The body of 10-year-old Jalayshia ‘Malayshia’ Allford was discovered in the trunk of a car in Lindenwold, New Jersey, authorities announced Thursday. Allford had been missing for over a week from her foster home in West Philadelphia. She was last seen on October 26.
The Philadelphia Police Department, FBI agents, and community members initially focused their search efforts on a field near her home. Surveillance footage showed Allford returning from school on October 22, but she was reportedly not seen on her block afterward.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Allford’s aunt, Yolanda Brown, alleged that the foster mother waited four days to report the child missing. Authorities noted inconsistencies in the foster mother’s statement and the timeline of events.
Police located Allford’s body at the Stonington Court Apartments in Lindenwold, New Jersey, approximately 20 miles from her residence. The cause of her death has not yet been released.
A suspect has been arrested in connection with the case, and police are expected to announce charges for the girl's "brutal murder" later today. The name of the suspect has not yet been made public.
Allford’s biological father, Nazir Allford, told ABC 6 that he was struggling to cope with his daughter’s disappearance. Court records indicate that Nazir Allford had previously pleaded guilty to charges related to interference with child custody. Relatives stated that he loved his daughter and had been attempting to gain custody of her after she entered the foster system several years ago.