution in this case. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announcing murder, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse and other charges against 36-year-old Caprice Williams in the brutal killing of her foster child, 10-year-old Malaysia Alford. Heartbroken members of the little girl's biological family attending the news conference after her body was discovered late last night following an intense 10-day search by police and the FBI. This has been a very hard time for the family. We appreciate the many prayers and countless hours of searching for our loved one. This is so hard to digest. The last time Malaysia was seen alive, after school, Thursday, October 22nd, on the 500 block of North Simpson Street in West Philadelphia, where she lived with her foster mom. She was reported missing on Monday, October 26th. Williams, whose sources tell us, is also a teacher in the Philadelphia school district and seen here in this video telling police Malaysia had not come home from school and wasn't answering her phone. Police say they recovered surveillance video from just before two o'clock Monday morning, telling a much different story. There was video that shows what we believe to be her body being moved out of the home. The person was carrying a bag and placed it in a vehicle. The DA says it was not the suspect, but that video led them to a car that then led them to a second vehicle where investigators ultimately made a chilling discovery. In the evening of last night, around 11 p.m., is when law enforcement officials were able to locate her in the trunk of a vehicle in New Jersey. And it was immediately apparent that she had been there for a while. That car parked in the Stonington Court Apartments in Lindenwald, 20 miles from where she lived with her foster mom, her body taken to the New Jersey Medical Examiner's Office. A preliminary post-mortem examination was performed, and at this point, the initial cause of death is blunt force trauma, and the manner of death has been ruled a homicide. Investigators would not say what was used to kill Malaysia. But did say this. We do have an indication that there were instances of abuse happening, and that items were used to carry out that abuse. She won't be forgotten, that we will work with our law enforcement partners to prevent this ever happening again. Every child deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood, and in particular, their home. Malaysia's family tearfully addressing the media. They loved her. The mother and father loved her, no matter what. I thank everybody for supporting me and my family during this difficult time. Keep us in your prayer because it's tough right now. The family of Malaysia now planning her funeral. Sources tell us it was a relative of the foster mom who removed her body from the home and a relative who led police to the car where she was found. Law enforcement would not say if anyone else would be facing charges. Dawn Timoney, Fox 29 News. And as Dawn just mentioned, sources tell us Caprice Williams was a teacher with the School District of Philadelphia. The district has not confirmed that, but did put out a statement tonight saying, in part, the School District of Philadelphia is heartbroken to learn of the tragic death of 10-year-old Robert E. Lamberton student Malaysia Alford. We wish to extend our deepest condolences and sincerest sympathy to her family, friends, It is hard to put into words what her family, friends, and the community are feeling. Our Shawnette Wilson has more from that memorial outside Malaysia's foster home. Tonight I talked to a parent who says that the woman charged in Malaysia's murder is her daughter's teacher. That parent joined many more who came out tonight grieving and asking the question, why? It's not the outcome we wanted. Late this evening, the uncle of 10-year-old Malaysia Alford returned to the West Philly home on Simpson Street where she lived to speak with community members who have been gathering there. He had just returned from the press conference the district attorney held to announce charges against Malaysia's foster care mother, Caprice Williams. The city was helping us by having her here. Oh, yeah. Dozens stood outside all evening, surrounding the memorial that continues to grow. Also prayed. Right now, Heavenly Father, we are in need of comfort. The city of Philadelphia and its people right now, Lord, we are broken. We are devastated. Raineese Hodges brought her 11-year-old daughter, Zayla, who broke down in tears. Zayla made a poster with messages for Malaysia. She was nice to everybody. She was friendly to everybody. And last time I saw her was I gave her a hug and I haven't seen her since. Hodges says Malaysia's foster care mother was currently her daughter's teacher at Cassidy Elementary and had brought Malaysia to work with her on various occasions, Although Malaysia attended a... different school. That was her teacher and she just she just keep asking a lot of questions and I don't even have the answers. It's just been scary just wondering scared to let her go walk to school picking her up every day walking with her and then to hear that it was her it's just crazy. I've been a teacher for two years I just don't understand it. A source tells Fox 29 Williams is in fact a teacher in the Philadelphia school district. Hodges says Williams hadn't been there in days. I think last week sometime. So they, you know, the kids been wondering, like, what's really going on? Where's Dr. Williams? John Taylor was here tonight supporting the family and community. He also led a prayer. We don't always understand why, but we come together as a community, as a family, as a church. And we try to support, you know, we don't want this thing to happen to anybody. But when it does happen, we have to come together. Seanette Wilson, Fox 29 News. And as this investigation continues to unfold and new information comes to light, Fox 29 will have continuing coverage. We'll bring you the latest developments here on air on our website and streaming on Fox Local.