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Malayshia Alford investigation could result in additional arrests, charges: DA
New details emerge after 36-year-old foster mom and teacher, Carprice Williams, was charged with the murder of 10-year-old Malayshia Alford. District Attorney Larry Krasner says his office has jurisdiction to go after the systems and agencies that were supposed to protect Malayshia, adding they "may end up investigating other people, and that may lead to people who are within those systems, involved in those systems, either as witnesses or some other capacity."
PHILADELPHIA - New details emerge after 36-year-old foster mom and teacher, Carprice Williams, was charged with the murder of 10-year-old Malayshia Alford.
What we know:
Community advocate Amir Barber continues to monitor the growing memorial outside the home where Malayshia lived with her foster mother, Carprice Williams, 36, now charged with Malayshia’s murder.
He’s planning a trip to Harrisburg on Thursday, with others, to push for accountability.
"You’re talking about a 10-year-old innocent girl that suffered, she suffered before she died," he says. "Everything needs to come out, everything, all the kids that his happened to, they need to speak up."
Law enforcement sources tell FOX 29 a relative of Williams led them to where they found Malayshia, in the trunk of a vehicle in Lindenwold, New Jersey on Wednesday night.
That same relative, sources say, is the one seen on surveillance video on October 22nd. Officials said the video shows someone moving Malayshia’s body from the home on North Simpson Street.
What they're saying:
FOX 29 asked District Attorney Larry Krasner on Tuesday if that person will face charges.
"I cannot confirm or deny that the person depicted in the video is a relative, but what I can say is that we are very serious and intentional about exploring whether there are other people that have committed crimes and that would include anybody that might have had direct involvement, but it would also include others who had a less direct involvement."
According to the attorney representing Malayshia’s estate, Williams, who is also a teacher with the School District of Philadelphia, was the subject of DHS child abuse investigation involving a different child in her care and had her foster home closed in 2021. Sources tell FOX 29 police also launched an investigation, but it did not result in charges.
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Attorney representing Malayshia Alford's estate speaks out as community demands answers
Authorities have charged Carprice Williams, a 36-year-old Philadelphia public school teacher, with murder and related offenses following the discovery of her 10-year-old foster daughter Malayshia Alford's body in the trunk of a car in New Jersey Wednesday night, according to District Attorney Larry Krasner at a Thursday press conference. The city, family, and school communities are calling for answers about how Malayshia was placed in Williams's care despite warnings linked to the foster system, according to officials and attorneys for the child's family.
District Attorney Krasnser said to his knowledge, his office became aware of that investigation after Williams’ arrest last week.
"It involved very serious injuries to a child that was in foster care under the care of Caprice Williams and obviously that is important and concerning."
Dig deeper:
Nearly 20 years ago, a Philadelphia Grand Jury investigation led to criminal charges against nine people following the death of Danieal Kelly, 14, in August 2006 in West Philadelphia.
Investigators said Kelly, who had cerebral palsy, died of severe starvation and malnutrition, and the investigation found serious failures by the Department of Human Services and a private contractor. Those failures included that workers ignored at least five reports of mistreatment.
FOX 29 asked District Attorney Krasner if his office has jurisdiction to go after the systems and agencies that were supposed to protect Malayshia.
"We do have jurisdiction to look at those things, obviously when you start to investigate an incident that does involve systems, you may end up investigating other people, and that may lead to people who are within those systems, involved in those systems, either as witnesses or some other capacity," he says.
What's next:
The District Attorney says an announcement could come as early as Thursday.
The Source: The information in this article is from Philadelphia police, District Attorney Larry Krasner's office, and community advocate Amir Barber.