Police in Philadelphia say human remains discovered over the weekend may belong to 23-year-old beauty queen Kada Scott, who has been missing since October 4.
The grim discovery was made on Saturday morning behind Ada H. Lewis Middle School in East Germantown, following what investigators described as a “very specific tip.”
According to First Deputy Commissioner John Stanford, officers uncovered a shallow grave during a targeted search of a wooded area near the abandoned school.
“This is a heartbreaking development, and our thoughts are with Kada’s family and loved ones during this extremely difficult time,” Stanford said. “The Philadelphia Police Department remains committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring that justice is served.”
Though the medical examiner has not yet officially confirmed the identity of the remains, police say “all indications” point to them belonging to a female, and Scott’s family has been informed of the discovery.
Kada Scott, a recent Penn State graduate and former Miss USA hopeful, was last seen leaving her job at an assisted living facility in Chestnut Hill around 9:30 p.m. on October 4. Her car was found abandoned at her workplace, with her phone turned off sparking an immediate search effort by police and volunteers.
Family members and community volunteers have searched tirelessly since herv disappearance. One volunteer described the moment they found the disturbed ground:
“We saw fresh dirt under a board, started digging with our hands and there was a strange smell coming from the ground,” he told NBC10 Philadelphia.
The wooded school property, located about 2.5 miles from Scott’s workplace, had been searched earlier in the week after police located a 1999 Toyota Camry believed to have been connected to her case. Inside the vehicle were Scott’s debit card, phone case, and other personal belongings.
Police have arrested 21-year-old Keon King in connection with Scott’s disappearance. He faces charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment, stalking, and tampering with physical evidence, according to court records.
King is currently being held on a $2.5 million bond at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility and is due in court on November 3. As of Sunday, he has not been charged in connection with the body found.
Authorities say King has a history of violent behavior, including a 2024 incident in which he allegedly assaulted and abducted a woman an incident partially captured in a viral TikTok video showing a hooded man attempting to break into a home.
Prosecutors revealed that charges from those earlier cases were later withdrawn after the victim failed to appear in court, but they have since reinstated the kidnapping charges following King’s recent arrest.
Police continue to investigate the case as they await official confirmation from the medical examiner’s office.
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