The babysitter of a 2-year-old boy, who was reported missing earlier this month and now presumed dead, is charged with murder.
What We Know:
- Tianna Parks, 24, was arrested and charged for the murder of 2-year-old King Hill, who was in the custody of Parks when he vanished July 7. WTXF-TV reported that Parks was prosecuted Monday for murder, endangering the welfare of children, and abuse of a corpse.
- The boy’s body has not been discovered but investigators have video evidence that has them concluding that the boy has died. Officials did not specifically say what was on video.
- King Hill was last seen at 9:50 a.m. on July 7 at 31st Street and Page Street. According to King’s mother, Amber Hill, King was spending time with his stepfather, which was routine. The stepfather dropped King off at Parks’ house on the corner of 33rd and Diamond Streets. The stepfather asked if Amber had picked King up from Parks’ home, which she didn’t. Parks claimed she returned the child to his mother at the corner of 31st and Montgomery street but Amber confirmed that she had not seen the babysitter in “several weeks”.
- According to Anthony Voci, chief of the homicide unit in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Parks’ claims were disproved by “the evidence that the FBI and Philadelphia Police Department developed”.
- Kimberly Hill, King’s maternal grandmother, wants her grandson to be brought back home so the family can bury him and get the closure they deserve. “Wherever he is at, whatever happened to him, just bring him back so we can put King to rest,” she said. “He was amazing. Everbody loved King.”
- “The death of King Hill is an unbearable tragedy that is compounded by Tianna Parks’ actions,” Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said. “This precious baby’s family and community deserve to know how he died. They deserve the opportunity to bury and mourn him with dignity. This child deserved so much better in life.”
Missing Tender Age – King Hill – From the 24th District https://t.co/Mn8x6dTxxc pic.twitter.com/zKviTBeXaI
— PPD Missing Persons (@PPDMissing) July 9, 2020
Parks has been ordered by a judge to remain in jail without bail.
