Authorities in Michigan charged Jalen Pendergrass, 23, and his mother, Charla Pendergrass, 49, with serious crimes in connection with the death of 17-year-old London Thomas. The pair face counts of second-degree murder and evidence tampering after Thomas’ disappearance in April and the discovery of her body weeks later.
Thomas was last seen on April 5 in her hometown of Inkster, Michigan, when her sister dropped her off at Jalen’s residence. Her body was discovered on April 26 in Southfield, Michigan, inside a sealed plastic bin in an SUV parked on Millard Street near Berg Road.
Charges and Court Details
According to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, both Jalen and Charla Pendergrass are charged with:
- second-degree murder (a homicide charge)
- tampering with evidence (in this case, allegedly moving or hiding the container holding the remains)
At the arraignment on October 17, Jalen Pendergrass was denied bond and remains in custody. Charla Pendergrass was granted a cash bond of $5 million, and the judge ordered her to stay in Michigan and wear a GPS tether.
Investigation Findings
Investigators say that on April 11, a friend of Charla Pendergrass placed a sealed bin into an SUV at her request. That same bin was later found to contain Thomas’s remains. The Oakland County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be asphyxia and ruled the manner of death a homicide.
Prosecutors allege that Charla engaged in “an extended campaign to lie to police” during the investigation.
Family and Community Reaction
Thomas’ father, Cedric Salisbury, called the charges a step towards justice:
“We all knew that they were pretty much responsible for what happened, so now we’re moving forward and moving in the right direction, going for justice for London.” People.com
Her step-father, Darnell Johnson, reflected on the emotional aftermath:
“It’s hard not to sit in the house and not think of her at the table or couch without getting emotional because that was our baby girl.” WDIV
Legal Next Steps
A probable-cause hearing is scheduled for October 22, where prosecutors will present the evidence to determine whether the case moves to trial. Both defendants have entered not-guilty pleas and remain presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation was led by the Michigan State Police, the Detroit Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with support from local law enforcement partners.
Sources: People.com, CBS News, WDIV
