Michigan Mother and Son Accused of Strangling Teen, Hiding Body in Sealed Plastic Bin After ‘Elaborate Cover-Up’
INKSTER, MICHIGAN — A 49-year-old mother and her 23-year-old son have been charged in the murder of a teenage girl whose body was found sealed in a plastic storage bin after what prosecutors describe as an “extended campaign to lie to police.”
Charla Pendergrass and her son Jalen Pendergrass were arrested this week in connection with the April killing of 17-year-old London Thomas, who was reported missing shortly after visiting Jalen’s home in Inkster, roughly 15 miles west of Detroit.
Both have been charged with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence, according to court records.
Teen Reported Missing After Visit to Boyfriend’s Home
Authorities say London Thomas was last seen alive around 4 a.m. on April 5, when she was dropped off at Jalen Pendergrass’s home on the 27000 block of Carlysle Street.
When Thomas didn’t return home, her family filed several missing person reports, sparking a police search across Wayne County.
Weeks later, investigators say a crucial tip came from a friend of Charla Pendergrass, who reported that she had asked for help moving a sealed plastic bin with “unknown contents” inside.
Body Found in SUV Weeks Later
According to prosecutors, the friend helped Charla move the container on April 11 to a home on Millard Street in Southfield, not realizing what was inside.
When police eventually searched an SUV parked outside the residence on April 26, they discovered London Thomas’s body inside the bin.
A medical examiner determined that Thomas died from asphyxiation and had been strangled, ruling her death a homicide.
“This case involved a deliberate effort to mislead investigators and conceal the victim’s death,” prosecutors told the court.
Mother and Son Accused of Cover-Up
During a Wayne County arraignment, prosecutors accused Charla Pendergrass of orchestrating a calculated effort to lie to investigators and protect her son.
“The evidence will show that both defendants — but particularly Ms. Pendergrass — engaged in an extended campaign to lie to law enforcement,” the prosecutor said.
Charla’s attorney argued for “reasonable bond,” claiming she had attended every court appearance. However, the judge ultimately ordered her held on a $5 million bond, while her son Jalen was ordered held without bond due to his criminal history and risk to public safety.
Jalen is also facing a separate charge in another county for making a false felony report, and prosecutors said he was recently arrested for DUI while out on bond.
Family Demands Justice for London Thomas
The discovery of London’s body devastated her family, who described the 17-year-old as a bright, kindhearted teen with dreams of attending college.
“She was so full of life,” one family member said at a vigil. “To know she suffered like that breaks us every day.”
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office says both defendants will remain in custody as the case heads to trial. If convicted, they could face life in prison.
This disturbing case underscores the heartbreak of domestic violence and the devastating consequences of covering up violent crimes.
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