Cases advance against woman and son in London Thomas murder case

The instances towards an Oakland County lady and her son accused of killing the son’s former teenage girlfriend will likely be transferred to Wayne County’s third Judicial Circuit Court docket for potential trial.

On the finish of a current preliminary examination in Inkster’s twenty second District Court docket, the choose introduced ahead the instances towards Charla Pendergrass, 49, of Clawson, and Jalen Pendergrass, 24, of Inkster – every charged with second-degree homicide and tampering with proof in reference to the demise of London Thomas, 17, final 12 months.

The Detroit teen’s physique was present in a dumpster in an SUV parked in Southfield.

In keeping with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Workplace, London’s mom reported her lacking on April 6, 2025, after she had not returned residence after being dropped off at Jalen Pendergrass’ residence the day earlier than. London was in a relationship with Jalen Pendergrass, but it surely allegedly ended the second she arrived at his residence, prosecutors mentioned.

Three weeks after London was dropped off at Jalen Pendergrass’ residence, a male good friend of Charla Pendergrass advised Inkster police that she requested him to move a sealed plastic container to an SUV parked on Millard Road in Southfield, which he did, prosecutors mentioned. The contents have been reportedly unknown to him.

Michigan State Police, together with the FBI and Detroit police, carried out a search of the Millard Road tackle and located London’s stays within the trash, the prosecutor’s workplace mentioned.

Charla Pendergrass and Jalen Pendergrass are being held within the Wayne County Jail. Arraignment is scheduled for January 30.