Woman Charged With Murder After Body Found In Fairmount Park
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia Police have arrested one woman in the murder of a young Chester woman, and another woman is being questioned.
Police described the level of brutality as disturbing. They add that what makes the case so unusual is the people behind it, they believe are women.
As of Tuesday, one woman had been charged and another was in for questioning.
Homicide detectives said that before murdering victim Toy Charda Bryant, 26, the suspects brutalized her.
"She was stabbed several times," said Philadelphia Police Capt. James Clark.
"Almost, not to kill her, the stab wounds, but just to hurt her and torture her. She had some type of rag that was shoved into her mouth, to attempt to suffocate her and at the end of the day, she was put on her hands and knees and she was shot in the back of the head. It was a truly tragic and vicious killing."
A couple discovered Bryant's body, last Tuesday, in Fairmount Park. Authorities say she was dumped there.
Over the weekend, police arrested 39-year-old Shavon Armstrong, who they believe was an accomplice to the murder.
"She was in the vehicle," Clark said of Armstrong. "She helped drive the decedent to the park. We know that she helped plan and orchestrate it."
Authorities say the motive was $800.
Clark explained that Bryant owed the person of interest and was unable to pay the debt.
Police say that Bryant and her alleged killers were longtime friends.
Armstrong has been charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, robbery and related offenses.
The woman who police believe to be the actual killer, who is still being called a person of interest, is expected to be charged soon, according to detectives.
