Police found Kada Scott’s body behind the vacant Ada H.H. Lewis Middle School in Germantown on Saturday. Now, City Councilmember Cindy Bass is calling for the building to be demolished.
At a press conference on Monday, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and his staff confirmed that an anonymous tip led police back to the school after their first search did not find her body. Krasner said his office did not yet know the connection between the tipster and the suspect, Keon King, 21, who has been charged with kidnapping and arson for allegedly setting fire to the car used in Scott’s abduction. Krasner said murder charges would be filed pending further investigation.
In response to the news, Bass wrote a letter to the School District of Philadelphia and Superintendent Tony Watlington, calling for the building to be demolished.
“This revelation is both heartbreaking and alarming, and it confirms long-standing community concerns about dangers posed by this vacant structure,” she said.
Scott went missing in Chestnut Hill on Oct. 4, with her family reporting her missing on Oct. 5. She was last seen by coworkers leaving work at The Terrace at Chestnut Hill on East Abington Avenue.
On Monday, Krasner said there may be other suspects, but did not say how they might be involved. His staff then read a statement on behalf of Scott’s family.
The statement read, “Today, we’ll say her name, tomorrow, we’ll say her name, and forever, we will say her name. It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved daughter, Kada Scott. We kindly ask for space and privacy at this time as we process the heartbreaking events of the past few weeks. Our hearts are shattered, yet we are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, support and prayers from people across the nation and around the world.”
The statement continued, “Kada was deeply, deeply loved. Her light, kindness and beautiful spirit will forever remain in our hearts … Please honor Kada’s memory by showing kindness and care to one another, just as she did every day of her life.”
Later on Monday, community members, along with state Rep. Andre Carroll, held a candlelight vigil outside the school.
“I am deeply heartbroken by the tragic loss of Kada Scott and the discovery of her body here in our community,” Carroll said in a statement. “My heart aches for Kada’s family, her friends and everyone who loved her. No family should ever have to endure this kind of pain.”
At the vigil, Carroll was joined by several community members and politicians, including, state Reps. Tarik Khan and Chris Rabb, City Councilmembers Nicolas O’Rourke and Kendra Brooks, and a representative of state Sen. Art Haywood’s office.
“This touches home,” O’Rourke said at the vigil. “The idea that young Black girls cannot be safe even at their own workplace, in their own city, in their own town, is unacceptable.”
Rabb followed, telling the crowd about Scott reaching out to his office seeking volunteer work.
Kada is “my son’s age,” he said. “When I see these young people, I see my babies. When you see somebody coming with such love, such an open heart, just wanting to serve, it renews your your faith in humanity, in young people, in community. She was trying to give, she wasn’t trying to take, but someone took her from us.”
O’Rourke finished by singing the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and saying a prayer for Scott. Attendees then lit candles and placed them under a tree with a picture of Scott.
Ada Lewis School development history
At the vigil, community members shouted for the 52-year-old building to be torn down as Bass had recommended.
In 2021, Ken Weinstein’s Philly Office Retail submitted a proposal to purchase the middle school property, which has been vacant since 2008, and develop it into a neighborhood of 76 new twin homes.
The redevelopment plan received support letters from two local Registered Community Organizations and 45 near neighbors. While the proposal was initially considered, the school district did not go through with the sale.
In February, the Local reached out to the school district, asking what it planned to do with the vacant property. Neighbors had expressed concerns over crime and vandalism at the former middle school.
In response, a spokesperson for the school district told the Local in February, “The District’s main priority for instructional facilities is to support students and school communities. The ongoing Facility Planning process will provide guidance and inform future decisions about the management and/or disposition of district properties, including surplus and vacant buildings.”
In a statement on Monday, Watlington said, “Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Kada Scott as the Philadelphia Police Department continues to investigate and bring closure to the Scott family … The District’s Operations Division and the Office of School Safety are reviewing protocols for our vacant properties, in alignment with our priority to create and maintain safe and healthy spaces in every neighborhood.”
Tommy Tucker can be reached at Tommy@chestnuthilllocal.com.
