Body of Missing Philadelphia Beauty Queen Discovered

An anonymous tip led investigators to a body, now believed to be that of a Philadelphia beauty queen who vanished two weeks prior. According to a police spokesperson, the remains were found on Saturday at an abandoned school site, and they are thought to belong to 23-year-old Kadda Scott.

John Stanford, First Deputy Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department, informed reporters at a press conference that the body was uncovered in a wooded area after officers conducted a search around 10 a.m. local time, prompted by the tip. The medical examiner’s office is now working to confirm the identity and determine the cause of death.

Earlier this week, police discovered evidence indicating a young woman had been present in the area, as reported by Fox 29.

The remains were located in a shallow grave near the former Ada Lewis Middle School.

The last sighting of Scott was just before she went missing; she was supposed to work night shifts at a nursing home in early October, and her car was later found at that location.

Keion King, 21, has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and other offenses linked to Scott’s disappearance, with bail set at $2.5 million, reports indicate.

King had previously faced charges for kidnapping and assaulting another woman earlier this year, although that case was dropped when key witnesses did not show up in court. Authorities are now looking into Scott’s case, considering that it might reveal a troubling pattern of behavior.

District Attorney Larry Krasner mentioned earlier this week that the office would provide further details as investigators continue to look into Scott’s final activities and any new forensic information that may arise.

Krasner acknowledged there could have been better action taken regarding a prior case that involved King, reflecting on why authorities did not pursue that earlier kidnapping charge more aggressively.

Scott was a recent Penn State University graduate who had begun participating in beauty pageants. She had expressed joy about taking part in her first pageant, Miss USA, this past summer and hoped to compete again.

Before her disappearance, Scott reportedly confided in her loved ones about being harassed by an unknown individual via phone. Reports also suggested that evidence indicated she had interacted with King and that their meeting seemed to have occurred right after she finished her work on October 4.