An Oakland County woman and her son are facing charges of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the death of the son’s teenage girlfriend whose body was stuffed in a container in Southfield.

Charla Pendergrass, 49, of Clawson and Jalen Pendergrass, 23, of Inkster are accused of killing London Thomas, 17, of Detroit, last April. According to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, London’s mother had reported her missing on April 6 because she didn’t return home after being dropped off the day before at Jalen Pendergrass’s house in Inkster. London had been in a relationship with Jalen Pendergrass, but it allegedly ended at the time she arrived at his house, the prosecutor’s office stated.

The case was initially investigated by the Inkster Police Department; the

See Full Page