In a city where the scars of violence run deep through cracked sidewalks and shadowed alleyways, the tragic tale of Kada Scott has gripped Philadelphia like a vise. The 23-year-old nursing assistant, known for her radiant smile, boundless kindness, and unyielding spirit, vanished without a trace during a routine overnight shift at an assisted living facility. What began as a frantic missing persons alert spiraled into a nightmare of abduction, arson, and cold-blooded murder. Now, nearly a month after her lifeless body was unearthed from a shallow grave behind an abandoned school, Kada’s devastated parents have issued a poignant final public plea through the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office—a raw, heart-wrenching statement that lays bare their unimaginable sorrow while begging for privacy as they prepare to lay their daughter to rest.

The statement, released on October 27 at the explicit request of Kada’s parents, Kevin and Donna Scott, resonates like a thunderclap in the ongoing storm of grief and outrage. Read aloud by DA spokesperson Jane Doe during a somber press briefing, it paints a portrait of a family shattered yet sustained by an outpouring of love from a city—and a nation—that refused to forget. “We, the parents of Kada Scott, first wish to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Mayor Cherelle Parker, the citizens of Philadelphia, and countless supporters throughout the region for the overwhelming outpouring of love, compassion, and prayers shown to our family during this devastating time,” the words begin, each syllable dripping with gratitude amid the abyss of loss. “Your support has given us strength as we continue to navigate the unimaginable loss of our daughter.”

As Philadelphia reels from the brutality of Kada’s slaying—gunshot to the head, body dumped like refuse in the woods behind the derelict Ada H. Lewis Middle School—the Scotts’ message serves as both eulogy and edict. They declare it their “final public statement until after our beloved daughter has been laid to rest,” directing all funeral inquiries to Meachem & Prioleau Funeral Home. They praise DA Larry Krasner and his team for their “cooperation, transparency, and commitment,” while firmly routing future queries through official channels: the DA’s office for criminal proceedings, The Marrone Law Firm for legal matters. “We respectfully ask that the public and media continue to honor our privacy as we prepare to lay Kada to rest,” they conclude, signing off with “gratitude and continued faith.”

This missive arrives at a pivotal juncture, just days after Krasner dropped a bombshell at an October 20 presser: new arson charges against prime suspect Keon King, 21, and hints of shadowy accomplices still at large. King’s black Hyundai Accent—stolen, torched to ash—was the chariot of horror that ferried Kada’s body to its grave, cell data and surveillance pinning him at every sinister stop. But conspiracy counts whisper of enablers, co-conspirators who may have helped cover the tracks. “We do have reason to believe that other people may have been involved after the fact,” Assistant DA Ashley Toczylowski revealed coolly, her words igniting fresh fury. As King rots in jail on $2.5 million bail, the hunt intensifies: Who else knew? Who helped burn the evidence?

To unravel this tapestry of terror, journey back to October 4, 2025—a crisp fall evening when Kada Scott kissed her mother goodbye and drove to The Terrace at Chestnut Hill, an upscale senior living haven in East Mount Airy. At 10 p.m., the 23-year-old Penn State grad clocked in for her overnight shift, her scrubs crisp, her spirit unbroken. Good with the elderly—reading bedtime stories, holding frail hands—Kada was the facility’s shining star. But by 10:30 p.m., she was gone. Her Hyundai left abandoned in the lot, phone, iPad, and keys vanished with her. Conflicting reports from coworkers muddled the alarm; her parents, asleep at home, awoke to dread.

By October 5, Kevin Scott stormed police headquarters: “My daughter’s missing!” Flyers blanketed the city—Kada’s beaming face, 5’5″, 130 pounds, brown eyes sparkling. Social media erupted: #FindKada trended, vigils lit Chestnut Hill. The FBI joined October 11, scouring Awbury Arboretum after tips. Homicide detectives prowled from day one. Then, October 18: An anonymous whisper led cops to the wooded fringes behind Ada Lewis Middle School—a crumbling relic in East Germantown, weeds choking its halls. There, in a shallow pit of dirt and decay, Kada’s remains. DNA confirmed it October 19. Autopsy: Single gunshot to the head. Homicide.

Enter Keon King, a specter from Kada’s past. The 21-year-old drifter—tall, wiry, with a rap sheet shadowed by a dismissed kidnapping charge earlier that year—knew Kada through fleeting cell pings. Last contact: October 4. Arrested October 16 on kidnapping, false imprisonment, stalking, he now faces a felony avalanche: arson, causing catastrophe, conspiracy, unauthorized auto use, evidence tampering, reckless endangerment, stolen property receipt. The Hyundai? King’s Uber of death—cell geofencing nailed him torching it post-dump. “This vehicle was on scene at all pertinent points,” Toczylowski hammered.

Krasner’s October 20 briefing crackled with tension. Flanked by First Assistant Robert Listenbee and homicide brass, he owned past bail lapses—”We could’ve done better”—while crediting the public: “Tips from citizens cracked this.” Councilman Anthony Phillips choked up: “Kada mattered. She was kind—to friends, family, everyone.” Over 100 gathered that night for a candlelit vigil at the school, flames dancing like Kada’s lost laughter. Aunt Donna Scott, voice steel amid tears: “Even the worst outcome—we got our baby back. Remember her smile, her life.”

The parents’ statement, a week later, seals their retreat into grief’s cocoon. Kevin, a stoic factory worker, had bared his soul October 18: “Each day harder… I want Kada home.” Donna, the family’s rock, echoed in earlier pleas. Now, silence—save for justice’s roar. Funeral looms: Meachem & Prioleau, details private. The Marrone Firm—Joseph Marrone, Keir Bradford-Gray—shields them.

Philadelphia pulses with rage and resolve. #JusticeForKada floods TikTok, murals bloom in Germantown. Mayor Parker vowed resources; School District audits vacant properties—”No more gravesites.” Women Against Abuse spotlights stalking: “Kada’s story saves lives.” Krasner, ever the reformer, eyes upgrades: Bail reform tweaks, tipster protections.

Yet shadows linger. Accomplices? “Conspiracy implies yes,” insiders murmur. King’s preliminary hearing looms; murder indictment imminent. Was Kada stalked pre-shift? Coworker whispers? The Hyundai’s junkyard ashes hide secrets—tech wizards resurrect data.

For the Scotts, faith flickers. “Continued faith,” they vow. Kada—Penn State proud, nurse’s heart—lives in memories: Baking with mom, cheering siblings, elder hugs. Her light? Unextinguished.