Main, left to right: Jalen Pendergrass and Charla Pendergrass (WXYZ). Inset: London Thomas (CrimeStoppers).
A 49-year-old mother and her 23-year-old son have been arrested in Michigan for allegedly killing the son”s 17-year-old girlfriend earlier this year before engaging in an “extended campaign” to cover up their crime.
Charla Pendergrass and Jalen Pendergrass were taken into custody earlier this week and are facing one count each of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the April slaying of London Thomas, records show.
Authorities say Thomas was strangled to death and then her body was stuffed inside a plastic bin.
During an arraignment hearing in Wayne County on Friday, prosecutors implored a judge to hold the mother-son duo in detention until their trial dates.
“This is a case where I believe the evidence will be abundant that both defendants, but particularly Ms. Charla Pendergrass, engaged in an extended campaign to lie to police, lie to law enforcement to cover up her actions,” the prosecutor told the court, per footage of the hearing posted by Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ. “She has shown in the past, her willingness to be deceptive, to be untrustworthy, and, given the serious nature of these charges and the circumstances behind the crime itself, I’m asking that there be no bond or, alternatively, a very high cash bond.”
The mother’s defense attorney emphasized that his client had appeared for all previous court appearances in seeking what he referred to as “reasonable” bond.
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In seeking no bond for Jalen Pendergrass, prosecutors reiterated the severity of the charges and an alleged willingness to intentionally mislead investigators. The state also noted that he is currently charged in another county with making a false report about a felony. While out on bond in that case, prosecutors said, Jalen Pendergrass was recently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, though he has not been formally charged in that case.
The judge ultimately ordered Jalen Pendergrass to be held without bond due to the “nature of the charges” and his mother to be held in lieu of $5 million bond.
Authorities said that Thomas was last seen alive at about 4 a.m. on April 5, as she was being dropped off at Jalen Pendergrass’ residence in the 27000 block of Carlysle Street in Inkster, local CBS affiliate WWJ reported. The home is about 15 miles west of Detroit.
Members of Thomas’ family reported her missing several times over the following days as authorities began searching for her.
A break in the case came nearly a month later, when authorities received a call from an individual claiming to be Charla Pendergrass’ friend, who claimed Charla Pendergrass contacted him on April 6 and asked if he could help her move a plastic bin that was “sealed” with “unknown contents” inside, Detroit Fox affiliate WJBK reported.
The friend reportedly agreed, and on April 11, assisted Charla Pendergrass in moving the container to a home on Millard Street in Southfield.
Authorities on April 26 recovered the bin from an SUV parked outside of the Millard Street home. They found Thomas’ remains inside. A medical examiner later determined that Thomas’ manner of death was a homicide and the cause of death was asphyxiation.
“I am proud of the excellent work that has been done in this case. It has taken countless hours of investigation, and diligent work by the Michigan State Police, the Detroit Police Department, and the FBI,” Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy said in a statement. “As a result of that work, we have been able to charge and bring the perpetrators of this cruel and deadly crime to justice.”
