The search for missing 23-year-old Kada Scott intensified Friday as the Philadelphia Police Department deployed hundreds of academy recruits for a massive grid search of the wooded, 55-acre Aubrey Arboretum in Northwest Philadelphia.
Scott, who is described as a 5’6”, 120-pound woman with brown eyes and black hair, has been missing for nearly a week. She was last seen on the evening of Saturday, October 4, around 9:45 p.m. after leaving her job at The Terrace at Chestnut Hill assisted living facility. Her car was later found still parked at the location.
Search Efforts and Evidence
During a press briefing on Friday, a Philadelphia Police spokesperson confirmed that an exhaustive search effort is underway.
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“We’ve been investigating that since that time… trying to figure out where she might have went,” the spokesperson said. “No one has received a call from her. We know her phone is not in operation anymore.”
The police revealed that evidence gathered during the investigation led them to focus their search on the vast, largely wooded Aubrey Arboretum. While specially trained K-9 units worked the area earlier, the difficult terrain and size of the location necessitated a larger effort.
“It wasn’t very easy to do search with just a few detectives, so we enlisted the help of our Academy classes,” the spokesperson explained, noting that the recruits were given specific instructions by crime scene investigators to perform a grid search—a meticulous, coordinated effort to cover the large area.
At the time of the briefing, nothing directly related to the investigation had been found, though some clothing items were recovered and taken in for analysis. When pressed about what the searchers were instructed to look for, the spokesperson simply said, “anything that could help us… that doesn’t belong.”
Troubling Signs of a Non-Voluntary Absence
Scott’s disappearance has been classified as a “troubling missing person” case. Police stated that several factors indicate her absence may not be voluntary.
“She’s been gone almost a week now. No cell phone, no bank, no any trace,” the spokesperson stated, highlighting that her phone and social media have been dormant. The fact that her car was left behind also strongly suggests a non-voluntary disappearance.
Captain John Craig of Northwest Detectives previously told reporters that a young person today “can’t live without having a phone in their hand,” further underscoring the department’s concern.
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Harassment Under Investigation
The Philadelphia Police Department also confirmed they are investigating suspicious activity that preceded Scott’s disappearance. Days before she went missing, Scott told friends and family that she had been receiving harassing phone calls from unknown individuals or persons.
“We’re investigating that. We’re trying to learn more,” Captain Craig said earlier this week. However, the spokesperson on Friday declined to comment on interviews with potential suspects, stating, “I’m not going to comment on our interviews, you know, we’re reaching out to everybody we can.”
Family’s Desperate Plea
Kada Scott’s family is grappling with the sudden, uncharacteristic disappearance of the Penn State graduate.
“She’s my oldest daughter. I love her,” Kada’s father, Kevin Scott, told ABC 6, describing the last few days as “crazy.” Kada’s mother, Kim Matthews, expressed the family’s fear that their daughter is “not safe.” The family has been canvassing the city, posting “missing person” flyers and asking the public to come forward.
Police are urging anyone with information—no matter how small—to contact investigators.
“If there’s 100 pieces to a puzzle, you may think yours is insignificant, but without your piece, that jigsaw puzzle is not being solved,” Captain Craig emphasized.
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