Detroit police: Item found amid landfill search for Zion Foster shows promise

Search effort up turns up piece of mail from promising date, location

LENOX TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Authorities announced Friday that the search for the body of 17-year-old Zion Foster at a landfill in Lenox Township has led to the discovery of a piece of mail that indicates police are looking in the right area.

A massive search began on Tuesday, May 31, at the Pine Tree Acres landfill in Lenox Township, where authorities believe Foster’s body is located. The teen was reportedly placed in a dumpster by her cousin when he found her unresponsive, and that dumpster led investigators to the landfill.

Those searching discovered a piece of mail from Detroit that is from a date range that lines up with when Foster went missing, indicating that the investigation is on the right track and taking place in the right area, officials said Friday.

Foster went missing on Jan. 4, and was last seen by her cousin, 23-year-old Jaylin Brazier. After initially lying to authorities about even seeing Foster the day she went missing, Brazier eventually turned himself in to police and admitted what happened.

According to prosecutors, Brazier told police that he had picked Foster up from her Eastpointe home and brought her to his home. The two reportedly mixed their marijuana together and smoked it.

“Somehow, when he came back to the room, she was unconscious,” a prosecutor said.

Brazier admitted to putting Foster’s allegedly unresponsive body into the trunk of his vehicle, drove to a dumpster and placed her inside. Now, authorities believe that Foster’s body is at least 75-100 feet or more below the surface in the landfill.

More: Court paints picture of how Eastpointe teen Zion Foster disappeared, where her body could be

Brazier was sentenced to prison on March 30 for lying to police during a violent crime investigation.

Jaylin Brazier sentenced for lying about throwing missing cousin Zion Foster's body in dumpster

Crews looking for Foster’s remains in Lenox Township are using heavy machinery to remove 20 feet of material in an area spanning 100 feet by 100 feet.

“To know that my baby has to be recovered from trash,” said Foster’s mother, Ciera Milton. “It’s just so much to miss out on.”

Officials previously said the search could last as long as seven to eight weeks. The area of the landfill has not been disturbed since police requested the waste management team to preserve it, officials said.

Detroit police said that phase one of the search will take about one week, and the second phase is expected to begin on June 15. During the second phase, materials found in the area will be more closely examined, officials said.

“We’re not gonna stop looking for her. We’re gonna do everything we can,” said Detroit police Chief James White. “I don’t know the outcome, but I do know the effort. And the effort will be there, and we hope for the best.”


More: Mother delivers powerful statement at sentencing for cousin who lied during search for Eastpointe teen


About the Author:

Cassidy Johncox is a senior digital news editor covering stories across the spectrum, with a special focus on politics and community issues.