A Philadelphia man was arrested and charged with kidnapping Kada Scott, a 23-year-old woman who remains missing more than a week after her disappearance.
Keon King, 21, surrendered to police on Tuesday, Oct. 14, officials announced during a press conference on Wednesday, Oct. 15. While King is accused of kidnapping Scott, the woman has yet to be found following her disappearance on Oct. 4.
### Police Search at Abandoned School
After announcing King’s arrest, police searched Ada H. Lewis Middle School, an abandoned building located on the 6100 block of Ardleigh Street in Philadelphia. Police received a tip about evidence found outside the school’s property.
“Shortly after arriving out here, we were able to locate some physical evidence which ties Miss Scott to this scene,” said Philadelphia Police Sergeant Eric Gripp. He did not disclose the specific evidence found.
Sources told NBC10 that officers recovered a cellphone case near the school, though it was not confirmed if it belonged to Scott. After searching the entire property, police confirmed they did not find Scott at the school.
The school is near Awbury Arboretum, where police had previously searched for Scott on Friday, Oct. 10, but found nothing.
### Vehicle Linked to King Spotted Across Philadelphia
During Wednesday’s press conference, police released a photo of King’s vehicle, which had been spotted in neighborhoods across the city, including Center City, Mount Airy, Grays Ferry, and Southwest Philadelphia.
On Wednesday afternoon around 3:10 p.m., police received a tip reporting that King’s vehicle was parked behind an apartment complex in the East Falls neighborhood. Officers responded to the Gypsy Lane Condominiums on the 4000 block of Gypsy Lane and located the vehicle in the parking lot.
Sources told NBC10 that King has family members living in the complex. Police noted the vehicle’s windows were heavily tinted, and at the time they had not determined what was inside the car. The vehicle was towed, and authorities are currently searching through it.
Law enforcement sources indicated the vehicle was listed on Facebook Marketplace roughly three weeks ago.
### King’s Criminal History
Court records reveal that King had prior charges before this latest arrest. Earlier this year, he was charged with kidnapping another woman, but the case was withdrawn in May when the victim failed to appear in court.
During that prior incident, King allegedly kidnapped a woman he knew in front of her home, forced her into a car, assaulted her, and later released her. Investigators described the case as “domestic” in nature. The kidnapping charge from that incident was refiled on Oct. 14 following King’s arrest in Scott’s disappearance.
Aside from the kidnapping charge, King’s record mostly consists of traffic violations, which are summary offenses. He also has an open DUI case from Delaware County dating to December 2024 and is currently in the pre-trial phase.
Other charges on King’s record include driving away from a police officer during a traffic stop in March 2025, fleeing police on foot in June 2025, and driving without a license on Oct. 2, 2025. His trials for these incidents are scheduled for November and December 2025.
### The Disappearance of Kada Scott
Kada Scott has been missing since Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. She disappeared while working an overnight shift at The Terrace at Chestnut Hill, a nursing home on East Abington Avenue.
Scott’s family last saw her at approximately 9:45 p.m. that evening as she left her home on the 8300 block of Rodney Street to head to work. Police reported that she never completed her shift.
Scott drove and parked her car at the nursing home before disappearing. The vehicle remained in the nursing home parking lot after she was reported missing.
Prior to her disappearance, Scott had reported harassment through her phone, according to investigators. Police have observed no cellphone activity from Scott since she went missing.
Authorities confirmed King was the last person to have contact with Scott before her disappearance. King and Scott knew each other beforehand, though the duration of their acquaintance remains unclear.
### Ongoing Search and Appeal for Information
Scott’s family remains hopeful and spent the last weekend canvassing the neighborhood where she was last seen, distributing flyers in an effort to gather information.
“We are just trying to figure out more. As much as we can,” said Sanaya Murray, Scott’s friend.
Philadelphia Police and the FBI continue to investigate, treating the case as a missing person matter. They urge anyone with information about Scott’s whereabouts or anyone who may have been victimized by King in the past to come forward.
“Anyone that may have been involved with this individual or anyone that may know this individual, please at this point in time make that phone call, feel comfortable enough to call us and let us know if you have any information regarding this person regarding any interaction you’ve had with this individual,” said Philadelphia Police 1st Deputy Commissioner John Stanford.
“If you have been a victim of any crime regarding this individual, we want you to understand that now is the time to make that phone call and let us know.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477).
https://www.phillytrib.com/keon-king-arrested-charged-with-kidnapping-missing-kada-scott/article_91abe6fe-696e-4369-9406-0ee1a0b14956.html
