Kada Scott’s COD Revealed as Philly Cops Seek Additional Suspect | Crime Alert 6AM 10.24.25

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Kada Scott’s COD Revealed as Philly Cops Seek Additional Suspect | Crime Alert 6AM 10.24.25
Date: October 24, 2025
Host: Nancy Grace (with reporting from Sydney Sumner & other correspondents)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Crime Stories delivers urgent updates on two unsettling cases:

1. The latest developments in the murder investigation of Kada Scott in Philadelphia, including revealing her cause of death, new charges, and the pursuit of additional suspects.
2. The rapidly evolving missing persons case of 9-year-old Melody Buzzard in California, where authorities have narrowed the disappearance timeline and are now publicly appealing for help.

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1. Philadelphia – Kada Scott Murder Case

Key Facts and Developments

• Victim: Kada Scott, age 23, last seen at her nursing home job.
• Discovery: Remains found October 18 behind an abandoned school near the Awbury Arboretum, Germantown.
• Condition: Body located in a shallow grave in a wooded area.

Timeline of the Investigation

• Tip-Offs:

  • Initial search at ADA Lewis Middle School yielded some belongings.

  • A second, highly specific tip directed police where to look next, resulting in the discovery of Scott's body.

    "The tip was very specific. That led us back to this location here today."
    — [A], 00:29

  • “Go back, she's there, look again...and ultimately, that is what led us to her.”
    — [C], 00:57

• Cause of Death (COD):

  • The Philadelphia medical examiner determined Scott was killed by a gunshot wound to the head.

• Suspect and Charges:

  • Keon King, 21:
    • Originally arrested October 15 (kidnapping, unauthorized use of a vehicle).
    • Additional charges: arson causing catastrophe, conspiracy, tampering with evidence, reckless endangerment, receipt of stolen property, robbery, abuse of a corpse, murder.
    • Bail set at $2.5 million.
  • King was believed to be driving a stolen black 2008 Hyundai Accent at the time, found later burned near the school, but initially not connected to the case.

• Surveillance & Cell Data:

  • Video evidence and King's cellphone data put him and the vehicles at both the nursing home and the school locations.
  • Officers saw two individuals exiting King's Toyota Camry and, later, carrying an object “consistent with a body” from the Honda Accent.

    "Surveillance video shows two individuals...Hours later, two individuals are seen carrying an object out of the stolen black Hyundai. The object was consistent with that of a body."
    — Sydney Sumner, 02:49

Ongoing Investigation

• Additional Suspects:

  • Police believe King had accomplices—others involved after the fact, with suspicion arising from the activities and presence of multiple vehicles.

    "We do have reason to believe that other people may have been involved after the fact ... and we believe the people in these vehicles are working together."
    — [C], 02:30

• Further Arrests Anticipated:

  • Assistant District Attorney Ashley Talosky expects additional arrests but cannot confirm who was behind the wheel during the critical events.

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2. California – Melody Buzzard Missing Child Case

Key Facts and Developments

• Missing Child: Melody Buzzard, 9 years old, from Lompoc.

• Disappearance Timeline:

  • Initial belief — last seen in October 2024.
  • New evidence — last seen as recently as this month (October 7, 2025).

• Events Leading Up to Disappearance:

  • Melody’s mother, Ashley Buzzard, took a road trip in a white rented Chevy Malibu (license plate 9 MNG101) with Melody but returned alone. The rental has since been returned.
  • Melody failed to pick up independent study assignments (October 14), triggering a school district report.
  • The most recent confirmed sighting of Melody was during school registration in August.

Law Enforcement Response

• Search for Melody:

  • Police have searched Buzzard’s home multiple times; no sign of Melody.
  • Ashley Buzzard has become uncooperative, thwarting efforts to clarify her daughter’s whereabouts.

    "Ashley’s not cooperative at this time, which is why we are reaching out to the public for any assistance..."
    — [A], 06:24

• Case Status:

  • As of now, the Sheriff’s Office is treating the incident as a missing person’s case, not a homicide.

    "The hope and the goal is that we find Melody alive and that we, we can ensure her safety."
    — [A], 05:51

• Other Notable Details:

  • Ashley Buzzard attempted to rent cars from multiple agencies after returning from the trip, raising suspicion.
  • Neighbors report she was served a notice to produce Melody or face arrest.

Appeal to Public

• Call to Action:
  • Anyone with information about Melody Buzzard’s whereabouts is urged to contact Santa Barbara County Investigators at 805-681-4150.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "The tip was very specific. That led us back to this location here today.”
  — [A], 00:29

• “We received a tip to go to the ADA Lewis Middle School...it was go back, she's there, look again...and ultimately, that is what led us to her.”
  — [C], 00:57

• "At this point, we do have reason to believe that other people may have been involved after the fact...we believe the people in these vehicles are working together.”
  — [C], 02:30

• "Surveillance video shows two individuals...Hours later, two individuals are seen carrying an object out of the stolen black Hyundai. The object was consistent with that of a body."
  — Sydney Sumner, 02:49

• "The hope and the goal is that we find Melody alive and that we, we can ensure her safety."
  — [A], 05:51

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:04 – 03:15: Full detail of Kada Scott’s case; field reports, police statements, new developments, and procedural updates.
• 04:18 – 06:36: Melody Buzzard’s missing child case; timeline, mother’s behavior, law enforcement statements, and public appeal.

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Summary

This concise, high-impact episode delivers critical updates on two major active investigations:

• In Philadelphia, the grim discovery of Kada Scott’s body and breakthrough developments in her homicide investigation, including new charges and potential co-conspirators.
• In California, the search for Melody Buzzard intensifies as authorities face an uncooperative parent and a tightened timeline, urging public assistance as hope remains alive.
  Nancy Grace’s trademark tough-minded approach is present throughout, with a focus on fast-breaking facts, law enforcement voices, and an urgent, vigilant tone.

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Transcript

[A]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[B]

Crime alert Hourly update. Breaking crime news now. I'm Sydney Sumner. Pennsylvania. Authorities have determined Kada Scott was murdered after Recovering her remains 14 days after she was last seen at her nursing home job. On October 18, Scott's body was discovered behind an abandoned school near the Aubrey Arboretum in Germantown. Her body was located in a wooded area in a shallow grave.

[A]

But based on a tip that came in late 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.

[B]

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.

[C]

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.

[B]

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 head. On Wednesday, prosecutors formally charged Keon King, 21, with Scott's murder. King was initially arrested on October 15 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 Caeda 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 7, 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.

[C]

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.

[B]

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 block black Hyundai. The object was consistent with that of a body. Assistant District Attorney Ashley Talosky did not comment on who may have been behind the wheel of King's Camry, but expects further arrests in the case.

[D]

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[B]

Now to California, where investigators have narrowed the timeline of a missing child's case from more than a year to two weeks. The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office initially believed melody Buzzard, a nine year old Lompoc girl, was last seen in October 2024, 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.

[A]

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 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.

[B]

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 9 MNG101, has since been returned. On October 14, Lompoc Unified School District employees reported Melody, who is homeschooled, missing 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.

[A]

Detectives did already conduct a thorough search of the family's residence. As a result of that search, we are, we are continuing a search for a missing person. This is, this is not a homicide case. The hope and the goal is that we find Melody alive and that we, we can ensure her safety.

[B]

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 say her appearance may have changed.

[A]

Ashley's 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.

[B]

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 Sydney Sumner.

[A]

This is an iHeart podcast.