An Inkster man accused of murdering his former teenage girlfriend, whose body was found stuffed in a bin left in an SUV in Southfield last year, opted out of trial with a guilty plea Thursday.
At a pre-trial hearing before 3rd Judicial Circuit Judge Paul Cusick, Jalen Pendergrass, 24, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of 17-year-old London Thomas. Charges of tampering with evidence, felony murder and unlawful imprisonment were dismissed.
He’s scheduled to be sentenced on July 31.
For Jalen Pendergrass’s mother, Charla Pendergrass, 49, of Clawson, criminal charges of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful imprisonment are pending. Her next court appearance is scheduled for July 31 for a pretrial hearing before the same judge.
Jalen Pendergrass booking photo
Charla Pendergrass booking photo
According to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, London’s mother had reported her missing on April 6, 2025 because she didn’t return home after being dropped off the day before at Jalen Pendergrass’s house. 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.
Three weeks after London was dropped off at Jalen Pendergrass’s house, a male friend of Charla Pendergrass told Inkster police she had asked him to transport a sealed plastic bin to an SUV parked on Millard Street in Southfield, which he did, the prosecutor’s office stated. The contents were reportedly unknown to him.
Michigan State Police, along with the FBI and the Detroit Police Department, conducted a search at the Millard Street address and found London’s remains inside the bin, the prosecutor’s office stated.
Jalen Pendergrass and Charla Pendergrass are held in the Wayne County Jail.