Growing memorial honors Kada Scott amid ongoing investigation

PHILADELPHIA (WPHL) — A memorial for Kada Scott grows near the site where her remains were found in a wooded area behind the vacant Ada Lewis Middle School building in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Dozens of family, friends, and community members gathered at the site in a second remembrance ceremony for the 23-year-old who first went missing the night of October 4.

“To see this happen to someone so close to me, and not understand why it happened, such a senseless, foolish crime,” Preye Korimodei said on Action News at 10 on PHL17. “Everyone was so hopeful that we would find her.”

Korimodei said Scott was going to be a bridesmaid in her wedding next month. A dress fitting was the last time she saw her. 

Scott went missing on October 4th when she left her place of work in Mt. Airy, and for weeks, police searched areas including the Mt. Airy and Germantown neighborhoods. 

Keon King, 21, turned himself in to the police in connection with her disappearance. He was originally charged with kidnapping, but through the investigation and the discovery of Scott’s remains, more charges, including arson and tampering with evidence, were added. 

He is being held on a $2.5 million bail in the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. 

Homicide charges have not yet been filed. The District Attorney said they are waiting for autopsy results to determine the cause of death.

As the community continues to wait for more charges to be filed, they want to make sure Scott is not forgotten.

“We are a city that stands on love. We know that Kada was loved,” Desiree Whitfield said on Action News at 10 on PHL17, who co-organized the vigil and balloon release ceremony.

Community leaders are collecting donations for Scott’s family. The office of Philadelphia City Councilman Anthony Phillips is accepting self-care items, food, and gift cards from Tuesday, October 21, through Friday, October 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Saturday, October 25, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.