HEARTBREAKING: A colleague of Kada Scott recalls her mentioning receiving unsettling messages just days before she vanished. “She seemed anxious, but she didn’t say much,” the colleague shared. This revelation has left friends and family searching for answers

The disappearance and tragic death of 23-year-old Kada Scott, a vibrant Penn State graduate and community nursing assistant at The Terrace at Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia, has taken a devastating new turn. A colleague who worked alongside Scott at the assisted living facility has come forward with a chilling revelation: just days before she vanished on October 4, 2025, Scott confided about receiving unsettling messages that left her visibly anxious. “She seemed anxious, but she didn’t say much,” the colleague shared, their voice heavy with regret. This heartbreaking detail has deepened the mystery surrounding Scott’s final days, leaving friends, family, and authorities scrambling for answers in a case that has gripped the nation.

Kada Scott was a rising star with dreams as big as her heart. A recent communications graduate, she had competed in the Miss Pennsylvania USA pageant earlier in 2025, captivating audiences with her poise and warmth. Her new job at The Terrace, an upscale senior care facility in Philadelphia’s Chestnut Hill neighborhood, was a stepping stone—a way to give back while pursuing her ambitions in media. But beneath her radiant smile, something darker was brewing. The colleague’s account, shared during a tearful interview with local media, paints a picture of a young woman quietly grappling with fear in the days leading up to her disappearance.

On the night of October 4, Scott arrived for her overnight shift at The Terrace, clocking in around 9:30 p.m. Surveillance footage from the facility’s entrance—now a focal point of the investigation—captured a shadowy figure lurking nearby at approximately 9:45 p.m., the exact time Scott was last seen alive. She left the building after just 30 minutes, citing an unspecified issue, leaving her silver Hyundai sedan untouched in the employee parking lot. Her phone went silent shortly after, and by the next morning, her family knew something was terribly wrong. “Kada was reliable. She’d never just disappear,” her mother, Lisa Scott, said at a candlelight vigil, clutching a photo of her daughter in her pageant sash.

The colleague’s revelation about the unsettling messages has added a haunting layer to an already complex investigation. While details about the messages remain scarce—Scott was characteristically private, according to those who knew her—they reportedly came from unknown numbers and carried an ominous tone. “She mentioned getting weird calls, maybe texts too, but she brushed it off like she didn’t want to worry anyone,” the colleague recalled. “I wish I’d pushed her to say more.” Authorities have confirmed that Scott had reported harassing communications to friends and family in the weeks prior, though it’s unclear if she formally notified police or her employer. Assistant District Attorney Ashley Toczylowski, speaking at a press conference, acknowledged the reports of harassment, noting that investigators are “actively exploring” whether these messages are linked to her abductor.

The investigation has zeroed in on 21-year-old Keon King, a Northwest Philadelphia resident charged with kidnapping, murder, arson, and evidence tampering in connection with Scott’s death. Cell phone data and license plate readers placed King’s 1999 metallic gold Toyota Camry near The Terrace on the night of October 4, with surveillance from a nearby recreation center capturing the vehicle’s movements within a 35-minute window—enough time, prosecutors argue, for a violent encounter. The car, later found damaged in a parking lot near King’s family home in East Falls, is undergoing forensic analysis for traces of Scott’s presence. “We have extensive evidence tying him to the scene,” Toczylowski stated, her tone resolute.

King’s history has only deepened the public’s horror. Earlier in 2025, he was charged with kidnapping and strangulation in a separate case involving another woman, though the charges were dismissed due to insufficient evidence. A viral TikTok video from months prior, now central to the investigation, shows a hooded figure—believed to be King—stalking a woman’s backyard in Southwest Philadelphia, peering into her window as she shouts in fear. That woman had a protection order against him, and prosecutors now allege this behavior mirrors the pattern that culminated in Scott’s abduction. “This is a predator who escalated,” Toczylowski said, linking the chilling footage to King’s refiled charges in the earlier case.

The unsettling messages Scott received have sparked renewed scrutiny of how such threats are handled. Social media platforms like X have been flooded with posts expressing outrage and fear, with users sharing stories of their own encounters with harassment and stalking. “Why do women have to live like this? Kada was scared, and no one could protect her,” one post read, garnering thousands of likes. Community activists are calling for stronger protections, including mandatory reporting protocols for workplaces like The Terrace, which lacked external surveillance cameras in its parking lot—a critical blind spot that may have cost Scott her life.

The search for Scott, initially a desperate bid to find her alive, turned grim on October 18 when human remains were discovered in a shallow grave behind a vacant middle school on Ardleigh Street in Germantown, just miles from The Terrace. Charred bones and fragments of clothing were identified through preliminary DNA testing as belonging to Scott, shattering the hopes of her family and the Philadelphia community. “It’s not just a loss—it’s a wound on all of us,” said a local pastor at a memorial service, where mourners left flowers and pageant crowns in her honor.

Scott’s family is reeling, grappling with both grief and unanswered questions. Her father, Kevin Scott, who launched a GoFundMe to fund search efforts, spoke at a vigil outside The Terrace, his voice breaking: “She was my baby girl, my everything. Those messages—she was scared, and we didn’t know enough to help her.” Friends from the pageant world have rallied around the family, organizing fundraisers and sharing tributes online. “Kada was a light,” said a fellow Miss Pennsylvania USA contestant. “She wanted to lift others up, even when she was struggling.”

The Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit, with FBI support, continues to comb through evidence, including Scott’s phone records and the contents of King’s vehicle. Detectives are also investigating whether the unsettling messages could point to additional suspects or a broader pattern of harassment. “We’re leaving no stone unturned,” said First Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore, urging the public to share tips at 215-686-TIPS. The discovery of Scott’s remains has shifted the case to a homicide investigation, with King facing a potential life sentence if convicted.

The tragedy has sparked a broader conversation about the dangers women face in everyday spaces—workplaces, parking lots, even their own phones. The Terrace has faced fierce criticism for its lack of security measures, prompting calls for citywide mandates on workplace safety. “No one should feel unsafe at their job,” said a community organizer at a recent rally. “Kada’s death could have been prevented.”

On X, the hashtag #JusticeForKada has become a rallying cry, with users sharing the TikTok video of the shadowy figure and demanding reforms to stalking laws. “This isn’t just about one man—it’s about a system that lets predators slip through,” one post read, echoing a growing sentiment. Advocates are pushing for a stalking registry and better training for law enforcement to recognize early warning signs, like the messages Scott received.

As Philadelphia mourns, Kada Scott’s story is a stark reminder of the fragility of safety and the courage it takes to navigate an increasingly perilous world. Her colleague’s words linger like a ghost: “She seemed anxious, but she didn’t say much.” Those unspoken fears, now laid bare, demand justice—not just for Kada, but for every woman whose pleas for help go unheard until it’s too late. Her family, friends, and a grieving city hold tight to her memory, vowing to fight for a future where no one else is silenced by the shadows.