There are few things that are universal, but one thing that is universal is that when something bad happens, people will look for something or someone to blame.
Right now, the Republicans and Democrats in Washington and in Harrisburg are pointing fingers at each other regarding the fact that neither Congress nor the State Assembly has deemed it important to pass a budget. Meanwhile, the people who are directly impacted by their lack of an agreement are asking themselves, “Well, how did I get here?” Especially since Trump Administration 2.0 (This Time It’s PERSONAL!!!) has already announced, in the words of the worst USDA organization in history, “The well’s run dry!”
(That there’s $6 billion that the USDA has that can be used to provide SNAP benefits that it refuses to use shows the cruelty is the point.)
But that’s not the only place where fingers are being pointed these days. During Thursday’s Philadelphia City Council meeting, Council voted to bring in all sides of the city’s criminal justice system to get some answers regarding the death of Kada Scott.
Scott, 23, of Mount Airy, was found dead in the woods behind the Ada H.H. Lewis Middle School in East Germantown after a two-week search. Keon King, 21, of Dover, Delaware has been charged with a long list of offenses including murder, illegal gun possession, robbery, and abuse of a corpse.
Apparently, and I’m guessing that once Councilmembers like Councilmember Anthony Phillips, Scott’s district Councilperson and Cindy Bass, the Councilmember in whose district Scott was found dead, found out a few things about King, they had some serious questions.
Like, for example, how someone who had been arrested on charges including kidnapping, strangulation and burglary managed to be out on the street?
Here’s what I mean.
King was arrested in early November 2024 for trying to strangle his ex-girlfriend in her home in Strawberry Mansion. He broke into her house and grabbed her by the throat in that incident. He was given a $50,000 bail for that offense and was able to leave jail for $5,000 or 10% of the bail.
A month later, King was back at his ex’s home, trying to break in. While she was smart enough to not answer his knocks at her door, he allegedly waited for her to leave, snatched her off the street, dragged her into his car, and beat her before dropping her off in Fishtown. He was charged with kidnapping, strangulation and other crimes in January, but he wasn’t arrested.
(Although, when you come to court for a preliminary hearing on violent charges, and there are more violent charges that have just been filed against you, putting you behind bars might make sense.)
King didn’t answer for the January charges until he turned himself in. The DA’s office asked for $999,999 in bail, but the judge cut that down to $200,000. King met the 10% bail and walked out of jail.
And unfortunately for Scott, he had her number.
So, Council wants to know why that was. And no one could blame them. King sounds like a guy whose got a line of women who have endured partner violence at his hands. Escalation was going to happen.
Personally, I look forward to hearing from all of the stakeholders in what’s become yet another black eye on Philadelphia’s criminal justice system if for no other reason but it’ll serve as a basis for an eventual wrongful death suit.
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