CRIME PUBLICSAFETY

Southfield, MI – Jalen Pendergrass and his mother,⁤ Charla Pendergrass, have been charged in connection with the death of 19-year-old London Thomas, whose body was discovered in Southfield on April‌ 26. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced the charges Friday, alleging both individuals where involved in⁤ the homicide.

Thomas was last​ seen at a home in Inkster on april​ 5. According to the Prosecutor’s​ Office, a friend of Charla Pendergrass contacted police with information leading to⁣ the ⁢charges. The friend alleged that Charla​ Pendergrass asked⁣ for help transporting ⁣a sealed plastic bin⁣ with unknown contents on April 6.The‍ bin was moved to a home ‍on Millard ‍Street⁣ in Southfield and placed in⁣ an SUV on april 11. Weeks ‍later, Thomas’‍ body ‌was⁤ found inside that same bin, located in the SUV at the Southfield​ residence.

An autopsy resolute Thomas died from asphyxia.

Charla Pendergrass, ⁤48,⁤ was initially arrested and charged ⁤with lying to a peace‌ officer‌ after​ allegedly telling an investigator she saw Thomas leave ⁤the Inkster home on April 5 – a claim authorities say was false, supported by phone records and⁢ video evidence.⁣ However, that​ charge was dropped during her preliminary examination because the person she allegedly lied to was a federal agent, and ‌Michigan statute does not define a federal agent as a “peace⁤ officer.”

“I am proud of ‌the excellent work that has been⁣ done⁣ in this‍ case. It has taken countless hours of examination, and diligent work‍ by the Michigan State Police, the Detroit Police Department, and the FBI. ​As ⁣a result of that work, we have been able to‌ charge and ​bring the perpetrators of this cruel and⁤ deadly crime to ​justice,” Worthy said in ‌a press ​release.

The ‍suspects are expected to be arraigned Friday morning.