Jalen Pendergrass Sentencing Today | Detroit News

Jalen Pendergrass is set to be sentenced today for the murder of his 17-year-old girlfriend, London Thomas, whose body was found in a sealed bin inside an SUV in Southfield — a crime he pleaded guilty to in exchange for other charges being dropped. Thomas vanished in April 2025 after being dropped off at Pendergrass’s Inkster home; her body was discovered three weeks later. Though initially a person of interest, Pendergrass’s mother, Charla, was briefly charged with lying to a peace officer — a charge later dismissed because the officer was federal, not state-qualified. Prosecutors allege both Jalen and Charla were involved, citing testimony that Charla asked a friend to help move a bin on April 6th — the same bin later found containing Thomas’s body. The autopsy confirmed she died from asphyxia, and sentencing will be held before Judge Paul Cusick. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/360155acad05ab0a