Ten-year-old Malayshia Alford, affectionately known as “May,” should have been looking forward to growing up, making memories and enjoying the simple things of childhood. Instead, her family is facing an unimaginable loss after the little girl was found dead inside the trunk of a car in New Jersey, following more than a week of searching for her. Her foster mother, 36-year-old Caprice Williams, has now been charged with murder.
Malayshia was last seen alive on October 22, 2026, at the home where she lived with Williams in the 500 block of North Simpson Street in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Four days later, on October 26, she was reported missing. What began as a search for a missing child quickly turned into a major investigation involving Philadelphia police, the FBI and members of the community.
For days, officers and volunteers worked to find the 10-year-old. Investigators searched areas around her West Philadelphia neighborhood, including nearby locations where they believed she might have gone. On November 2, police also used cadaver dogs during searches in the neighborhood as concerns about her safety continued to grow.
A major development came when investigators obtained surveillance footage from the early morning hours of October 26. The video, recorded shortly before 2 a.m., appeared to show someone removing what authorities believed was Malayshia’s body from the home where she had been living. That discovery changed the direction of the investigation.
According to prosecutors, the footage helped investigators identify a vehicle believed to have been involved in moving the child’s body. Their inquiries led them to a person connected to that vehicle. Information obtained during the interview eventually helped authorities locate Malayshia’s remains.
On Wednesday night, November 4, investigators found the little girl’s body inside the trunk of a vehicle at the Stonington Court Apartments in Lindenwold, Camden County, New Jersey. The discovery brought a painful end to a search that had lasted more than a week. Authorities also said her body had been moved from one vehicle to another before it was found.
The initial autopsy indicated that Malayshia died from blunt force trauma, and officials ruled her death a homicide. Assistant District Attorney Ashley Toczylowski also disclosed that investigators had found indications of abuse and believed objects had been used in carrying it out. The investigation remains ongoing.
On Thursday, November 5, Williams was charged with murder and several related offenses. Those charges include endangering the welfare of a child, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of an instrument of crime, reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse. Williams is accused of involvement in the little girl’s death, and the charges have yet to be proven in court.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced the charges alongside other officials. Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel spoke about the life Malayshia should have been allowed to enjoy, saying she deserved safety, love and the opportunity to grow up. Her death has also left family members, neighbors and community members struggling to understand how a child so young could lose her life under such circumstances.
Pink balloons, flowers and teddy bears became part of a growing memorial as people gathered to remember Malayshia. Her family is now left with memories of a little girl whose life ended far too early. At just 10 years old, she had so much more of childhood ahead of her.
Malayshia was more than a missing-person report or a name in a criminal investigation. She was a daughter, a loved one and a little girl whose life mattered. Her family deserves answers, and the circumstances surrounding her death deserve a thorough investigation.