WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – The ex-boyfriend of 17-year-old London Thomas, who was found dead in April 2025, has pleaded guilty to her murder.
Jalen Pendergrass, 23, and his mother, Charla Pendergrass, 49, were charged with second-degree murder and evidence tampering in October.
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Thomas was found dead in Southfield on April 26, 2025, two weeks after she had been reported missing. She was last seen when she was dropped off at her boyfriend’s house on Carlysle Street in Inkster on April 5, 2025.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy previously said Jalen and Thomas were in a relationship, but it had ended at the time she arrived at the house in Inkster.
On April 26, 2025, one of Charla’s friends told the FBI that she’d asked him to move a sealed bin with unknown contents on April 11. He said that he placed the bin in an SUV on Millard Street in Southfield. When police searched the SUV, they found Thomas’ body inside the bin.
The Oakland County Medical Examiner found that Thomas died from asphyxia, and her death was ruled a homicide.
On July 2, Jalen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. As part of a plea deal, all other charges were dismissed. He is expected to be sentenced on July 31.
Charla is expected to appear in court on July 31 for a pretrial hearing.