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.