Body of missing 6-year-old Philadelphia girl found; acquaintance of her family arrested

PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Police arrested a man in the murder of a 6-year-old girl who disappeared from a sleepover and was found dead the next day in nearby woods. <br><br>Police said Abdul M. El-Shabazz, an

Friday, August 9th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Police arrested a man in the murder of a 6-year-old girl who disappeared from a sleepover and was found dead the next day in nearby woods.

Police said Abdul M. El-Shabazz, an 18-year-old acquaintance of the girl's family, confessed to killing Destiny Wright and led investigators to her body. He was arrested late Thursday night and charged with murder.

``There is no motive. Nobody could possibly have a motive for killing a 6-year-old girl,'' said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson.

Police turned down requests Thursday for an interview with El-Shabazz.

Destiny was spending the night at the home of her father's girlfriend the last time she was seen, police said. Family members realized she was missing Wednesday morning.

Police found Destiny Thursday about 1 1/2 miles from the rowhouse where she had gone to sleep at about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday with five or six other children. Police didn't release details about the nature of her death, but said she was found fully clothed.

Family and friends who had earlier searched for Destiny gathered outside in the Philadelphia neighborhood and made a memorial with teddy bears and candles near the house.

Destiny's mother, Kareama Wright, yelled ``He killed her'' when she arrived at the site where police found her daughter's body.

``My baby,'' she shouted. ``I want to see my baby.''