Philadelphia authorities have apprehended a man in connection with the unsettling disappearance of a former Miss USA contestant, as they intensify their search for his vehicle.
Keon King, 21, faces charges of kidnapping 23-year-old Kada Scott, who was last seen over a week ago after being picked up from her workplace.
Scott, a recent graduate of Penn State, disappeared after leaving her job at The Terrace at Chestnut Hill, an assisted living facility located in Northwest Philadelphia. Her car was found at her workplace, but her phone was turned off, adding to the mystery of her sudden vanishing.
During a press conference on Wednesday, city police disclosed that King, who they described as having a concerning past, was arrested on Tuesday night.
However, officials have yet to locate Scott and are urging the public to come forward with any information that could lead to the discovery of the former Miss Pennsylvania contestant’s whereabouts.
Their primary focus is on locating King’s 1999 metallic gold Toyota Camry, which Assistant District Attorney Ashley Toczylowski identified as a key vehicle involved in Scott’s disappearance.
‘Mr. King is the last person we believe to be in contact [with Scott] and he was in contact with her when she went offline – meaning her phone, everything,’ she asserted.
Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said King ‘appeared to meet her very shortly after she left her place of work.’
Former beauty queen Kada Scott (pictured) was last seen by her mother before she went to work on October 4
Over the course of the convoluted investigation, the metallic Camry (pictured), which Vanore said has ‘heavy front-end damage on the left, front bumper,’ has been seen driving throughout the city
Keon King (pictured), 21, has a troubling past, investigators said, as he was previously charged with kidnapping another woman
He added that King allegedly tried getting rid of the car, his cellphone and other personal belongings before turning himself in on Tuesday night.
Over the course of the convoluted investigation, the metallic Camry, which Vanore said has ‘heavy front-end damage on the left, front bumper,’ has been seen driving throughout the city, and it may have even been moved outside of it.
The deputy noted that the alleged kidnapper’s car’s license plate, MSX-0797, may have been ripped off.
While authorities are still tackling this case under the assumption that Scott is still alive, the city’s police department’s homicide unit has taken over the investigation because of its resources.
Toczylowski clarified that King has been hit with charges including kidnapping and recklessly endangering another person.
Authorities made the alarming declaration that King has demonstrated a ‘pattern’ of kidnappings.
Earlier this year, he was charged with kidnapping and strangling a ‘female acquaintance.’ But the case was dropped.
Toczylowski said the District Attorney’s office let the case go after the witness failed to appear in court.
Scott (pictured), a recent Penn State graduate, abruptly left shortly into her shift, coworkers told police
She left her job at The Terrace at Chestnut Hill, an assisted living facility in the northwest section of the city (pictured)
However, in light of Scott’s disappearance, Toczylowski has filed for the case to be reopened, meaning King stands accused of two separate kidnappings.
Scott’s mother, Kim Matthews, told police the last time she saw her daughter was when she left for her overnight shift on October 4.
But coworkers reported seeing her leave the building in her black scrubs shortly after she arrived, police said.
Matthews claimed that she was aware Scott was getting strange phone calls from an individual or multiple people shortly before she went missing.
‘We are trying to piece everything together to find out exactly who these people are,’ Matthews previously said.
The recent college graduate was in the midst of pursuing her entrepreneurial dreams and was described by her family as ‘creative’ and ‘very artistic.’
Scott was also one of 32 women who competed this summer for the Miss Pennsylvania pageant title. The winner is the state’s representative at the Miss USA contest.
