The ongoing investigation into the death of 17-year-old London Thomas saw an update when Charla Rashida Pendergrass, the woman accused of lying to police, had her court hearing adjourned until June 25. Pendergrass, 48, faces charges of lying to a peace officer during a violent crime investigation, as stated in an article from ClickOnDetroit. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office had previously released that Pendergrass "failed to tell the truth to FBI agents while they were conducting a criminal investigation into the death of London Thomas," which could result in up to four years of imprisonment if convicted.
On what would have been her 18th birthday, London Thomas was remembered by her family and friends in a commemoration detailed by Hoodline. Her mother, Jasma Bennett, amidst mourning, conveyed, "I'm joyful just because I know it's her birthday and this is what she would have wanted." Charged for filing a false police report last year, London’s boyfriend and his mother, Charla Pendergrass, have found themselves entwined in the investigation, the boyfriend as a person of interest and his mother facing charges for her alleged deceit.
Thomas was last seen on April 5, dropped off at her boyfriend's home in Inkster, with her body discovered on April 26 in Southfield. While details of her death remain undisclosed, it has been reported by FOX 2 Detroit that the investigation includes examining phone records and video evidence suggesting Pendergrass had been untruthful with authorities. According to that same report, her bond was set at $50,000 cash/surety, and Pendergrass remains in custody at the Wayne County Jail.
Though the exact link between Pendergrass and Thomas remains undisclosed, authorities allege that Pendergrass lied about seeing Thomas leave the Inkster home on April 5, where she was last seen alive. The house on Carlyle Street in Inkster, where the boy lived, is connected to Pendergrass, as mentioned by FOX 2 Detroit. With the community reeling from the tragic loss, her father, Cedric Salisbury, expressed the desire for justice, stating, "We thank everybody who gave us the time to try to find London, we hate that everything happen the way it happen but today we just need justice," as noted by Hoodline.
