Philadelphia's mayor orders review of city's foster care system after death of 10-year-old Malayshia Allford

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker is ordering an independent review of the city's foster care system following the murder of 10-year-old Malayshia Allford as new details emerge about a previous state investigation involving the woman now charged in her death.

"This moment requires that we do more," Parker said in a video posted to social media on Tuesday.

Parker signed an executive order establishing a Child Welfare Review Committee. The committee will examine how the city's foster care system operates, including how children are placed in homes, how foster homes are monitored and how agencies coordinate services.

RELATED: Foster mother charged in 10-year-old's death previously faced abuse allegations, attorney says

"They will also make proactive recommendations for changes to improve our system to do better to protect our children," Parker said.

The announcement comes as questions mount about how Malayshia's foster mother, Carprice Williams, was allowed to continue caring for children despite a previous state investigation that recommended she never be permitted to foster again.

According to a 2021 state investigation, another foster child in Williams' care was taken to an emergency room with a respiratory illness. The report said the 4-year-old had bleeding in the brain, was malnourished and showed possible evidence of older injuries.

The child's mother reportedly told investigators she heard a thump before finding the child struggling to breathe. Williams denied any traumatic incident, according to the report.

Law enforcement investigated, but no criminal charges were filed. The child and a sibling were later placed in a different foster home.

The state report also raised concerns about Philadelphia's Department of Human Services, including virtual visits with the family that appeared to conflict with department policies at the time. The report said Philadelphia DHS assured the state that steps had already been taken to address the concerns.

The report does not identify Williams by name. Her identity was later disclosed by an attorney in a subsequent lawsuit involving the allegations.

Williams appealed the abuse findings, and she eventually became a foster parent again.

She is now charged with murder and related offenses in connection with Malayshia's death.

The city confirmed Malayshia was in the legal custody of Philadelphia DHS and living in a foster home. She also received case management services through Catholic Community Services, Community Umbrella Agency No. 4. Her foster family received services through Pennsylvania MENTOR, the agency that certified the foster home.

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Philadelphia's Act 33 team is already conducting a separate review of Malayshia's death, as required under state law. That review will examine the performance of both Philadelphia and Pennsylvania's departments of human services.

Parker's newly created committee will go beyond that required review, serving as an independent advisory board to the mayor. It will examine oversight of foster homes, licensing and visitation requirements, foster care agency contracts and coordination between the city and its service providers.

The committee can include up to 15 members, including national experts and leaders in child advocacy, social work, medicine, behavioral health and the legal profession. It must submit its findings and recommendations within 120 days of convening.

At a community meeting in West Philadelphia on Tuesday, residents and city leaders also called for changes and greater accountability.

Monica Lynn Taylor, a West Philadelphia resident and family friend of the Allfords, said she believes services that could have helped Malayshia and her family were not properly provided.

"Their services that could have been extended to the family and to Malayshia were not extended properly," Taylor said.

Taylor said the family was unable to have Malayshia placed in their home because they did not meet the system's criteria.

"We know that social work is a very hard job. However, if you are in this position, you need to make sure that you are following the law," she said.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel described the community meeting as part of the healing process for residents and officers.

"My men and women deal with the trauma, but we also have a community that's been traumatized by what they've seen," Bethel said. "Ultimately, this turns into a moment where we can come together and talk about how we can continue to work collaboratively to address the issues that we see on a day-to-day basis."

City Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. said he plans to hold a hearing examining DHS and its coordination with schools and the court system.

Jones also proposed additional resources for social workers, including cameras that could document conditions inside foster homes during visits.

He also called for more social workers to reduce caseloads and allow for more frequent visits with children.

"We want more social workers so that there isn't 55 cases in a 30-day period, so that we can get more social workers knocking on doors," Jones said.

Action News has reached out to Philadelphia DHS for comment on the previous state investigation, its findings, and how Williams was later permitted to foster children again.

According to the medical examiner's findings, Allford died from blunt force trauma.

The report, obtained by Action News through sources, details numerous injuries, including a fractured rib, bruising to her head and torso, and whip-like marks across her legs. The report also concluded that the injuries were not consistent with a fall.

Prior to her death, witnesses cited in a criminal complaint told investigators that Williams threw the child down stairs, denied her food and water, and forced her to wear a weighted vest while repeatedly walking up and down stairs.

SEE ALSO: Malayshia Allford case: Medical examiner's report reveals new details in murder of missing girl

The investigation began after Williams reportedly told police that Malayshia did not return home from school and was not answering her phone. After police started investigating, they said there were conflicting accounts from adults connected to the case.

Prosecutors also allege Williams attempted to conceal the crime after Allford's death.

According to court documents, she sent text messages from her own phone to Allford's phone after she was dead, asking where the child was and then allegedly used Allford's phone to send a response.