WEST PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA | CRIME | November 7, 2026
Quick Take
- A West Philadelphia foster mother who works as a city schoolteacher is charged with murder in the death of the 10-year-old girl in her care.
- The girl’s body was found in the trunk of a car in Lindenwold, New Jersey, after a search of more than a week.
- A lawsuit says state officials had recommended years earlier that Williams never foster again.
What’s happening?
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner says Carprice Williams faces seven charges in the girl’s death. They are murder, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of an instrument of crime, recklessly endangering another person, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse.
The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. Williams was denied bail at her arraignment. The Defender Association of Philadelphia, which represents her, has declined to comment. Like anyone charged with a crime, she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Where and when?
The girl lived with Williams on the 500 block of North Simpson Street. She missed school on Friday, October 23, 2026, and Monday, October 26, 2026. Williams reported her missing on the afternoon of October 26. Investigators later determined she was last seen alive on October 22.
Philadelphia police, FBI agents and neighbors searched West Philadelphia for more than a week. Video footage and a witness eventually led investigators to New Jersey. Police say one of Williams’ relatives directed them to the car at the Stonington Court Apartments in Lindenwold. The body was found in the trunk at about 11 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
Krasner said the person who allegedly moved the body was not Williams. He did not say who that person was.
Who feels it most?
Williams taught fifth grade in the School District of Philadelphia, and the girl attended city schools. The district has offered support services to students and staff at the schools affected.
The case is also raising hard questions about foster care oversight. According to a lawsuit settled this year and reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Williams severely abused another child about five years ago. After that, state officials recommended she never again be a foster parent. Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services declined to comment.
What should you do?
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected in Pennsylvania, report it to ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313, which is open 24 hours a day. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
Anyone with information about how the girl’s body was moved to New Jersey can contact the Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit. Investigators are still working to determine who else may have been involved.
What comes next?
Williams will stay in custody while her case moves through Philadelphia courts. Prosecutors have said the investigation is ongoing, and more charges are possible, including against anyone who helped hide the body.
Child welfare advocates and local leaders are also asking whether earlier warnings about Williams were shared with the agencies that placed the girl in her home, and with the school district that employed her. Those questions are likely to shape any review of how this placement was approved.
By the Numbers
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Reported missing | October 26, 2026 |
| Body found | November 4, 2026 |
| Criminal charges | 7 |
| Distance from home | About 15 miles |
Have a question about what’s changing in your neighborhood? Send it to Nash News at nash-news.com and we may answer it in our next report.
