Local and federal law enforcement are searching for a 10-year-old girl who has been missing from West Philadelphia for more than a week and who police believe could be in danger.
Jalayshia Alford, who also goes by Malayshia or “May,” was last seen Oct. 26 around 7:30 a.m. on the 500 block of North Simpson Street, according to Philadelphia police.
Jalayshia, who stands 4-foot-11 and weighs about 70 pounds, was reportedly last seen wearing her school uniform — a blue polo shirt, skirt, and tights — as well as glasses and black sneakers or crocs, police said.
She was in the care of a foster family at the time of her disappearance, according to her aunt, Yolanda Brown.
Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said investigators recovered video that showed Jalayshia walking to and from school in the days before Oct. 26, but have not recovered footage of her on the block since. The timeline of her whereabouts provided by adults in her life beyond that is “foggy,” he said, and police are working to recover additional video and electronic evidence that could clarify it.
“I’m very concerned. It’s been too long, and she’s very young,” he said.
The FBI has joined the search effort with city police, and officials surveyed the area where she was last seen with dogs on Monday evening, Vanore said. Homicide detectives who are specialized in digital forensics are also assisting in the investigation, he said.
Brown said her niece had been living with her current foster mother for about two years. She did not know the woman well, she said, and her sister did not have visitation rights.
She said the foster mom called her Monday evening and said that Jalayshia’s mother had come and taken her, but when Brown called her sister, she said she did not have the 10-year-old.
The foster mom later told her that her niece last left for the bus Monday morning but never made it to school, she said. She was later told by police that Jalayshia didn’t attend school Friday either, she said.
“Now she’s just missing,” Brown said. “And nobody knows anything.”
Jalayshia is a quiet, timid, and smart girl, she said, and is one of four children. Brown has custody of the child’s 15-year-old sister, she said, and two other siblings live with separate foster families.
She said Jalayshia’s parents had been in trouble once before for taking her without permission, but that she did not believe that was the case this time.
On Tuesday, Brown and other members of her family posted flyers around the area of Simpson Street, a quiet block of rowhouses lined with covered porches where several police cars idled.
Vanore said police need the public’s help locating Jalayshia.
“If she is with somebody, we are urging you to contact us,” he said.
Detectives with the homicide unit can be reached at 215-686-3334, or anonymous tips can be called in at 215-686-8477. Information can also be submitted online.