INKSTER, Mich. — For 21 agonizing days, family and friends searched for **London Thomas**, a 22-year-old woman whose bright smile and quiet strength had filled every room she entered. The search ended in heartbreak when her body was found sealed inside a plastic container in Southfield on **April 26**, hidden in the back of a vehicle — not buried, but deliberately concealed.
London was last seen on **April 5**, after her sister dropped her off at the Inkster home of her boyfriend, **Jalen Pendergrass**, 23. That was the last time anyone saw her alive. According to police, Pendergrass and his mother, **Charla Pendergrass**, 49, are now facing **charges of murder and evidence tampering** in connection with her death.
Detectives say Charla initially told investigators that London had left the house on her own, but digital evidence — including phone data and surveillance footage — revealed that she never walked out. Instead, investigators allege that Charla helped her son cover up the crime. On **April 11**, she was reportedly seen asking someone to help move a heavy bin into an SUV. That same bin, sealed and concealed, would later hold London’s remains.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office described the case as “an unspeakable act of betrayal and brutality,” emphasizing the disturbing level of planning involved. Family members, who had organized vigils and shared missing-person flyers for weeks, were devastated by the discovery. “She didn’t deserve this,” her cousin said tearfully. “We just wanted her home safe.”
Authorities have not yet disclosed London’s cause of death as the investigation continues. Both suspects remain in custody pending court appearances. For those who loved London, the discovery brings answers — but not peace. What remains is a community’s grief and a demand for justice for a young woman taken far too soon.
