Foster mother faces seven counts in death of 10-year-old Malayshia Alford

Carprice Williams, 36, appeared in court Thursday to face seven criminal charges stemming from the death of her foster daughter, Malayshia Alford, 10. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel announced the charges at a press conference, concluding weeks of investigation into the child's disappearance.

The timeline of the case began on Oct. 22, when Alford was last seen alive at the residence of Williams in the 500 block of North Simpson Street in West Philadelphia. The child was officially reported missing to the Philadelphia Police Department on Oct. 26. Surveillance footage captured at approximately 2 a.m. that same day showed an individual removing what investigators identified as Alford's body from the home.

On Nov. 2, police deployed cadaver dogs to search the neighborhood where Alford lived. Pennsylvania State Police simultaneously issued a missing persons flyer, stating their belief that Alford was at risk for harm or injury. The investigation accelerated on Nov. 4, when officers tracked a vehicle associated with the surveillance footage to Lindenwold, New Jersey, around 11 p.m.

Assistant District Attorney Ashley Toczylowski explained that the video allowed investigators to identify a suspect car involved in moving the body. That lead led to the location of an unidentified person who assisted officers in finding Alford's remains in the vehicle.

Williams was charged with murder, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of an instrument of crime, reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse. The charges reflect the findings of the Philadelphia Police Department and the District Attorney's Office following the discovery of the body in New Jersey.

The press conference on Thursday marked the formal presentation of the case to the public. Officials confirmed that all charges were filed based on physical evidence and witness testimony gathered during the four days between the search of the neighborhood and the recovery of the body.