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Philadelphia girl missing since Oct. 26 found dead in trunk of vehicle in New Jersey
The body of 10-year-old Jalayshia "Malayshia" Alford of Philadelphia was found in the trunk of a car in an apartment complex in Lindenwold, New Jersey. Alford was reported missing on Oct. 26 after she didn't attend school the previous Friday.
PHILADELPHIA - The body of missing 10-year-old Jalayshia "Malayshia" Alford was found Wednesday night in Lindenwold, New Jersey, bringing a frantic 10-day search to a tragic conclusion, sources said.
What we know:
Law enforcement sources said Alford's body was found in the truck of a vehicle at an apartment complex in Lindenwold on Wednesday night.
Sources said one person is in custody and being interviewed by homicide detectives. No arrests or charges have been announced.
The backstory:
Jalayshia "Malayshia" Alford, 10, was last seen on the 500 block of North Simpson Street in West Philadelphia where she lived with her foster mother. Police say Alford went to school on Oct. 22 and was seen coming home that day.
Jalayshia "Malayshia" Alford, 10, was reported missing on Oct. 26, 2026, at approximately 7:30 a.m. (Philadelphia Police Department)
She did not attend school the next day, and was reported missing on Oct. 26. Since then, police and the FBI scoured parts of the city searching for Alford, and had recently expanded their search to an area of Cobbs Creek near where she lived.
Family and friends joined in the search, posting flyers in Philadelphia and nearby parts of Delaware County.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not released the name of the person being questioned or provided any details on any possible connection with the child.
It was not immediately clear how she was found.
The Source: Information in this article provided by law enforcement sources, the Philadelphia Police Department, and previous reports.