PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is asking for the public’s help to find 23-year-old Kada Scott, missing for nearly two weeks now.
As the investigation continues, the office is also addressing a previous dropped kidnapping charge against Scott’s alleged captor, 21-year-old Keon King.
District Attorney Larry Krasner says his office could have done more to prosecute him previously.
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“We could have done better in that. A really sophisticated approach to the case would have been to try to put it all in with video evidence,” he said.
King is accused of kidnapping another woman back in January. The incident was captured partly in a viral video. Investigators say it shows King peering through and knocking on windows while a person inside yells to call the police and for him to go away.
According to charging documents, King kidnapped and assaulted the woman in his car; his two-year-old daughter was in the back seat.
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The case was dismissed earlier this year when the district attorney’s office said the victim did not show up to court. Krasner noted King being out on bail as a reason why.
“The reason they had to worry he was going to come out of the same door they went in the courthouse right after they testified against him is because he was on bail,” said Krasner.
King was able to post 10% of $200,000 bail in his first kidnapping arrest.
When asked why the DA’s office didn’t petition for a higher bail, Krasner said it was a strategic decision not to bother judges overnight.
“You have the option of trying to do what is often a midnight or three o’clock in the morning telephonic appeal to a municipal court judge,” said Krasner. “The unfortunate reality of this is that some, but not all of these judges, don’t want you calling them in the middle of the night. And if you do, they lower the bail. They don’t raise it, they don’t leave it. They lower it. So it is always a complex, strategic decision.”
Marty O’Rourke, a spokesperson for the courts, said in response:
“With all due respect, the DA and his staff know there are assigned Municipal and Commons Pleas Court judges on call 24/7 and prepared at any hour to address emergency Court matters. In light of this truth, the DA’s comments are appallingly disrespectful and a sad attempt on his part to find a scapegoat for his own failings on this matter.”
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King, who initially had those kidnapping charges dropped, is now accused of kidnapping Scott, missing since October 4.
“We’re fairly sure of the track he took the night of Kada’s disappearance”, said Philadelphia Police Sgt. Eric Gripp.
On Wednesday, investigators searched Awbury Park and the abandoned Ada Middle School. Officers recovered a phone case believed to be Scott’s. Police also found a debit card with her name on it, an iPad case, and glasses.
That same day, they found the car King was allegedly driving with Kada inside, a 1999 metallic gold Toyota Camry at this condo complex in East Falls.
Her family told Good Morning America they’re holding onto hope.
“The end result is Kada being home, and she’s not home, so I’m not. That’s OK and all that’s all good, but I need my daughter home,” said Kevin Scott, her father.
The family has raised more than $10,000 for a credible tip to find Kada.
King is being held on $2.5 million bail.
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