Crime Stories with Nancy Grace - Kada Scott’s COD Revealed as Philly Cops Seek Additional Suspect | Crime Alert 6AM 10.24.25

Episode Date: October 24, 2025

Pennsylvania authorities said on Thursday that missing Kada Scott, found dead on Saturday, was fatally shot in the head. The mother of missing California girl Melodee Buzzard returned home alone earlier this month after renting a car and taking a road trip with her daughter. Sydney Sumner reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Crime alert, hourly update. Breaking Crime News now. I'm Sidney Sumner. Pennsylvania authorities have determined Kata Scott was murdered after recovering her remains 14 days after she was last seen at her nursing home job. On October 18th, Scott's body was discovered behind an abandoned school near the Aubrey-Aboridum in Germantown. Her body was located in a wooded area in a shallow grave.

Based on a tip that came in last night through the night, investigators began the process of following up on that tip. And the tip was very specific that led us back to this location here today. Philadelphia Police's first deputy commissioner John Stanford said the remains appeared to be about a week old. Officers had already searched the school on a previous tip, locating some of Scott's belongings, but returned on a second, more specific tip. We received a tip to go to the Ada Lewis Middle School. Investigators went, did a thorough search. Essentially what the new tip was this weekend was go back. It was go back. She's there. Look again. And they did give more specific details in terms of where to look. And ultimately, that is what led us to her.

Law enforcement has not commented on the identity of the tipster. The Philadelphia medical examiner determined Kada Scott, 23, died of a gunshot wound to the the head. On Wednesday, prosecutors formally charged Keon King, 21, with Scott's murder. King was initially arrested on October 15th and charged with kidnapping and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Monday, the district attorney's office added arson, causing catastrophe, conspiracy, tampering with evidence, reckless endangerment, and receipt of stolen property. In addition to Thursday's murder charge, King is also facing robbery and abuse of a corpse. His bail was set at $2.5 million. investigators initially sought King's gold 1999 Toyota Camry, believing King transported

Kada in that car, but later determined King was driving a stolen black 2008 Hyundai accent. The car was found burning blocks away from the abandoned school on October 7th, but was not connected to the case until fire investigators had already destroyed it. Surveillance footage places the accent at the nursing home and middle school. King's cell phone data also puts him at both. scenes. But police say King did not act alone. At this point, we do have reason to believe that other people may have been involved after the fact. At the point where the Hyundai accent is on scene, on video at the rec center leading up to, you know, all of the events we're talking about,

the other car, the Toyota is there as well. And we believe the people in these vehicles are working together. Detectives say the day after Scott's disappearance, surveillance video, shows two individuals exit the Camry at Ada Lewis Middle. Hours later, two individuals are seen carrying an object out of the stolen black Hyundai. The object was consistent with that of a body. Assistant District Attorney Ashley Tulaski did not comment on who may have been behind the wheel of King's Camry, but expects further arrests in the case. Now to California, where investigators have narrowed the timeline of a missing child's case

from more than a year to two weeks. Anna Barbara Sheriff's office initially believed Melody Buzzard, a nine-year-old Lompoc girl, was last seen in October 24, but they now say she was last seen earlier this month. Buzzard's mother returned home alone after renting a car and taking a road trip with her daughter. Ashley was with Melody as recently as October 7th, and that they may have driven from the Lompoc area as far as the state of Nebraska. We understand that she had rented a vehicle, a white Chevy Malibu, and we are providing that. that license plate information to the public in case anybody saw Melody or Ashley together in

that vehicle. We do also want to point out that it is a rental car and that is no longer in Ashley's possession. The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Raquel Zink says the rental identified as a white Chevrolet Malibu with the license plate number 9MNG 101 has since been returned. On October 14th, Lompoc Unified School District employees reported Melody, who is homeschooled, after she failed to pick up assignments for an independent study program. The sheriff's office said that Lompoc Unified School District employees last saw Melody in August when her mother registered her for the program. Police subsequently served a search warrant at Ashley Buzzard's home but did not find

Melody. During follow-up visits, Buzzard reportedly became uncooperative with the search and has not offered any valid explanations as to where her daughter is. detectives did already conduct a thorough search of the family's residence. As a result of that search, we are continuing a search for a missing person. This is not a homicide case. The hope and the goal is that we find Melody alive and that we can ensure her safety. During additional visits, officials knocked on Ashley Buzzard's door, but she stopped answering. As the search continues, law enforcement is asking the public for tips. The most recent photos of Melody were taken around two years ago, and officials will say her appearance may have changed. Ash is not cooperative at this time, which is why we are reaching out to the public for any assistance or information that they can provide. And detectives are continuing to utilize investigative techniques as well. Buzzard has reportedly tried to rent a car from at least two different agencies in the last

days and was denied the rentals. Neighbors say she has been served with a notice to produce her daughter or face arrest. Anyone with information regarding Melody's whereabouts is asked, to call Santa Barbara County investigators at 805-681-4150. For the latest crime and justice breaking news, be sure to follow the Crime Alert hourly update on your favorite podcast app. With this crime alert, I'm Sidney Sumner. This is an I-Heart podcast.