The man arrested last week for kidnapping a woman who was found dead on Saturday has been charged with her murder, Pennsylvania authorities announced on Wednesday.
According to WCAU, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office approved new charges against Keon King, 21. King is now charged with murder, robbery, theft, violation of the Uniform Firearms Act, possessing an instrument of crime, tampering with evidence, abuse of corpse, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice.
The medical examiner’s office confirmed Kada Scott’s death was a homicide. The Philadelphia Department of Health told WCAU that they expect to release additional information on Thursday, as Scott’s exact cause of death remains undisclosed.
The ME has ruled that the cause of death for Kada Scott is homicide. Our investigators have completed their work and are forwarding a recommendation of murder charges to the DAO for charging. We will continue to pursue justice for Ms. Scott, her family, and all victims of crime.
— Frank Vanore (@PPDFrankVanore) October 22, 2025
On Saturday, Scott’s body was discovered behind an abandoned school near the Awbury Arboretum in Germantown. Her body was located in a wooded area in a shallow grave.
Philadelphia Police Department John Stanford said a tip they received on Saturday led them to where the remains were located. The remains appear to be a week old or less, he also said.
Stanford said they had searched the school earlier this week, but the woods made the search difficult.
Last Wednesday, police arrested King in connection with Scott’s disappearance. Philadelphia police believe King was the last person with Scott, 23, before she vanished on October 4.
On October 4, Scott left early from her overnight shift at a nursing home. Cell phone data allegedly indicated that King was traveling with Scott’s phone that night before it was turned off. Scott’s car was found in the nursing home’s parking lot.
Philadelphia Police Captain John Craig said Scott has no history of disappearing, but she told her family about someone harassing her over the phone shortly before she vanished.
Police said they are investigating the possibility of a second suspect who was allegedly seen helping King carry a large object near where Scott’s body was found.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that King was charged twice in the past year for assaulting an ex-girlfriend. While he was accused of kidnapping the woman and choking her in a vehicle, prosecutors dropped both cases after she did not appear in court.
King remains jailed on $2.5 million bail. It is unclear whether his bail will be updated in light of the latest murder charge.
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[Feature Photo: Philadelphia police]
