What happened
A 10-year-old girl from West Philadelphia who had been missing for more than a week has been found dead in New Jersey, according to sources who spoke with 6abc's Action News. The girl, Jalayshia Allford, was located overnight inside a car at the Stonington Court Apartments in Lindenwold, in Camden County, those sources said.
The station reported that no additional details were immediately available. The source material does not say how the girl died, who was with her, or whether anyone has been taken into custody. Those questions remain unanswered in the information released so far, and the reporting rests on unnamed sources rather than an official announcement.
The disappearance and the investigation
Jalayshia was last seen on Oct. 26 at a house on the 500 block of North Simpson Street in Philadelphia. She lived there with her foster family, according to 6abc.
Police had earlier said publicly that the child "may be at special risk of harm or injury." That kind of language is typically used to convey urgency when a missing child is believed to face possible danger.
According to the station, investigators have reportedly been going over conflicting accounts from adults connected to the case. The report does not identify those adults or describe what the differing accounts involve, and it does not say whether authorities have drawn any conclusions from them.
Family members describe their anguish
Before news of the discovery, relatives spoke to Action News on Wednesday about the strain of not knowing where the girl was. Her biological father, Nazir Allford, said he was struggling to cope with the uncertainty. "All I'm concerned with is my child. I'm not concerned about nothing else," he said.
Other members of her biological family described a similar sense of helplessness. "It's really so much pain in not knowing," said Nyfisha Allford, the girl's aunt. Relatives said they were worried both about Jalayshia and about her father.
Her uncle, Nafis Horne, defended the father's bond with his daughter. "He loved his daughter. His daughter loved him. We're vouching for that as a family because we know that," Horne said.
Custody history and a call to the foster parent
According to 6abc, Nazir Allford says he has devoted his life to winning custody of his daughter since she entered the foster system a few years ago. The station also noted that court records show he previously pleaded guilty to charges connected to interference with child custody. Relatives told the outlet he wants what is best for his daughter.
Family members also urged the girl's foster parent to speak out. "I would just really like it if you can come out, speak to the news, speak to somebody. Let us know what's going on," Nyfisha Allford said. The source material does not include any response from the foster parent.
How to share information
Philadelphia police are asking anyone with information about the case to call or text 215-686-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted anonymously online, according to 6abc.
Further details are expected to depend on what investigators and local authorities choose to release in the coming days.
