Oakland County woman, son charged in death of son’s teenage girlfriend; lifeless body found stuffed in plastic bin

An Oakland County lady and her son are charged with manslaughter and tampering with proof in reference to the dying of the son’s teenage girlfriend, whose physique was stuffed right into a dumpster in Southfield.

Charla Pendergrass, 49, of Clawson, and Jalen Pendergrass, 23, of Inkster are accused of killing London Thomas, 17, of Detroit, final April. In line with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Workplace, London’s mom reported her lacking on April 6 after she had not returned house after being dropped off at Jalen Pendergrass’ house in Inkster the day earlier than. London was in a relationship with Jalen Pendergrass, however it allegedly ended the second she arrived at his house, prosecutors stated.

The case was initially investigated by the Inkster Police Division; The Detroit Police Division, the FBI and Michigan State Police subsequently joined the investigation.

Three weeks after London was dropped off at Jalen Pendergrass’ house, Inkster police acquired info from a male buddy of Charla Pendergrass alleging that she requested him to move a sealed plastic container to an SUV on Millard Avenue on Aug. 11, which he did, prosecutors stated. 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 Avenue tackle and located London’s lifeless physique within the trash in an SUV parked there, the prosecutor’s workplace stated. The Oakland County Medical Examiner decided she died of asphyxiation and dominated it a murder.

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Workplace stated a preliminary investigation will current “in depth info and proof” to assist allegations that Jalen Pendergrass and Charla Pendergrass murdered London Thomas. The 2 are in custody.

Arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 17 earlier than twenty second District Choose Sabrina Johnson in Inkster. The case is assigned to Assistant U.S. Lawyer Dominic DeGrazia.

“I’m pleased with the wonderful work finished on this case,” stated Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. “It has taken numerous hours of investigation and arduous work by the Michigan State Police, the Detroit Police Division and the FBI. On account of that work, we’ve got been capable of cost the perpetrators of this brutal and lethal crime and produce them to justice.”

Initially printed: October 16, 2025 at 3:43 PM EDT