Unalived Mysteries: Kada Scott

Kada Scott was a 23-year-old Black woman from Philadelphia who carried both hope and promise. She recently graduated from college. Her family noted she was a Penn State alum. She had begun work at the assisted-living facility The Terrace at Chestnut Hill. It is located in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia.

In addition to her new job, she had aspirations. Before her disappearance, she was reportedly preparing to take part in the Miss Pennsylvania USA 2026 pageant. This was giving her an even stronger platform and vision for her future.

Friends and family described her as “easygoing,” “caring,” someone who didn’t have known enemies. Her father, Kevin Scott, said that the news of her being harassed came as a surprise.

For a mother writing this, it is heartbreaking to think of someone so young disappearing like this. They were full of light and possibilities. Their absence from our community is deeply felt.

The Disappearance & Investigation Timeline

Here is the timeline of what happened:

• Saturday, October 4, 2025: Kada leaves home around ~9:45 p.m. from the 8300 block of Rodney Street in East Mount Airy, Philadelphia, to start her overnight shift at The Terrace at Chestnut Hill.
• After she arrives at work, her car is parked at the facility’s lot but instead of completing her shift, she disappears. Her phone and social-media go silent.
• In the days before her disappearance, she told friends she had been receiving harassing phone calls. Investigators say there was no activity on her cell phone or social media after the disappearance.
• October 10: Searchers and police search the nearby Awbury Arboretum and surrounding wooded areas but find no major breakthrough.
• Tuesday, October 14: Keon King, age 21, surrenders to police. Law enforcement identify him as the last person known to have been in contact with Kada.
• Wednesday, October 15: Charges announced: King is charged with kidnapping, stalking, and other offenses in connection with Kada’s disappearance. Investigators release evidence including a vehicle and personal items found near a search site.
• Saturday, October 18: Police respond to an anonymous tip. They locate female human remains in a shallow grave behind the former Ada H. Lewis Middle School. This is in the East Germantown neighborhood (near the Awbury Arboretum search area). Investigators say the remains appear to be those of a female. They are sending them to the Medical Examiner for identification.
• October 19: Public confirmation has been announced. Human remains have been found in the search for Kada Scott in the same wooded area. Authorities have not yet positively identified them as hers. However, all signs point in that direction. The family is being consulted.

The Suspect & Legal Updates

• Keon King, 21, is the key suspect. Investigators believe he was the last person known to be in contact with Kada before her disappearance.
• King also had a previously similar case earlier in 2025: authorities say he allegedly kidnapped and assaulted another woman, but that case was dropped after the victim failed to appear in court. Those charges are now being refiled.
• The vehicle of interest is a gold 1999 Toyota Camry (linked to King). Investigators believe Kada may have been in the vehicle.
• Bail for King in the current case is set at $2.5 million.
• Officials, including Larry Krasner, the Philadelphia District Attorney, publicly acknowledged systemic issues. Problems like bail and prior case handling may have allowed dangerous individuals to remain free. This oversight could pose a risk.

What Has Ended — and What Remains Unclear

What is certain now: human remains have been found in connection with the investigation for Kada Scott. The location and evidence strongly point to her disappearance resulting in tragedy.

What remains unclear:

• Formal positive identification of the remains is pending. Authorities have not yet publicly confirmed that the remains belong to Kada.
• The exact motive still needs to be determined. The full timeline of events between her last seen moment and disappearance also needs to be established. It is not yet clear whether any others were involved.
• The question of additional victims: authorities are encouraging anyone who may have encountered King to come forward.

Why This Matters — Especially for Black Women and Mothers

As a Black woman—and as a mother—I cannot help but reflect on what this loss means. Kada was young, full of plans. Her story echoes too many of ours: coming home from work, being harassed, feeling vulnerable, then vanishing.

Black women too often occupy the space of “unseen” in investigations and media. The community must stay vigilant and persistent. Kada’s case shows how even when a well-documented disappearance occurs, obstacles remain—from bail issues to dropped charges in prior cases. The system must hold up our daughters, sisters, mothers.

Her family has been through unimaginable grief, hope fading and reforming each day. They are still pleading for information. The community search, flyers, social support—they remind us that collective watchfulness is essential.

Closing Thoughts

It hurts to admit that for a moment the search ended in the discovery of remains. It breaks my heart that a young Black woman with promise may become another statistic. But the ending isn’t just about loss—it’s also about accountability. The suspect is in custody; the spotlight is on systemic failings; the family will seek justice.

We cannot let Kada’s name fade. We must carry it—not just for her sake, but for all our daughters; those that are still here, missing, and passed on. We must demand that their stories matter, their safety matters, our community matters.

Will you help keep that promise?